Down After School Club Playworker - Information pack for candidates

Thank you for your interest in the role of Playworker at After School Club. We hope this pack provides everything you need to know about the Club, the role and its potential. You can also find out more about the club on or website www.ashleydownafterschoolclub.org.uk

We look forward to receiving your application.

Julia Hodgson Chair Of Trustees, Ashley Down After School Club CIO

About Ashley Down After School Club

Introduction

Ashley Down After School Club provides after school and holiday play schemes for children in the Ashley Down area of . The club is based at the United Reformed Church Hall on the corner of Muller and Downend Roads.

After School

We run two after school clubs, one based at our main site at the corner of Downend Road and Muller Road (for children attending Ashley Down Primary School Downend Road site) and our second site at the school buildings for Ashley Down Primary School, Brunel Field site.

Each day staff from the club collect children from Ashley Down Primary School (Downend Road and Brunel Field sites) and they all travel (walk from Downend Road) to their club. When children arrive at the club they have a snack and drink and then participate in a wide range of play activities. The club is open until 5.45pm (5.30 for Brunel Field) and typically has forty children at our Muller Road site and up to 24 at our Brunel Field site ranging from 4 – 11 years old.

Holiday Play schemes During the school holidays and INSET days (and potentially any other days when the schools are closed), the club provides a holiday play scheme from 8.30am – 5.30pm depending on demand. Ashley Down After School Club CIO Horfield URC, 139 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9RB T: 0117 9040043 E:[email protected] Charity Number 1154025

The staff team plan a wide range of activities and publicise a schedule before hand. The holiday play scheme is open to all children aged 4-11 and not just those who use the after school club.

Governance The club is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is managed by a committee of Trustees usually parents of children attending the clubs who are elected each year at the AGM.

Staffing The staff of the club is structured as follows: . Play Facilitator 36 hrs per week – plans and leads play work and has overall responsibility for development of the club . Two Deputy Play Facilitators – 22 hours per week – supports the Play Facilitator in planning and leading the clubs at each site . Play workers – part time – numbers depend on demand – work with the children attending the club and ensuring they have a safe and fun time . Administrator – 8 hrs per week – responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the club’s administration and finances

Ashley Down After School Club CIO Horfield URC, 139 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9RB T: 0117 9040043 E:[email protected] Charity Number 1154025

Ashley Down After School Club Job Description and Person Specification

Post: Play worker

Managed by: Play Facilitator

Job Description

Job role The play worker’s role is to enable all children to attending Ashley Down After School Club to engage in a range of play opportunities, being an advocate for children's play and to participate in the day to day running of the scheme. The play workers operate as part of a team and ensure the safety and well being of all the children at the club. The playworkers can work either at our Brunel Field or Muller Road sites and will be expected to be able to work at either site.

Communicates with Play Facilitator and parents

Salary £8.00 per hour

Hours of work 2:45-6.15pm evenings to be agreed

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To enable children to engage in a range of play opportunities allowing for safe risks and challenges.

2. To develop and maintain positive relationships with children, families and other team members.

3. To engage in the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of play opportunities to encourage participation and partnership with children, families and other team members.

4. To support individual children and assess their development through play, working a child-centred way.

5. To meet children in the school setting according to the child collection policy and to ensure that children are escorted in a safe and timely manner from the school site to the club.

6. To help establish relationships of trust with children and young people responding to a wide range of play, creative and behavioural needs

7. To implement behaviour management strategies which support children’s play

Ashley Down After School Club CIO Horfield URC, 139 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9RB T: 0117 9040043 E:[email protected] Charity Number 1154025

8. Ensure that the play environment including equipment and resources are well chosen and prepared and ready in time for the arrival and departure of children, allowing for their freely- chosen play and allowing for children's participation in setting up the environment wherever possible.

9. To be an advocate for children's play, recognising the impact of children' on the playworker and the playworker's impact on the play space.

10. To keep records as required. For example accident/incident forms, learning diaries, fee receipts and observations

11. To maintain children’s safety at all times during attendance at the play setting and on trips.

12. To take any action required to ensure the safety and welfare of children and to report any concern immediately to the Play Facilitator.

13. To support and develop a play environment which is inclusive for all and recognises and encourages diversity.

14. To implement policies and procedures of the play setting, for example Child Protection, Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities polices as well as the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

15. To attend relevant meetings, supervision sessions and identified training, contributing to play policy & strategy.

16. To keep up-to-date on issues affecting children and playwork through continuing professional development and reflective practice.

17. To work with the rest of the play team, sharing information and knowledge where appropriate.

18. To undertake any other duties as reasonably directed by the Play Facilitator or Trustees.

Ashley Down After School Club CIO Horfield URC, 139 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9RB T: 0117 9040043 E:[email protected] Charity Number 1154025

Person Specification

Essential Desirable Training & 1 Flexibility to undertake essential A recognised Level 2 Playwork or Qualifications training childcare qualification 2 A First Aid Certificate 3 Level 1 training in child protection

Experience 4 Experience of working with 4 – 11 year olds 5 Experience of providing play opportunities for children in a play setting Knowledge & 6 Ability to implement policies and Knowledge of Ofsted requirements, Abilities procedures the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and quality indicators eg: Bristol Standard 7 Ability to work as a team member but also manage and organise own workload 8 Ability to provide a wide range of play Specific Art / craft / games / sport opportunities which meet children’s skills individual needs 9 Ability to complete basic ICT skills administrative tasks 10 Ability to be a reflective playworker in Understanding of the play process order to develop your practice and how to support children in their play 11 Ability to communicate effectively Knowledge of the Playwork Principles with all children, staff and families 12 Ability to support and develop a play environment which is inclusive for all and encourages diversity. 13 Understanding of the principles of child protection

Ashley Down After School Club CIO Horfield URC, 139 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9RB T: 0117 9040043 E:[email protected] Charity Number 1154025

The application process

Informal discussion If you would like an informal discussion about either post, you are welcome to contact Raquel De Mena our Play Facilitator on [email protected] or 0117 904 0043.

Applications To apply, please download the attached application form and complete fully.

Please return your completed application form by email to: [email protected] or by post to Ashley Down After School Club, 139 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 9RB.

Closing date The closing date for applications is Monday 8th of October at 5pm. Late applications will not be considered. Short listing candidates will be contacted the same week and arrange interviews. We would like successful candidates to start with us as soon as possible after an offer has been made. Please ensure that we have contact numbers for you at that time.

Interviews Interviews will be conducted by the Play Facilitator and a Deputy Play Facilitator the following week.

Thank you for your interest in Ashley down after School Club, and we look forward to receiving your application.

Ashley Down After School Club CIO Horfield URC, 139 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 9RB T: 0117 9040043 E:[email protected] Charity Number 1154025