DAY NURSERY ASSISTANT (MATERNITY COVER)

Further Particulars of the role

Wolfson College is one of the largest graduate colleges in the University of Oxford, with over 600 students. It has a strong egalitarian and democratic ethos and is increasingly known as one of the most energetic, innovative, and welcoming scholarly communities in Oxford.

The college is situated in modern buildings in an attractive landscaped garden next to the River Cherwell in North Oxford. The Day Nursery caters for up to thirty one children who are looked after in two groups - one from 6 weeks old to 2 years; the other for those aged 2 years and over. The Nursery uses the Key-Person system within each group to ensure consistency of care, and a two way partnership between parents and carer that ensures good home/Nursery links are established. There is an enclosed outside play area within the Nursery buildings. The Nursery participates in the national scheme to provide part-funded nursery places for three and four-year olds.

NURSERY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

We aim to produce a safe, stimulating and educational environment for children to enable them to develop knowledge and skills at their own pace whilst in a socially supportive setting. It is our intention to produce happy, well-adjusted and confident children.

All children are offered equal opportunities with regard to their racial origins, religious persuasion, gender, disabilities, cultural or linguistic background.

All employees are required to work in a confidential manner in all aspects of their work.

All employees are subject to The Health & Safety at Work Act and are expected to behave in a pro-active manner supporting this.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Day Nursery Assistant (Maternity Cover)

Department:Day Nursery

Main Purpose of Job:

As a member of the nursery team to actively contribute to providing a high standard of childcare whilst complying with the nursery’s policies and procedures.

Relationships:

  1. Responsible to: Day Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, Head of Room and Senior Nursery staff
  2. Liaison with: Other members of the nursery team, other relevant departments

Main Tasks of Job:

KEY OBJECTIVES

  • As a member of the Nursery team, show initiative and creativity to foster an environment which encourages the children’s all round development.
  • Be familiar with all emergency and security procedures (e.g. fire procedures, routines for dropping off and/or collecting children)
  • As a member of the Nursery team, undertake a shared responsibility for health, safety, hygiene and cleanliness throughout the Nursery
  • Assist the Deputy/Head of Room in ensuring all agreed College policies and procedures are implemented and maintained in the Nursery at all times.

TOWARDS THE CHILDREN

  • To ensure all children are cared for in a happy, safe and stimulating environment.
  • To ensure that each child’s full potential is developed in the social, emotional, physical and intellectual sense and that the child’s welfare, independence and self-esteem as an individual and as a member of a group, is treated as paramount at all times.
  • To encourage children’s self-esteem by helping them to acquire skills, endorsing positive behaviour and making them feel valued as individuals.
  • To act as a role model to all children within the Nursery. This includes being consistent on issues of bullying, racism, swearing, hitting etc, and ensuring that if such issues arise, the children involved are calmly talked to and that it is clearly explained why their actions are unacceptable.
  • Assist with the creation of a stimulating and attractive classroom environment
  • To promote safe use of the equipment and positive play with all age groups.
  • To care for the general health and well being of the children and cleanliness of the Nursery

AS A MEMBER OF THE NURSERY TEAM

  • To act as a positive role model and work as part of a harmonious team within the Nursery, behaving in a professional and supportive manner towards both colleagues and children at all times.
  • Under direction from Qualified Staff, assist with the preparation of the Nursery for OFSTED inspections and help action any recommendations made by the Inspector.
  • Assist the Deputy/Head of Room/Qualified staff members as requested with Nursery paperwork that needs completing on a regular basis.
  • To attend and participate in staff meetings that takes place after normal working hours.
  • Any other duties appropriate to the post as directed by the Deputy, Head of Room or Qualified staff.

The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above may change from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Nursery and/or Wolfson College.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications
Knowledge
Skills
Work Experience /
  • Ability to participate in suitable activities for the children (both indoors and outdoors)
  • Ability to adopt a flexible approach to ensure each child’s individual needs are met
  • Ability to work as a reliable member of the Nursery team, developing positive relationships with colleagues
  • Ability to use own initiative
  • Ability to support and liaise with other members of staff
  • Ability to maintain records
  • Good oral and written communication
  • Satisfactory DBS (CRB) check (the check will be arranged by the College)
  • Commitment to providing equal opportunities
  • NVQ Level 2 in Childcare or equivalent
  • the College is willing to consider exceptional unqualified candidates who are looking to develop a career in childcare
/ Current First Aid training
Basic Food Hygiene
Experience of working with children whose first language is not English
Personal Qualities /
  • Genuinely interested in the development of children (in particular, through the key worker system)
  • Energetic and enthusiastic
  • Self-motivated
  • Patient
  • Friendly and of a perceptive and responsive nature

This post may be offered to an exceptional unqualified candidate, in which case the requirement to hold NVQ level 2 in childcare will be waived.
As unqualified members of staff may not be able to perform all tasks of the job and will require higher levels of supervision the terms and conditions of employment will be slightly different from those of a qualified member of staff (please see ‘Terms and conditions’ overleaf).

