Universal Services Practitioner - Home Learning

Role overview

Wolverhampton City Council is hiring a Universal Services Practitioner focused on home learning. This is a permanent position within a lively and well-established team that contributes to the development of innovative Family Hub services across the city.

The post is centred on supporting the council’s statutory responsibilities under the Childcare Act 2006, with particular emphasis on the Best Start in Life strategy. The role involves helping families connect with suitable support so that outcomes improve and attainment gaps are reduced across the community.

Home learning support is designed to strengthen parent-child relationships, support learning at the child’s own pace, and enable parents to play a more active role as their child’s first educator. The role will involve creating a positive home-learning environment, planning engaging sessions and practical activities, and providing evidence-based guidance that helps families embed learning into everyday life.

Pay, hours and contract

Salary is £26,403 to £28,142 per year at Grade 4. The council has 3 permanent vacancies: 2 full-time posts at 37 hours per week, and 1 part-time post at 18.5 hours per week with pay adjusted pro rata.

This is a permanent contract. The role is based onsite and the work will mainly involve supporting families in their homes while managing a caseload.

What the role involves

• Deliver home learning support directly within family homes.
• Manage an allocated caseload and coordinate support for families.
• Create activities and learning approaches tailored to the needs of parents and children.
• Develop practical sessions that encourage learning through daily routines.
• Use initiative and creativity to design engaging family-focused interventions.
• Work with appropriate services to help families access the right support.
• Help reduce gaps in achievement across different communities.
• Maintain accurate records and use a range of data systems confidently.

Skills and experience needed

You should be imaginative, ambitious, and confident working with families. Strong IT ability is essential, including the ability to use multiple data collection systems. The role also calls for someone who can work independently, plan engaging learning activities, and build positive relationships with parents and children.

Additional information

For more information about the role, contact Julie Baker at Julie.Baker@wolverhampton.gov.uk or Reeta Shemar at Reeta.Shemar@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

The closing date for applications is 5 July 2026. Interviews are expected during the week commencing 14/15 July 2026.

NJC pay awards for 2026/27 are still being negotiated. If agreed, the increase will take effect from 1 April 2026.

Working arrangements

Council jobs are assigned a workstyle such as fixed, field, flexible, or agile. Fixed roles are based at a permanent council location. Field roles are mainly community-based with access to touch-down space at a council site. Flexible roles allow a combination of home working, council offices, partner or client locations, and other external sites depending on service needs. Please refer to the job description for the workstyle allocated to this post.

Equal opportunities and recruitment commitments

The council promotes a workplace built on diversity, inclusion, and equality. It aims to attract strong candidates from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups and to provide services that reflect the community it serves.

The organisation holds Disability Confident Employer status, a Stonewall Gold Award, and a RACE Code Quality Mark. It also offers a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and identify as eligible under its commitments to disabled people, armed forces personnel, and care leavers.

Staff equality forums are available so employees can share views, feel supported, and help create a respectful workplace culture.

Recruitment of ex-offenders

The council states that it treats applicants and employees fairly regardless of offending history. Where a role requires it, DBS checks may be used to help assess suitability for positions of trust. A conviction or DBS disclosure information will not be used in a discriminatory way.

Employment support

Applicants considering roles at Grade 2 to Grade 5, including apprenticeships, may be able to visit the council to learn more about the application process, interview process, and what it is like to work there.

Attached document

Universal Services Practitioner JD and PS - updated (1).pdf