Play Practitioner, Community Wing

£16,306 - £18,065 (25 Hours per week)
Community Wing, Perth Grammar School

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Childcare Team to facilitate, deliver and support the development of play experiences, ensuring the highest quality for children, young people and their families within Perth and Kinross.

This role will facilitate a range of activities for children and young people and their families over holiday periods and during term-time.

As the successful post-holder, you will deliver practical Play sessions within homes, early years and childcare settings, schools and communities across Perth and Kinross, as detailed within the Perth and Kinross Play Framework and supporting action plan.

These actions include:

• Facilitating quality play opportunities in the school and playground environment, by sharing good practice and liaising with a range of professionals.

• Identifying appropriate play experiences and opportunities for the children, manage, co-ordinate and evaluate the delivery of play provision.

• Devising new and imaginative resources to support flexible methods of delivery of play provision and training for those involved in play services.

• Promoting the importance and benefits of play types (indoors and outdoors) for the health, wellbeing and overall development of children, young people and families.

• Encouraging families to develop skills, confidence, motivation and ownership of play.

• Developing and promoting the use of community resources for play opportunities.

This 25 hours per week post will be based at the Community Wing, Perth Grammar School, although you will deliver play sessions across Perth and Kinross.

It is expected that the hours will be between 9am - 6pm, with some evening work and weekends.

The Individual

We are looking for an individual to support the development of play experiences for children, young people and their families. You must be able to demonstrate your knowledge of quality play experiences and have knowledge of local and national guidance relating to play.

A genuine interest in the development of children and their wellbeing is essential and the important qualities are kindness, sensitivity, respectfulness, creativity, flexibility, good manners, a sense of fun, as well as the ability to respect confidentiality at all times.

Supervisory skills would be beneficial for managing a team of professionals delivering play activities with excellent communication skills to motivate and engage with staff and children.

In addition you must be flexible, able to work on your own or as part of a team, using your own initiative.

If you would like to share our ambition, commitment and drive to enhance the lives of children and young people through play within Perth and Kinross, then we would like to hear from you.

You must have a SNNEB, NNEB, SVQ3 in Playwork, Care Learning and Development, Early Education and Childcare, or Social Services (Children and Young People) or HNC in Childcare and Education or Childhood Practice.

You will also be given opportunities to undertake additional training.

A valid, full UK driving licence is essential as the role involves transporting play resources.

For more information on these posts, please contact Shona O’Connor at saoconnor@pkc.gov.uk

When completing your application for this post, please ensure that you provide contact details (including e-mail addresses) for two referees. One should be your current or most recent employer.

Please APPLY ONLINE. Facilities are available at all public libraries in Perth and Kinross. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments, please call 01738 475555 to discuss.

As part of our safer recruitment measures, Perth & Kinross Council carries out rigorous checks on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, employment history, including references, and fitness to undertake the post.

A healthy work life balance is important to Perth & Kinross Council and we provide supportive management and flexible working arrangements to help you achieve a healthy work life balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

Some jobs may have been traditionally carried out predominately by one gender, but we would encourage you to apply if you meet the requirements, irrespective of your gender.

Perth & Kinross Council welcomes applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.