Terms and Conditions:

Appointment: / The post is available from Monday 3rd January 2018 or as soon as possible after that date. It is full time and for a fixed term of 12 months until 5th January 2018 with a standard 3 months’ probation.
Hours: / Working hours are42.5 hours per week,which will normallybe 8.5 hours per day between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, on a shift basis.
Training: / Training will be provided in:
  • Basic understanding of Health and Safety issues
  • Basic understanding of Child Protection Procedures and issues

Annual Leave Entitlement: / 39 days paincluding 8 Bank Holidays.
Salary and Benefits: / The Level 2 post is Wolfson Grade 2, salary range from £17,904 to £21,398 per annum. New appointments normally start at the first increment in the grade.Benefits include pension scheme, free lunch, free parking.
If the post is offered to an unqualified candidate the salary offered will be within Grade 1, salary range from £15,628 to £17,453 per annum.
Meals are provided whilst on duty but it is necessary to be flexible about when lunch breaks are taken. If you choose to eat your lunch whilst on duty, you are required to participate in the children’s lunch-time as a role model encouraging appropriate table manners and understanding that the children’s needs must take priority.
Notice period: / 1 week during probation, 1 month thereafter
Other conditions / The post is subject to obtaining satisfactory references, DBS check, and a satisfactory completion of the health questionnaire, the right to work check and signing a contract of employment.

Equality of opportunity

The Equal Opportunities policy of the College requires that all staff are offered equal opportunities within employment. Entry into employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria related to the post. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant will be treated less favourably than another because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Data Protection

All data supplied by candidates will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the College Data Protection Policy (available on the website at

Application:

Applications should include anapplication form (overleaf) completed in full and a covering letter explaining your interest in and suitability for the role and reasons why you are leaving your current employment. The letter and application should beaddressed to the Day Nursery Manager andshould be sent by post to the HR Manager, Wolfson College, Linton Road, Oxford OX2 6UD or by email (preferred) to .

The closing date isMonday13th November 2017. Interviews will be held onThursday 24thNovember 2017. A short visit to the nursery will be arranged prior to the interview. Shortlisted candidates will be requested to bring to the interview documents required for the DBS check.

APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT / PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
PLEASE COMPLETE ALL PARTS and return together with other required documents to HR Manager at Wolfson College, Linton Road, Oxford OX2 6UD or to
POSITION APPLIED FOR: Nursery Assistant (Maternity Cover) / Ref. NAMC
Surname / Forename(s) / Title
Address: / e-mail:
Postcode / Telephone number:
NI No. / Are there any restrictions on you taking up employment in the UK? Please delete below as appropriate
Are you a citizen of the UK or the European Union? / Yes/No
If ‘No’ do you have a visa to work in the UK? / Yes/No

EDUCATION HISTORY (Please use a separate sheet if necessary)

Schools/Colleges/Universities / Dates (from-to) / Qualifications gained
OTHER TRAINING

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY (Please use a separate sheet if necessary)

Are you currently employed? Yes/No (Please delete as appropriate)
Notice required in current employment:
Name and address of employer / Dates of employment / Job title and duties / Reason for leaving
OTHER EMPLOYMENT
(please note any other employment you would like to continue with if you were to be successful in obtaining this position)

REFERENCES

Please note here the names and contact details of your referees. Applicants must provide details of two referees. One must be your current or most recent employer and the other should be a previous employer. Where possible the two referees should be from separate sources and not the same organisation or employer.
Referee 1 / Referee 2
Name of referee
Referee’s relation to the applicant
Institution name
and address
Email address
Telephone number
Are you happy this referee to be contacted prior to the interview? / Yes/No (Please delete as appropriate) / Yes/No (Please delete as appropriate)

CRIMINAL RECORD

Please note any criminal convictions except those 'spent' under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If none please state. In certain circumstances employment is dependent upon obtaining a satisfactory basic disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

DECLARATION (Please read carefully before signing this application)

  1. I confirm that the above information is complete and correct and that any untrue or misleading information will give my employer the right to terminate any employment contract offered.
  1. Should we require further information and wish to contact your doctor with a view to obtaining a medical report, the law requires us to inform you of our intention and obtain your permission prior to contacting your doctor. I agree that Wolfson College reserves the right to require me to undergo a medical examination. In addition, I agree that this information will be retained in my personnel file during employment and for up to six years thereafter and understand that information will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
  1. I agree that should I be successful in this application, I will, if required, apply to the Disclosure and BarringService for a basic disclosure. I understand that should I fail to do so, or should the disclosure not be to the satisfaction of the College any offer of employment may be withdrawn or my employment terminated.

SIGNATURE / DATE