Playworker

About the role
As a playworker, you will assist in planning play opportunities and activities, run play sessions, maintain and construct play structures working alongside the children, young people and staff team and support the planning and delivery of events at the Playground including National Play day.

You will work with policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and families. You will have or be prepared to work towards a suitable Level 2 Play work qualification and a good understanding of the importance of play and child development.

Post holders will be required to work annualised hours including evenings and some weekends. Cambridgeshire County Council is committed to safeguarding children and young people and post holders will be required to have an enhanced DBS check carried out.

For informal enquiries please contact Violet Loveridge on 0746 733 0629

What will you be doing?
Main accountabilities
**1. Play provision**

To undertake specific tasks as advised by the Lead Playworker to promote and enhance the quality of play opportunities for all children young people and their families. This will include:

- Assisting with the planning of play opportunities and activities with children and young people.
- Assisting with the running of play sessions, facilitating play and developing a sense of fair play with the children and young people.
- Developing positive relationships with all children, young people and families attending the adventure playground to ensure the full participation of the children and young people and to foster a sense of ownership.
- Maintaining and constructing play structures working alongside the children and young people and staff team.
- Supporting the planning and delivery of events at the Playground including National Play day.
- Be able to use own initiative coming up with new ideas
- This job can be physically demanding and completing maintenance tasks
- Working outdoors a lot of the time

**Health and Safety**

To work with policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, families at the Playground. This will include:

- Recognising and reporting on early signs relating to safeguarding and child protection concerns.
- Working with and understanding the importance of risk assessments.
- A knowledge of playground structures
- Assisting with health and safety audits and maintenance of facilities and resources.
- Assisting in identifying children, young people and families that may benefit from a referral for ‘early help’.
- Undertaking administration of first aid and prescribed medication.
- Assisting with some aspects of personal care.
- Responding appropriately to any emergencies following appropriate policies and procedures.

**Administration**
- To assist with the keeping of records and other documentation as required.
- To prepare for, attend and participate in group meetings, staff supervision and training sessions, and support the culture of continuous improvement and personal development.
- To carry out other duties as from time to time deemed appropriate to the post to ensure the smooth running of the service

About you

**Q**ualifications Required**

**S**ubject**

**E**ssential/ Desirable**

NVQ level 2

To have or be prepared to work towards a suitable Level 2 Play work qualification

Essential

Child care training

Desirable

First Aid Certificate

Basic

Desirable

**K**nowledge**

Importance of play

Why play is important to a child’s development

Essential

Child development

Physical, mental and social

Essential

Safeguarding and child protection

Issues and procedures

Essential

Understanding of play work principles

Desirable

Equal opportunities

Issues concerning equal opportunities and inclusive practice

Desirable

Health and safety and risk assessments

Desirable

**S**kills**

Consulting and planning

Ability to consult and plan with children and young people on play opportunities and to reflect on their success

Essential

Team and independent working

Ability to work independently in isolated conditions as well as in a team

Essential

Time keeping and organisational

Essential

Listening and communication skills

Essential

IT skills

Essential

Maintenance Skills

general maintenance experience

Desirable

Unsocial hours

Work will include evenings and weekends

Essential

**E**xperience**

Working with children and young people

Professionally, at home or as a volunteer

Essential

Ethnic and cultural backgrounds

Experience of working with children and young people with a range of abilities and from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Desirable

About us
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.

We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of t