JOB DESCRIPTION

1. POST:Birmingham Play and Youth Team Manager

2. LOCATION:Based in Druids Heath and working throughout Birmingham.

3. SALARY:£22,963 plus 20 days annual leave and optional pension scheme

4. HOURS:30 hours per week to include regular weekends and evenings.

5. ACCOUNTABLE TO:Play and Youth Director

Initial contract until May 2012 but likely to extend

6. AIMS OF THE PLAY AND YOUTH SERVICE

The aim of our work is to provide a safe environment for play and personal development. We introduce children and young adults to new, creative and stimulating experiences including arts, crafts, drama and non-competitive games. Our work encourages social interaction and communication in an environment that recognises and meets the individual needs of the child or young person within relevant frameworks and methodologies. The role of all staff is to provide and add variety to the play opportunities and to create an environment that reflects the aspirations and needs of children and young people, and includes opportunities for them to explore and understand their social world.

8. ROLE OF SERVICE MANAGER

The purpose of the job is to support the development and delivery of optimum quality play provision for children on the Autistic Spectrum and once a month for their siblings and to ensure effective team work between the play service and the Birmingham Reach Out service. Resources for Autism have an established method of providing appropriate, successful and fun play and youth services and the post holder will ensure the application of this in Birmingham. Excellent, trained staff, good preparation, management of materials and equipment and good teamwork must create an atmosphere that offers choice. A programme of activities is prepared in advance and publicised to parents. The programme provides a framework and highlights include special events such as trips. The post holder will work with the Family Support Worker and Volunteer Coordinator to ensure that young people served by the RfA Outreach service are encouraged to access schemes where possible and to develop shared training and support as appropriate. Together the three post holders will be responsible to the Director for the management of Resources for Autism in Birmingham.

You will have the help of a full time experienced Management Support Staff Member based in the office and providing administrative and practical support to all three service managers.

Groups run in the evening and at weekends and in all school holidays.

9. DUTIES:

i)Supervise and support all Birmingham play leaders.

ii)Ensure all play staff receive appropriate supervision and appraisals with the aim of maintaining a team that meets the needs of all our children and young people with confidence and to the highest standard.

iii)Ensure all Birmingham play staff understand and are complying with the RfA model of play and youth work

iv)Ensure all Birmingham play staff are complying with all policies and procedures

v)Ensure groups are appropriately staffed.

vi)Ensure hours are entered for all staff.

vii)Liaise with venues to ensure a good working relationship.

viii)Liaise and create working links with existing providers of specialist and non-specialist children and youth projects and other agencies supporting those with an ASC.

ix)Work with parents/carers and young people to ensure all areas of play and youth need are being accommodated.

x)Publicise and promote the Resources for Autism services within Birmingham,

xi)Ensure children are appropriately placed.

xii)Ensure necessary and appropriate record keeping and storage.

xiii)Ensure that the play sessions are properly resourced and have the equipment required to operate safely..

xiv)Ensure implementation of appropriate communication strategies, such as TEACCH or PECS.

xv)Ensure equipment is kept in good order.

xvi)Advise on new equipment required and order and maintain play resources

xvii)Represent RfA at networking events and public forum in consultation with the Reach Out team.

xviii)Ensure that responsibilities and duties are carried out in accordance with health and safety legislation, equal opportunities policy and child protection policies.

xix)Form and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with staff, volunteers, parents and carers.

xx)Carry out day-to-day financial and administrative tasks as required. This will include handling petty cash, health and safety checks and keeping a register.

xxi)Ensure data entry is up to date and accurate.

xxii)Identify new venues for future schemes and facilitate the set up of these.

xxiii)Maintain regular contact with the, Management Support Worker, Birmingham Reach Out Team, Director of Play and Youth Services and other RfA colleagues.

Secondary duties:

  1. Participating in the overall development of Resources for Autism’s service delivery and contributing to reviews of the business plan
  2. Providing data and information to the Director and Fundraising Manager to enable the service to be sustained and developed
  3. Engaging in continuous professional development in order to enhance skills and develop best practice

Person Specification

General Background
  1. Experienced and confident staff manager
  2. Appropriate professional qualification in youth work and/or play.
  1. Experience of working with children and young people with ASC/Asperger Syndrome with knowledge of the issues involved.
  2. Experience of working in youth/play settings with primary and secondary school aged children and young people.
  3. Good written and verbal communication skills.
  4. Knowledge of issues surrounding Health and Safety within a child based setting.
  5. Knowledge of the issues and general procedures of child protection.
  6. Knowledge and understanding of ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda

.

  1. Willingness to undertake further training.
  2. Have a completed Criminal Records Bureau Check, or be willing to undertake this.
Abilities and skills
  1. Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, parents, carers and other agencies.
  2. Ability to think creatively and develop new ideas.
  3. Ability to put ideas into practice
  4. Ability to maintain client monitoring and information systems.
  5. Ability to empathise with the needs of parents and families with a child with ASD/Asperger syndrome and an understanding of the importance of working in partnership with parents.
  6. Ability to support children who may experience challenging behaviour and/or emotional difficulties.
  7. Understanding of basic budgeting and financial controls

Experience and Knowledge

  1. Experience of working autonomously using own initiative.
  2. Experience of prioritising workload and managing time effectively.
  3. Knowledge of the appropriate methodology for working with this client group, such as educational and behavioural techniques to support people on the autistic spectrum
  4. Experience of developing and maintaining networks and formal channels of communication with external agencies.

Desirable

Additional Skills

  1. Have current Driving Licence with access to own transport.
  2. IT skills including Excel.
  3. Access to Internet at home.

April 2011