Job Title:
Department:
Responsible to:
Responsible for:
Salary:
Hours:
Tenure:
Wildplay Officer
People & Property
People and Wildlife Officer (Families)
Sessional Leaders, Volunteers & Placements
£20,299
35 hours
3 years (till end of June 2018)
Background information
Our mission statement is:
“Staffordshire Wildlife Trust protects and enhances the wildlife and wild places of Staffordshire
and promotes understanding, enjoyment and involvement in the natural world.”
A registered charity established in 1969 we are one of 47 county Wildlife Trusts throughout the
UK and are supported by over 15,000 members.
The Trust owns or manages 26 nature reserves covering an area of almost 3,500 acres. Our
staff are based in 6 locations around the county including our Headquarters at Wolseley Bridge,
Stafford. Employing around 60 staff in 4 departments: - Living Landscapes, People & Property,
Finance and Development (Resources). The Trust has a diverse workforce including site
wardens, wildlife surveyors, community and education officers, catering and administration staff.
In addition we have two trading companies, one looking after the trading side of our business
including a café at Westport Lake Visitor Centre, the other a consultancy service employing
ecologists giving advice on environmental issues.
The overall aims of the education team is to provide exciting opportunities for families, children
and young people to engage with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and, through these opportunities,
promote the work that we do and inspire people to take action to support it.
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Job Purpose:
The post aims to deliver Wildplay and Nature Tots sessions with children and young people across the
Stoke and Urban Newcastle area funded by Children in Need. Wildplay is the Wildlife Trust’s own brand
of innovative natural, outdoor and adventurous play work, Nature Tots our focussed work with under 5s
and their families.
The post also involves delivery of other environmental linked programmes with children and young
people across the county.
The nature of the post, involving frequent contact with young people, means that the post holder must be
prepared to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly CRB) and provide appropriate
references in relation to his or her suitability to work with children.
Responsibilities:
a) Project management of Children in Need funded Wildplay project.
b) Develop and deliver Wildplay sessions in identified green spaces in Stoke-on-Trent and urban Newcastle
c) Promote the work undertaken to children and families in the project area
d) Produce publicity and promotional material in support of this work
e) Deliver training and presentations as appropriate in order to meet project targets
f)
Complete all project monitoring and claim forms to support funded work; manage day to day budgets and
monitor expenditure
g) Develop and plan the two Nature Tots sessions and liaise with other services to cross refer target families
to relevant services
h) Recruit, manage and train volunteers, placements and sessional workers
i)
Promote, plan and deliver family “play” events at Westport Lake
j)
Work at environmental education and visitor centres where the Trust has an involvement to develop and
deliver Wildplay & Nature tots provision
k) Help to identify new resources and funding in order to deliver Wild Play, Nature Tots and related work.
Undertake income earning work as appropriate
l)
All staff should recognise the contribution that membership makes towards the running of the organisation.
The post holder is therefore expected to understand the need for high standards of service to existing
members and recognise their role in contributing towards ongoing membership recruitment, ensuring all
team members play their part too
m) All publicly available written information (e.g. leaflets, interpretation boards, e-newsletters) to be produced
within SWT branding guidelines
n) In order for the organisation to work effectively you may be required to assist with other areas of work and
therefore you should be prepared to undertake other duties, appropriate to the post, as delegated by your
line manager
o) All staff are required to abide by organisational policies and procedures
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Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Assessment
Method *
Qualifications
A degree in an environmental discipline
Level 3 in Playwork, Forest Schools or Youth Work
Relevant teaching qualification
First Aid certificate
Hygiene certificate
Full Driving Licence
Experience
One year (or more) experience of work with children and
young people in an informal setting – youth/play/early years
work
Delivering environmental education to children and young
people within the framework of the National Curriculum
Experience of delivering outdoor/environmental work with
young people/children
Delivering informal environmental play within a range of
settings
Direct interaction with visitors
Proven track record of project development and delivery
Experience of producing written materials, reports or
monitoring forms
Experience of small funding bids and budget management
Managing sessional staff and volunteer
Experience of working with young people from a deprived
background
Skills/knowledge
Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to motivate and
encourage the local community and work effectively with
people of all ages, gender, ethnic origin, background and level
of responsibility
Some knowledge of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and the
National Curriculum
Some knowledge of informal education systems/channels and
the potential key contacts for these
Good planning and organisational ability
Ability to work within a busy team
An ability to work accurately within limited timeframes
A clear and demonstrable knowledge of environmental issues,
in particular biodiversity and nature conservation
Sound knowledge and understanding of play work principles
An understanding of the benefits of natural, outdoor or
adventurous play and how such work might be
delivered in practice
Ability to work with people of all ages and backgrounds
An awareness of the legal and health and safety issues
relating to working with young people
Good general IT skills i.e. Microsoft Office package: Word,
PowerPoint and Excel
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Criteria
Essential
Abilities
Personal Qualities
 Self-motivation and enthusiasm;
 Assertiveness and credibility;
 Flexibility and open mindedness;
 The ability to work on your own initiative and take
responsibility;
 Liked and respected within the community.
 Adaptability, flexibility and resourcefulness to cope with the
changing demands of the job
Job involves:
 working late evenings and early mornings/ weekends
and bank holidays where necessary
 working outside in all weather conditions
 driving around the County of Staffordshire, therefore
applicants must have a full current driving licence (and
access to a vehicle)
 frequent contact with young people and vulnerable
adults, therefore a Disclosure and Barring check will be
undertaken
Job involves manual handling such as:
 Carrying equipment for play/education sessions to and
from vehicle to site
 Erecting various sizes of tents for events
*
I = interview
QC = qualification certificate
AF = application form
Desirable
Assessment
Method *
AF, I
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T = test or assessment
P = presentation
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