Play Worker London, England
Job description
We are looking for motivated, enthusiastic, reliable and adaptable Playworker or person with experience of working with children and young people, who is passionate about play and understands the essential role it has in children and young people’s lives. Translating that passion, experience, knowledge and drive to contribute to an effective playwork team that is dedicated to providing a welcoming and safe space for all children to play.
In this role, you will work to the play principles and deliver a play offer on an adventure playground working with other Playworkers, partners and the wider community to ensuring a high-quality service. This will involve delivering and contributing to outreach and communication of the free play service, to ensure that the adventure playground is operating at or near full capacity. While also supporting structure building and repairs and facilities management of the adventure playground as part of a playwork team.
Please note the post requires full time in school holidays.
- 20 hours in school term time Tuesday - Saturday, Tues - Thursday 3.30pm - 7pm, Fridays 2.30pm - 7pm and Saturdays 11.30am -4.30pm
- 35 hrs in school holidays Monday - Friday. 10am - 6pm
Reporting to the Playwork Coordinator, you will deliver best practice Playwork to improve play opportunities for children who access the service by planning and implementing a playwork programme as part of a team according to local priorities and co-create environments with children, which stimulate children’s play and maximise opportunities for a wide range of play experiences.
You will need to be a strong advocate for children and young people and understand the difference that Play make in children’s development.
Being playful, creative, fun and having good communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, with a good understanding of how to develop positive relationships with children, young people, families and the wider community are essential.
We are committed to the communities we work in, so welcome applications from candidates living in the London borough of Islington.
We are willing to consider candidates who would like to train to become a Playworker and have experience of playwork through being a user of an adventure playground when they were young enough to attend.
MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
- To deliver a play offer on an adventure playground working with other Playworker’s and the Playwork Coordinators ensuring a high quality service.
- To support all children and young people in the creation of a space in which they can play, recognising the playworker impact on the play space and also the impact of children and young people’s play on the playworker
- Providing play opportunities for children and young people that provide for:
Challenge and risk, social education, personal development, movement and physicality, intellectual challenge, creativity, which enabling children to acquire new skills in supporting their emotional development and play needs
- Carrying out administrative duties and collecting relevant management information as directed by the Playwork Coordinator in accordance with Awesome’s procedures.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S REQUIREMENTS
We expect all staff to incorporate these into their day to day work:
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- The Playwork Principles
- Managing Risk in Play Provision
- Quality in Play or a similar quality assurance process
Main Tasks of Job
- Deliver best practice Playwork to improve play opportunities for children who access the service by planning and implementing a playwork programme as part of a team according to local priorities and co-create environments with children, which stimulate children’s play and maximise opportunities for a wide range of play experiences.
- To work with under the direction of the Playwork Coordinator ensuring that:
- service is delivered according to Professional Quality Standards
- all evidence of delivery and projects is properly documented
- consultation with children and young people is carried out and acted on
- aims and objectives are addressed
- to plan and reflect in conjunction with the staff team, taking into account children’s needs and Awesome’s service priorities
- playwork curriculum supports all play opportunities for children
- work is evaluated and reports are produced on current and future work
- To take responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and to take personal responsibility for ensuring attendance at regular free Child Protection training at a level commensurate with role.
- To contribute to research, design and facilitation of self-directed play and co-created play opportunities, effectively using resources to provide an inclusive, stimulating and exciting play environment.
- To operate within professional boundaries when developing and maintaining relationships with children, young people and the wider community and contributing to a strategy for children and young people to engage in the service.
- Work with the Playwork Coordinator to identify major issues affecting children & young people and developing appropriate playwork practice to help meet those needs, in conjunction with relevant agencies, community groups, housing associations, other services.
- To contribute to the delivery and monitoring on allocated adventure playground in the areas that follow:
Health & Safety; Premises Management; Data Collection and Security; Quality Assurance; Safeguarding; Policy and Practice; Adhere to Financial Procedures in relation to cash transactions.
- To work from any premises Awesome CIC occupies or any other reasonable location where Awesome is delivering a service.
- To maintain, build and develop outdoor adventure playground structures.
- To support and motivate children and young people in having a voice through consultation, forums and creative visual engagement.
- To support adventure playgrounds with promotion and marketing of the play service to children and young people, internal departments, partners and the wider community.
- Clean and sanitize designated facility areas (dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, restroom cleaning etc
- To adhere to all ways of working as specified in the employee's handbook
- The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.
Desired work experience and education
- Candidates should have substantial part time experience of volunteering or working with children and young people in a multi-racial inner city setting and understand the value of Play in children’s development.
- Candidates should have a recognised NVQ level 2 qualification in playwork, childcare or related field and understand the value of Play in children’s development or be willing to work towards a playwork qualification.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITY
- Candidates must demonstrate their understanding of the importance of play in child development and how these are implemented into practice
- Understanding of the issues that impact on the lives of children and a track record in delivering innovative and exciting play opportunities that contribute to children’s play
- Ability to work and communicate effectively within a team situation.
- Candidates must demonstrate an ability to support the design and build, of adventure play structures and carry out routine maintenance work
- Able to identify potential child protection issues and know what to do with this information Knowledge and understanding of London Child Protection Procedures
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
Ability to work in accordance with national and local Child Protection and Safeguarding policies and procedures
- Understanding of the legal Health and Safety requirements for the workplace and for playwork in a range of settings, as well as risk-benefit specifically in a play environment
- Ability to adhere to and maintain effective relationships with children, young people, staff, parents, carers and other colleagues within appropriate professional boundaries
- Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the requirements of developing anti-discriminatory, exciting play opportunities and demonstrate how they have put this into practice, engaging with marginalised and underrepresented sections of the community.
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate an understanding of working in a partnership approach with a range of partners in developing projects and activities for children and young people.
- Candidates must demonstrate how they reflect on and develop practice, which contributes to the delivery and quality of offer to children and young people.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal. With a good understanding of digital communication
- Understanding of the legal Health & Safety requirements for the workplace and for playwork in a range of settings, as well as risk-benefit specifically in a play environment.
- Ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of children (evenings, weekends, residentials trips)
The following would be desirable:
- Some Knowledge of BSL, Makaton or PECs
- A basic understanding of Ofsted requirements for Out of School Provision
- First Aid qualification
- Food and Hygiene qualification
COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Ability to adhere to the Awesome’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST
This role will require you to obtain an Enhanced satisfactory clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 20 per week
Salary: £12,871.00-£14,984.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (required)
Experience:
- Playwork / Childcare: 1 year (required)
Work Location: One location
Application deadline: 17/02/2023
Reference ID: Cornwallis Playworker
