Inclusive Play Worker for Lollard Street
APG.
QUALIFICATION: NVQ3 OR EQUIVALENT IN PLAY WORK, WITH EXPERIENCE OF
ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS AND/OR A FREE-PLAY SETTING.
THE POST HOLDER WILL RECEIVE A MONTHLY SALARY CALCULATED ON THE RATE OF £11.50 PER HOUR.
INITIALLY THE CONTRACT WILL BE FOR 1 YEAR, CONSISTING OF 3 AFTER-SCHOOL SESSIONS DURING
TERM-TIME AND 5 FULL WEEKDAYS DURING SCHOOL-HOLIDAY PERIODS (INCLUDING HALF-TERM). THE
POST-HOLDER WILL ALSO RECEIVE 20 DAYS ANNUAL LEAVE A YEAR, PAID PRO RATA. PLEASE NOTE: ALL
POSTS ARE SUBJECT TO A CLEAR DISCLOSURE AND BARRING CERTIFICATE. THE POST IS SUBJECT TO
SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF A 3 MONTH PROBATION PERIOD.
Job Description and Specification:
The successful applicant must have an understanding of the importance of play
for children of all ages and of the concept and value of imaginative, free and
adventurous activity within a safe environment. The post holder should have
experience of working with disabled children and young people in various play
settings.
Essential Experience:
 Experience of working with children (6 to 16 years) either as a volunteer or
an employed person.
 Experience of working with disabled children and young people.
 Awareness of how to keep children safe and the importance of
understanding our Safeguarding Policies including how to report suspected
abuse or neglect.
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 Ability to prepare written reports, timetables and other administrative
duties and a commitment to ensure proper records are obtained and kept,
such as parental consent and attendance forms.
 Understanding the importance of establishing good working relationships
with all staff, management and contractors.
 Understanding the needs of parents and carers and the importance of good
community relations.
 Experience of participating in Health-and-Safety reviews and how to be
alert to unexpected or new health-and-safety issues.
 Absolute commitment to equalities and the importance of recognizing the
individual needs of all children, whatever their gender, race, disability, faith
or sexuality. Also an awareness to recognize vulnerability in all its forms and
to ensure that our environment is a safe one for each child.
 An awareness and respect for cultural difference and heritage and of the
importance for all those who use the project to be free of bullying and
discrimination.
 Experience and ability to ensure that volunteers are carefully recruited,
introduced into the project and properly supervised and appreciated.
 Be able to demonstrate an ability to listen to children, to show a real
interest and respect for each child as an individual and how to guard
against showing favoritism.
 Genuine enjoyment of being with children in a free-play setting.
 Willingness to welcome supervision, training and independent monitoring.
Desirable Experience:
 Training and, where appropriate, certificates in First Aid, Fire Marshalls,
Food Preparation and other Health-and-Safety policies.
 Training or experience in communication and access to free play for
children with sensory impairment, learning difficulties or for those who are
physically or mentally challenged.
 The ability to design activities such as drama, dance and music; cookery;
carpentry; arts and crafts; ceramics or sports skills to add value to our
activities for children.
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 Computer literacy and the ability to use Excel would be an advantage.
Administrative Duties:
 To be responsible, as part of a team, for the day-to-day running of Lollard
Street Adventure Playground (LSAP) under the supervision of the Senior
Play Worker.
 To be answerable to the Senior Play Worker and then to the LSAP
Management Committee Chair and ultimately to the Board of Directors of
the Kennington Association (KA).
 To attend the LSAP Management Committee as required.
 To ensure that all Health-and-Safety policies are adhered to and that the
play structures are regularly checked and maintained in good order under
the direction of the Senior Play Worker.
 To carry out the Risk Assessment Procedures, under the direction of the
Senior Play Worker, before each session and review these periodically with
the team, for reporting to the Chair.
 To ensure that all Health-and-Safety policies are regularly reviewed and
that independent inspections are carried out yearly.
 To work closely with partners who provide planned activities on site and
who share LSAP’s storage.
 To maintain paper files and computer data, mindful of the Data Protection
Act and the need for absolute confidentiality where necessary.
 To maintain the Accident Records and Incident Book
 To accept and prepare for supervision and attend training opportunities as
often as possible.
Parents and Children:
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 To develop a strong community presence for the project by being
responsive to the needs of local families and by welcoming local parents
and carers.
 To ensure that all sessions for children are properly prepared and delivered
and that feedback is encouraged from children and carers.
 To ensure that parental consent forms are properly completed, that
parents and carers understand and adhere to the policies regarding
younger children and older teenagers.
 To work with partners to publicise all activities taking place on site.
 To understand and feel confident to implement the Safeguarding Policies
and Procedures and that all matters of concern are immediately reported
to the Senior Play Worker and to the Chair in their capacity as the
Safeguarding Officer.
 To be alert to bullying and discriminatory behaviour by children or parents
and to devise good practice for dealing with this in a productive manner.
 To be mindful that there are added risks to adventure playground
structures and that a member of staff must remain within the playground
area at all times when children are using the structures.
 To attend First Aid training.
 To be responsible for the monthly fire drill as directed.
 During holiday periods, to assist in organising outings and events.
 To ensure that all children are listened to and encouraged to increase their
comprehension and verbal ability.
 To help all staff and volunteers to understand the concept of free play and
to be sensitive and alert to the needs of each child and how these may vary
from session-to-session.
 To plan for children who have sensory or physical disabilities or who may
have learning difficulties or mental disorders so that no child will be
rejected unless their behaviour is dangerous to others.
 To develop and foster good community relations within the neighborhood.
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