Playworker Assistant (Relief)

About the Role

Age group:

4-12 year old.

Location:
La Pouquelaye
Reasons why you should join our team:

The opportunity to work with our passionate and diverse teams to care for some amazing children and be part of their learning journey. Be part of a charity, who’s purpose it is to make childcare possible for every family. We have exciting progression opportunities and reward loyalty. You are welcome to contribute through your own passions and ideas. Subsidised childcare is part of the employment offer. Our management team is supportive and accessible to all colleagues.

We are looking for a colleague who:

Cares for children with respect and patience as a basis to a trusting relationship. Be part of creating a safe, inclusive and stimulating learning environment, supporting children’s individual routines, enabling independence and supporting development. Enjoy working as part of a team. Establishing respectful relationships with families to deliver best outcomes and care for our children.

This position requires you to:

To assist the Team Leader to provide a caring, secure environment, through individual attention and group activities, and to organise age appropriate activities for children aged between 4 and 12.

Your personal qualities should include:

Excellent communication skills, with children, colleagues, advisors and parents/carers.

Patience, punctuality, reliability and trustworthiness, A positive approach to inclusive practice, with children, parents/carers and colleagues. Enthusiasm for working with children and young people.

Essential qualifications:

A positive approach to gaining further qualifications, and continuous professional development. Some understanding of the importance of Health & Safety and Food Hygiene in the workplace. To hold or be working towards a minimum level 2 certificate in childcare or Playwork.

Excellent communication skills, with children, colleagues, advisors and parents/carers.

Patience, punctuality, reliability and trustworthiness, A positive approach to inclusive practice, with children, parents/carers and colleagues. Enthusiasm for working with children and young people.

Training provided:

You will hold, or be prepared to gain, the following qualifications/training to meet registration requirements, St Johns Ambulance First Aid for Children, 6 hour Foundation Safeguarding & annual update, Food Hygiene level 2 & update, Sign up to the DBS update system.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

Activity Planning

  • To provide a safe, clean, creative and appropriate play opportunities for a range of age groups.
  • Preparing activities, organising programmes/ themes and arranging equipment.
  • To ensure that all activities are inclusive for all children to take part in.
  • To consult with the children and plan activities using their ideas.
  • To observe and reflect on the activities using the relevant recording sheets.
  • Feedback to the team and have input in team meetings.

Liaison

  • To help to develop and maintain good relationships and communications with parents/carers to facilitate day-to-day caring needs.
  • To encourage parental involvement and support through the development of effective working relationships.
  • To consult with the children and involve them in the planning of activities.
  • To share good practice with other Playworkers as needed, including ideas, observations and reflective practice.
  • To work with other settings and other Playworkers.
  • To lease with school teachers and other staff at schools.
  • To lease with other external agencies, such as, other activity clubs, social workers, schools, other settings, MASH and CEYS.

Supervision and Care of Children

  • Ensure that activities are carried out in a safe and responsible manner in accordance with statutory responsibilities (registration requirements, staff handbook and job description).
  • Ensure that risk assessments are completed prior to commencing activities with children.
  • To continually carry out visual risk assessments.
  • To make sure that your area is clean and tidy before and after use. All cleaning sheets are to be followed and signed once completed.
  • Ensure that food preparation and handling within the Setting is carried out within the guidelines of the Food Safety Act 1990.
  • Where food is provided, to ensure that it is balanced and healthy in accordance with recommended dietary requirements.
  • To ensure that all unit rules are followed and adhered to at all times.
  • To actively promote and support the safeguarding of children and young people in the workplace, ensuring that all staff and volunteers observe setting policies and procedures to keep children safe from harm.

Direct Playwork

  • Support the Playleader in planning a wide range of creative and enjoyable activities.
  • Consult with the children in order to plan activities.
  • Ensure that play meets the full range of children's individual and group needs.
  • To fully support inclusive practice, and ensure that all children can be involved in the activities offered if they wish.

Other Responsibilities

  • To undertake continuous professional development, including short courses and qualifications relevant to Playwork and that fall into line with statutory requirements.
  • All staff are to hold a fully enhanced DBS check.
  • To promote the aims and objectives of the setting.
  • To understand and adhere to the settings policies, procedures and standards at all times.
  • To ensure the setting offers the highest standards of physical and emotional care, health and safety, and food hygiene at all times.
  • To assist with the preparation of materials and equipment (loose parts etc.)
  • Recording accidents in the accident book.
  • Ensure children are collected in strict accordance with the setting’s child collection policy.
  • To ensure the Setting offers a high quality, inclusive environment which meets the needs of all children, regardless of culture, religion, and physical or emotional development.
  • To ensure confidentially in and out of the setting at all times.
  • To participate in activities which fall outside of normal working hours as required, e.g. training, staff meetings, fundraising events, etc.
  • To undertake such other duties and responsibilities of an equivalent nature as may be determined from time to time by Centrepoint.

Closing date:

Open

Please complete the application form and return with a CV and a covering email.