risk management jobs

Best Start in Life Programme Lead

Ref: RNR002959

Salary: £58,364 p.a. plus benefits

37 hours per week

1-year fixed term contract/Secondment opportunity

Swindon Borough Council are on an exciting journey to transform service delivery. We want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision in the new Swindon Plan is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that’s who we’re doing it for – the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you’ll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It’s all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.

Your next role

This post is crucial to the delivery of new ways of working as we transform the way we work in and with communities to enable residents to access what they need at the earliest opportunity.

The Best Start in Life agenda is central to this vision, in ensuring our youngest residents have the opportunities they need to thrive and be ready learn at the end of their Reception year.

The post is responsible for overall coordination and delivery of the Best Start in Life programme across Swindon, in order to meet our statutory targets to improve child development outcomes at age 5. Translating national policy into local delivery, the role holder will need to form credible and effective partnerships with a range of colleagues and residents to agree a vision and plan and then oversee the delivery of that plan, carefully managing risk and reporting progress to senior leaders.

You should have proven partnership skills, delivering a joint agenda to deliver change in a short space of time. You will need to have good problem solving skills, complex project management experience and the ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders. You will have a good understanding of the Best Start in Life policy directive and the opportunities and challenges it presents.

You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).

The ability to travel throughout the Borough will be required and access to a car.

The team operates a hybrid working model with all practitioners expected to be in the office for a minimum of two days per week.

You will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details and our new Swindon Plan.

Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.

Your next steps

Please read the role profile, which is available in the documents section to the righthand side of the page. To submit an application for this role, select Quick Apply.

Before applying for a secondment, it is essential for all employees to discuss their availability for release with their line manager before applying. Should permission not be forthcoming then they should refer the matter to their Head of Service.

For further information about the role please contact Caroline Little, Head of Child and Family Health: clittle2@swindon.gov.uk

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.

If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application, please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk

Closing date: 18 December 2025

Interview date: 5 January 2026