Group Support Worker

_**(CONTRACT POTENTIALLY RENEWABLE AFTER 4 MONTHS)**_

**Job Purpose: to support and maintain a well-organised, safe and stimulating environment delivering a flexible, high quality service which will meet the needs of children and their families. This will be in accordance with the policies, quality assurance guidelines and codes of practice adopted by CALA.**

**Leadership & Teamwork**
- Support the staff ensuring a flexible, high quality service is being delivered. Ensure a positive role model is portrayed at all times.
- Communicate effectively with the staff to ensure understanding of responsibilities on a day to day basis, carrying these out in a professional and effective manner.
- Work with colleagues to support the quality systems within the centre, relating to Quality Assurance, Health and Safety and Data Protection.
- Support staff to implement play activities appropriate to the needs of children, on an individual basis to promote and develop children’s learning and in line with recognised standards. Using current documents such as the Curriculum for Excellence, Health & Social Care Standards, Realising the Ambition, being me and Pre-birth to three, supporting the quality of play within the centre.
- Within the group support the staff to complete and ensure relevant observation and record keeping documentation is kept up to date. Take responsibility for completing information for the key worker group of children.
- Monitor and evaluate progress of individual children’s development against planned strategies. Support the staff team to adhere to relevant action plans addressing the Education Scotland report, Care Inspectorate report, Quality Improvement report including curriculum planning to improve the service.
- Support the personal care and well-being of all children.
- Review CALA policies and risk assessments to ensure knowledge and understanding of documents.
- Support the staff team by contributing to the process of self evaluation using ‘How Good is Our Early Learning and Childcare’ Framework and in consultation with parents, children and the wider community where applicable.
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with parents/carers.

**Professional Knowledge and Understanding of Health and Safety**
- Take responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of every individual child including early identification of additional support needs and with regard to keeping children safe. Concerns should be recorded as soon as possible on the appropriate CALA format.
- Ensure that the parents, children and the staff team are familiar with and adhere to the relevant policies and procedures that support the safe running of the centre.
- Ensure all food/snacks are prepared and served in accordance with appropriate food hygiene guidelines on a daily basis. Encourage the children to participate in the preparation of the snack provision.
- Support the staff team to maintain a safe environment for the children, ensuring that all equipment and resources are set out appropriately and advise the staff of any requirements to maintain a stimulating environment.

**Professional Learning and Development**
- Meet with the Senior/CPM for support and supervision meetings on a regular basis.
- Meet with the CPM for formal staff review and mutually agree a staff development plan for the year ahead followed by a 6-month review to discuss any progress made on reaching objectives.
- Take responsibility for your personal learning and participate in training and personal development opportunities as agreed with your line manager, ensuring continuous professional development in line with the needs of SSSC requirements in relation to the ongoing work of this post.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 4 months

**Salary**: £10.96 per hour

Expected hours: 18 per week

**Benefits**:

- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- On-site parking

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- No weekends

**Experience**:

- Nursery: 1 year (preferred)
- Childcare: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person