LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN’S RIGHTS SERVICE
Tindlemanor, 52-54 Featherstone Street, London, EC1Y 8RT
CRÈCHE COORDINATOR
Job Description & Person Specification
Job Title: Crèche Coordinator
Hours of Work: To work as required, average. 30 hours per month.
Salary: £12 per hour
Annual Leave: 25 days per year, calculated pro rata subject to hours worked.
Purpose of the job
The Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) is a human rights organisation providing a range of one-to-one and group activities for Latin American migrant women. Many of them have small children and bring them along to our office when they come to seek services. LAWRS provides a crèche to ensure children are safely looked after while mothers receive a service in order to ensure an environment of confidentiality and space for themselves when receiving a service.
The Crèche Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that children are safely and appropriately looked after during the periods in which their mothers are using LAWRS’ services and for providing them with a stimulating and varied programme of play. Continuous sessions are not expected to last more than two hours and the service is provided for children up to five years of age. During half term and school holidays, the crèche may be used by children up to the age of 12
A Crèche service is provided for the following services and activities (crèche is always provided by prior arrangement):
· Weekly drop-in surgeries held every Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 1p.m. and the last Wednesday of the month from 5:00 to 8:00 pm
· Clients’ appointments for advice
· ESOL and other English classes
· Counselling appointments
· Workshops, seminars and meetings with users
Hours will vary, but there will be some fixed times.
Crèche sessions last on average two hours in any one day, up to a maximum of four hours (depending on budget availability).
You should allow some time for administrative work.
You will also be required to work some Saturday events per year (eg AGM, Christmas party and others), attended by approximately 20-30 children.
RESPONSIBILITIES
General:
1. Overall responsibility for the smooth operation of LAWRS’ crèche.
2. Ensuring a safe environment for children, to comply with health and safety and child protection regulations, including keeping a register and accident book.
3. Responsibility for the maintenance of the playroom and its contents, preparing the playroom before children arrive and ensuring it is clean and tidy.
4. To carry out your duties in accordance with LAWRS’ policies.
5. Assisting with other tasks as requested by the organisation in the event that there are no children coming to LAWRS at times when a crèche service is provided.
6. To keep abreast of safeguarding legislation and attend safeguarding training to improve your knowledge, skills and performance as agreed with the line manager.
7. To liaise with mothers and other LAWRS’ staff, when appropriate.
8. To co-ordinate activities for children aged 5-12 attending larger events
9. To keep confidential any information about the children or their families gained in the course of your work
Personnel:
1. To recruit crèche workers and ensure that selected candidates are appropriately trained DBS checked and in accordance with LAWRS recruitment policies.
2. To ensure the appropriate ratio of personnel to children at each session.
3. To be responsible for organising and co-ordinating the work of other crèche staff in events where large numbers of children come to use the crèche
Activities:
1. To liaise with your line manager to ensure there is appropriate play equipment.
2. To organise a programme of creative activities providing good quality childcare and age-appropriate stimulating and developmental activities/games.
3. To design activities for children that challenge gender stereotypes
4. Make relevant room, activity leaders/performers/bookings in good time for events; fundraise where relevant, and arrange purchase/donations of presents for Christmas.
Administration & Evaluation:
1. Organise the crèche calendar weekly.
2. Ensure the database is kept up-to-date by crèche workers on duty, with children’s names, ages and relevant notes /activities from each session.
3. Ensure timesheets are prepared monthly & signed off by line manager & Director; and ensure activities are kept within the crèche budget.
4. Monitor children’s activities in line with evaluation procedures and assist your line manager /Director in preparing reports to funders of the crèche programme.
5. Prepare reports to the management committee
Child Protection Information:
1. To ensure that LAWRS’ Child Protection Policy is updated and responsive to legal and organisational requirements in consultation with other staff members.
2. To train, or organise staff training on Child Protection issues, and that crèche workers undertake training on working with child witnesses of domestic violence.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
Skills/Knowledge/Experience
1. NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification in childcare.
2. Sound understanding of child development issues and experience of organising activities for young children
3. Demonstrable ability to organise activities which promote learning, integration and equality in relationships (including gender relationships).
4. Awareness of how domestic violence impacts on children and families and the actions that should be taken.
5. Excellent spoken and written English and Spanish or English and Portuguese
6. Line management or volunteer management experience
7. Knowledge of the Children’s Act and Child Protection legislation and issues.
8. Excellent inter-personal and communication skills and ability to establish good rapport with children.
9. Good ICT skills and use of relevant IT packages
Personal values and attitudes
1. Preparedness to work flexible hours and on an on-call basis
2. A commitment to secure and uphold children’s and women’s rights and a commitment to adhere to and promote LAWRS’ ethos and values with regard to the empowerment of Latin American women
3. Alert, observational and responsible attitude.
4. Highly organised, pro-active and able and meet deadlines.
5. Collaborative and willing to work as a team member.
6. Initiative, resourcefulness and a “can do” attitude
7. Commitment to integrate equal opportunities principles in all aspects of the work
DESIRABLE
1. Ability to speak English, Spanish and Portuguese
2. Attainment of a valid first aid certificate (training will be offered)
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