Deputy Head of Babyzone - Blackburn

Reports to: Head of Babyzone Blackburn

Salary: £30,000 pro-rata

Hours: 1.5 days per week (term-time only) to include delivery day on Wednesdays (8:15am – 3:15pm)

Location: Blackburn Youth Zone (BB1 1EP) for delivery day + remote working

Babyzone Blackburn is a thriving early-years initiative supporting families with children aged 0–5 years. We are looking for an experienced, hands-on and collaborative Deputy Head to help lead the growth and day-to-day delivery of the programme. Working at the heart of our community offer, you will support the Head of Babyzone Blackburn in shaping high-quality sessions, strengthening family engagement, and ensuring that our work reflects Babyzone’s inclusive, evidence-informed approach.

Key responsibilities

• Supporting strategic planning and operational oversight
• Coordinating and motivating a small, high-performing team
• Maintaining excellent safeguarding practice
• Building strong partnerships with local organisations and stakeholders
• Contributing to clear, impactful reporting for funders and leadership

This is an exciting opportunity to step into a leadership role that makes a tangible difference for families, helping ensure every parent and carer has access to the warm, responsive, and supportive environment they need to help their child thrive.

Leadership and Team Management

• Recruit and manage a high calibre and motivated Babyzone team, ensuring they consistently demonstrate high standards of service, conscientiousness and transparency.
• Act as the main point of contact for operational problem-solving, risk management and safeguarding.
• Work collaboratively with all Babyzone staff, trustees and partners
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local stakeholders such as the council, other charities, and the local WOW World Group delivery team.

Delivery and operations

• Develop and refine the Blackburn Babyzone offer so that it meets national standards while reflecting the specific needs of local families.
• Coordinate set-up, free-play, classes and close-down alongside class leaders to ensure:

• Timely opening and closing of sessions
• Adequate staffing levels in all areas
• Safe, welcoming and high-quality delivery across all spaces

Partnerships

• Lead local marketing and outreach initiatives to ensure Babyzone reaches as many target families as possible.
• Build strong relationships with early years organisations and networks in the area, positioning Babyzone as a hub for early years thought, practice and collaboration.
• Plan and coordinate special events to widen Babyzone’s offer, create variety and richness in activities, and generate content and interest that supports strong attendance and engagement.

Recruitment and HR Administration

• Supervise and guide additional volunteers, apprentices, or support staff as necessary.
• Respond to and action reasonable requests from the Head of Babyzone Blackburn, national management team or Board of Trustees.
• Invoice and payroll management

Skills and technical competencies

• Leadership and Team Management: Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to manage and motivate a diverse team. Set clear performance targets for the team and support them in achieving them in a timely fashion. Effective coaching skills to facilitate professional development within the team.
• Work Approach and Adaptability: Flexible approach with the ability to work autonomously and as part of a growing team.
• Communication and Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Technical literacy: Experience with Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience with project management.
• Value alignment: A passion for the Babyzone mission and a commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

As part of your role as Deputy Head of Babyzone Blackburn, you will also fulfil the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) alongside the Head of Babyzone Blackburn, for which you will be fully trained. In the absence of the Head of Babyzone Blackburn, the Designated Safeguarding Lead has a responsibility for Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Your duties are outlined below:

• Managing safeguarding referrals
• The DSL will refer cases of suspected abuse and neglect to the local authority safeguarding partnership department as required and support staff who make referrals to the same
• Refer to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern and support staff who make referrals to the Channel programme
• Refer where a person is dismissed or has left due to risk/harm to a child to the Disclosure and Barring Service as required; and
• Refer where a crime may have been committed to the Police as required.

Working with others

• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for all staff
• Act as a point of contact with safeguarding partners

Information sharing and managing the child protection file

• The DSL is responsible for ensuring that child protection files are kept up to date. Information should be kept confidential and stored securely. Records will include a clear and comprehensive summary of the concern including dates, details of how the concern was followed up and resolved, a note of any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome, and signed documents by the DSL. The file will only be accessed by those who need to see it with written permission from the DSL.

Raising Awareness

• Ensure each member of staff and volunteer has access to, and understands Babyzone’s safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures, especially new staff
• Ensure Babyzone’s safeguarding and child protection policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly
• Ensure the safeguarding and child protection policy is available publicly
• Link with safeguarding partners to ensure staff are aware of training opportunities and local policies

Training, knowledge and skills

• The DSL will undergo training to provide the necessary knowledge and skills, including Prevent awareness training. Training will support the DSL in developing expertise to support staff with welfare, safeguarding and child protection matters, including referrals processes.
• Providing support to staff
• Training will support the DSL in developing expertise to help staff feel confident on welfare, safeguarding and child protection matters, including referrals processes.

Holding and sharing information

• The DSL will be equipped to understand information sharing, data protection legislation (Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR), and to keep detailed, secure records of concerns and referrals. The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR do not prevent sharing information for safeguarding purposes.

Employee Benefits

• Flexible, supportive working environment.
• Hybrid working for hours outside the Babyzone delivery day.
• Potential to claim additional hours in non-term time periods, where needed.
• Pension contribution, life insurance and employee assistance programme.
• 26 days annual leave (pro rata)

To apply

Please send a cover letter and your CV to Carragh@babyzone.org.uk

Applications close: 30th April 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 4th May 2026