Jobs

Term-time only (plus one week) – Temporary for 18 months
Term-time only (plus one week) – Temporary for 12 months
 
We are recruiting Portage Workers to join our highly valued, supportive and dedicated team to the above posts.
 
The Portage Team deliver a home visiting service to children aged 0-3 who have significant additional needs and their families in County Durham. The team work with children through play and a small-steps approach, helping parents to support their child’s development. The Portage team is registered with the National Portage Association and consistently deliver an effective and high-quality service.
 
With the additional capacity in the team, we will be able to develop a Portage plus offer. This will mean we will be able to have regular liaison and support within children’s early years settings.
 
What is Involved? 
As a Portage Worker you will be responsible for:

• Delivering the Portage programme to children and families following NPA requirements and incorporating the 3 elements of the Portage model during home visiting/group work, incorporating: Structured Teaching, Child-Led Play and Family Focus.
• Assessing children’s play and skills using the Portage Developmental Journal and identifying their next developmental steps.
• Using a small steps approach in setting appropriate teaching targets and devising a programme of targeted activities and play that parents/carers can use to help their children progress.
• Empowering parents to feel confident in playing and interacting with their child.
• Modelling activities and providing feedback to parents on progress.
• Supporting transition into nursery and providing early year’s staff with strategies to enable them to accommodate and include children with complex needs.
• Developing and running groups with other Portage Workers to support families and children with specific needs who can more appropriately access Portage support within a group setting.
• Working jointly with other professionals to achieve the best outcomes for children.
• Attending multi agency meetings in relation to children on your caseload.
• Making referrals to other agencies and navigating parents to the correct services.
• Providing written reports and/or educational advice for statutory assessment at key times during your involvement with a child.
• Keeping up to date records and updating electronic files for individual children. 

 We Offer:

• A strong induction into the Portage team and the wider Specialist Inclusion Services, including Portage training.
• Ongoing CPD throughout the year
• Regular opportunities for supervision and support 

We encourage you to Susan Liddell, Portage Service Manager, or Jolie Moody, Specialist Educational Psychologist on Tel. No. 03000 263333 to arrange an informal discussion about the role.  
 
What Will I Need? 
You will have a good understanding of early years’ child development and considerable experience of working with young children who have additional or special educational needs. You will be able to work independently and often by yourself with families, travelling to their homes. You will be willing to complete the Portage training, if you have not already done so, and will be able to build positive relationships with children and families quickly.

Essential Qualifications:

• Nursery Nurse qualification or equivalent. NNEB, BTEC National Diploma in Caring Services. NVQ Level 3 (Early Years Care and Education).

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. 
 
If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Rewards and Benefits
We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best:

• Competitive salaries and 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service.
• Option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
• Excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexi-time (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year).
• Hybrid working (home and office working).
• Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.
• Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
• Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).
• Discounted DCC gym membership.
• Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause.
• Trade Union membership.
• A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. Take a closer look! 

Social Media
Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on opportunities at Durham County Council!
 
Follow us on Instagram 
Like us on Facebook 
 
Hybrid Working
Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer. 
 
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services. 
 
We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all.  We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job.
 
As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.
 
Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26899/Equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-workforce
 
Interviews
Interviews will be held on Thursday 11th July 2025 at the Education Development Centre, Spennymoor.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
 
How to Apply 
In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal.   
 
Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge.  Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.  
 
If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 (option 2), or the Recruitment Team via email at RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk
 
We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we process your personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24645/Privacy-notice-human-resources/pdf/PrivacyNotice-HR.pdf

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATION FROM DONOTREPLY@NORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL. 

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.