Creche Supervisor (Ref. 01959)

Children’s Services

Children & Young People

Greenham House

£15,096 - £17,352 per annum, pro rata. Grade D – SCP 15 - 20

Part-time: 17 hours per week

Permanent Post, term time only + three weeks during the summer.

The Young Families Project provides an outreach, early intervention support service to vulnerable families of pre-school children throughout West Berkshire. The team run 5 groups, often in rural areas, providing an ongoing parenting skills programme, based around play along with individual support for parents, a crèche facility for the children, Art and Craft sessions and discussion/information workshops. The aim of the Project is to improve confidence in parenting skills and support parents and children into mainstream provision.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with experience of working with children and families to be responsible for providing a safe and stimulating environment for pre-school children and their parents to enjoy opportunities for play and interaction.

You will:

Be responsible for the day to day running of the Crèche

Supervise and care for children while their parents are engaged in group work support or key worker sessions

Work closely with colleagues and other professionals including Health Visitors, Social Workers and voluntary agencies.

Need to be flexible

You will have:

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

2 or 3 years experience in working with pre-school children and families

Experience and ability to deal with challenging behaviour

Ability to support people through the process of change

Ability to work as a team, supporting colleagues and managing conflict.

Car driver essential

For an informal discussion please contact Carolyn Waterhouse, Team Manager (Family Resource Service) on 01635 43639 or Lindsay Fidler Project Coordinator on 01635 45274.

For an application form and information pack please call the 24-hour answerphone on 01635 519122 or email , quoting the post reference number 01959. To be considered for this post, an application form must be completed. Please ensure that your completed form is with us by the closing date.

Closing Date: 6th September 2007

JOB DESCRIPTION
Authority: West Berkshire Council / Service Area: Children and Families
Post Reference No: 01959 / Location: Greenham House, Greenham Road, Newbury
Job Title: Creche Supervisor / Grade/Salary Range: D - SCP 15-20
JOB PURPOSE
The Young Families Project provides an outreach, early intervention support service to vulnerable families of pre-school children throughout West Berkshire. The team run 5 groups, often in rural areas, providing an ongoing parenting skills programme, based around play, along with individual support for parents, a crèche facility for the children, Art and Craft sessions and discussion/information workshops. The aim of the Project is to improve confidence in parenting skills and support parents and children into mainstream provision.
The Creche supervisor will be responsible for providing a safe and stimulating environment for pre school age children and their parents to enjoy opportunities for play and interaction. To manage the day to day running of the crèche, organising play activities and ensuring equipment is appropriate and well maintained.
DESIGNATION OF POST AND POSITION WITHIN CORPORATE/SERVICE STRUCTURE
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
·  To be responsible for the day to day running of the Creche and organising play activities
·  To provide a safe and stimulating environment for pre-school and their parents to enjoy opportunities for play and interaction
·  To supervise and care for children while parents are engaging in group work support sessions or during key working sessions
·  To provide practical assistance to clients, which might include driving, escorting, delivering of equipment, and be involved in holiday play schemes
·  To maintain and write records for young people and families in accordance with departmental policy
·  To work with pre school children and their families, providing proactive & effective family support, advice and guidance
·  Direct work with families, in range of settings and activities, including community provision
·  To work to prevent discrimination in line with the Council’s Equalities Strategy
·  To ensure effective communication and liaison with other agencies and service providers and with other teams
within the department
·  To provide advice and assistance to clients on practical issues, including financial, welfare benefits, ensuring that any problems are resolved. To be aware of any relevant services or facilities which maybe of use to families and to facilitate uptake.
·  To work closely with the Project Leader to meet the aims of the Project.
·  To purchase appropriate equipment for the Crèche in consultation with the Project Leader.
·  To attend occasional meetings and report on the work of the Crèche
·  To participate in the development of policy and procedure as appropriate.
·  To participate in training and development.
·  To undertake additional duties as required by the managers.
·  To ensure work is carried out in open and effective partnership with parents and carers.
SCOPE OF JOB (Budgetary/Resource control, Impact)
The postholder will work in the context of relevant legislation and West Berkshire Council policy and procedures.
The work area is subject to frequent change, requiring clarity about priorities on completing demands for resources.
The department is part of the Children’s directorate and effective working depends on interagency working with education, health and other relevant agencies.
The postholder will have regular contact with service user’s and their carers and departmental staff including service managers.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Crèche Supervisor / Department/Division: Children and Families
Authority: West Berkshire Council / Post Reference No: 01959
KEY CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications And Training / NVQ in child care or above or A level equivalent education and extensive experience of working with pre-school age children and their families.
Competence Summary
(Knowledge, abilities, skills, experience)
Progression through salary grades will depend on worker’s ability to demonstrate competencies potentially those arrowed from ‘desirable’ to ‘essential’ / Experience of working with children under 5 and their parents
Experience and ability to deal with challenging behaviour.
Negotiation skills/clear communication skills
Creative thinking
Problem solving
An understanding of good practice in work with children and families
Ability to Make independent judgements and exercise initiative within agreed limits
Good organisational skills
Knowledge and understanding of children and their families and the challenge that they can face.
Ability to develop respectful relationships with young children and their families.
Experience in play provision for pre-school age children
Knowledge of child development
Ability to support people in distress/crisis
Ability to liase with a range of colleagues and professionals. / Experience of working with disabled children
Experience and ability in dealing with complex situations involving pre school children, families and staff.
Ability to assess children and their families.
Ability to prioritise own workloads and to recognise own coping mechanisms.
Work-related Personal Requirements / Working hours will need to be flexible and may include some weekend working
Need for flexibility in fulfilling job and requirements and in the evolving nature of the job.
Car driver/daily use of a car.
Willingness to use supervision and training to improve practice.
Basic understanding of team work
Ability to work calmly under pressure.
Other Work Requirements