Senior Playworker

We are looking to hire diligent, persuasive and confident individuals to assist session supervisors and guide playworkers in the day to day organisation of Incredible Kids sessions ensuring quality play activities are facilitated within a safe, caring and stimulating environment for children and young people aged 0 – 25 with a disability, developmental delay or any additional needs, and supporting their families.

You will assist the session supervisor to improve outcomes and quality of life for the children and young people that we work with. You will play a big part in creating an environment that is warm, welcoming, and vibrant.

Senior playworkers will be an important and integral part of the Incredible Kids team working in a fast paced environment out in the community with children and young people and their families including their wider support network.

About Incredible Kids

Incredible Kids is an award winning Christian Charity that runs inclusive play and support sessions for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities. All trustees of the charity are Christian. The charity also supports siblings and parent carers. Operating since June 2012 the charity was set up by parents to provide mutually beneficial support to each other, allowing their children and young people to play. Join us to help disabled children and their families smile!

The charity aims to reduce social isolation for families with children or young people with special needs, increase their wellbeing and improve confidence and social skills by providing meaningful play activities, mutually beneficial support and increasing knowledge and skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Towards participants:

• Support the Service Manager to ensure effective day to day running of our overall service in line with our vision and values.
• Provide an overview of the play session plan to ensure all stakeholders fully understand the rules and expected outcomes.
• Extend support to all participants as and when the need arises.
• Engage with all participants in a way that reflects their preferences, abilities as well as taking into account any specific needs they may have.
• Seek advice from parents/carers on how best to support their children through play sessions.
• Consult children, young people and their families to identify their needs and capture their inputs to shape play session plans accordingly.
• Share personalised tips and other information with families to empower them to care for their children in the best possible way
• Address any concerns that parents may have regarding the development of their children and offer necessary support.
• Act as a conduit between parents and relevant services so that information flows seamlessly across all parties.
• Encourage parental involvement to actively contribute to the growth of Incredible Kids’ volunteer base.
• Ensure all play sessions are hosted in a safe and inclusive way, with a focus on increased safety measures while playing outdoors.
• Support the Service Manager with Safeguarding and Health & Safety – training to be provided.
• Ensure effective and up to date management of our equipment and the spaces we use.
• Be aware of and follow Incredible Kids policies.
• Travelling between our sites to ensure we have the right equipment for our sessions.

Towards Playworkers:

• Playworker and young girls around an arts and craft table outside.
• Support the Service Manager with the recruitment and management of a team of staff and volunteers for our service.
• To support with staff induction and safeguarding processes, supervision, training and development for volunteers.
• Prepare and plan each play session adequately to ensure playworkers are fully equipped with all tools and information needed.
• Manage and supervise the playworkers on your team and guide them on best practices.
• Liaise with playworkers and families to capture their feedback post session.
• Monitor records and conduct periodic checks to ensure all documentation is up to date.
• Provide feedback about playworkers’ performance to sessions supervisors to ensure all progress is documented
• Assist the Service Manager in developing the potential of playworkers and facilitate training sessions to upskill your team.
• Deputise in the absence of the Service Manager.

Possible extra responsibilities

Contribute to our e-newsletter, website and social media through service updates.

Oversee our service booking system.

Skills and attributes needed

Essential:

• A full driving license – to support our Service Manager in picking up and transporting various items for our sessions.
• A genuine enthusiasm for the work and ethos of the charity
• Compassionate, understanding and trustworthy with a patient and tolerant personality.
• Fun, creative and open-minded passion for inclusive play, with an interest in creating imaginative activities for the children.
• Approachable demeanour with the ability to teach and develop others.
• Capability to effectively manage and motivate a small team.
• Great communication skills and the ability to engage with children, parents as well as other playworkers in a confident manner.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Self–motivated and pro-active, with an ability to both work independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, and ensuring their health and safety.
• Good observational skills to watch for and identify signs of change in a person’s well-being.
• Ability to prioritize and manage competing demands requiring quick turnaround and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Willingness to learn and develop through formal training and informal feedback.

Desirable:

• Young white boy with pirate eye patch and moustache faint paint
• Current first aid at work or emergency first aid at work certificate.
• Track record of working with people with additional needs and supporting their families.
• Understanding of Makaton.
• Understanding of Social Media platforms.

You may be requested to attend training days, which are arranged throughout the year.

You are expected, at all times, to demonstrate the values and uphold the ethos of Incredible Kids. Our values include Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them.

An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.

Job Type: Part-time

Salary: £12.50 per hour

Expected hours: 16 per week

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Health & wellbeing programme

Work Location: In person

Location: The Vench, Romney Avenue, Lockleaze, Bristol, BS7 9TD.

Hours of work: On-site during our play sessions which run on Fridays 15:30 – 20:00 and Saturdays 09:00 – 18:00. (Total 13 hours)

Plus 3 hours working remotely for administrative tasks.