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- Tasks: Engage and support children with special needs through fun activities and group sessions.
- Company: Join Barnardo's, a passionate team dedicated to making a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, generous annual leave, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while having fun and gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Experience with children, strong communication skills, and a passion for helping others.
- Other info: Rolling vacancy with opportunities for career growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 10 - 16 £ per hour.
Do you enjoy working with children & young people and positively impacting their lives? We have an exciting opportunity for a number of Play Workers to join our friendly, passionate and dedicated team at our Include Me 2 Services based in Lancashire, on an As & When basis.
About the Service:
Our Include Me 2 Service is a short breaks service facilitating group sessions for children & young people aged 4 – 18 with a wide range of Special Educational Needs/disabilities offering them opportunities to get involved in play and leisure activities such as arts & crafts, cooking and trips out in the community whilst offering valuable respite to their families. We are a fun-loving team looking for enthusiastic, happy and kind individuals to join us as our Play Worker!
Location:
Locality working across our Include Me 2 services based in Lancashire covering South Ribble, Preston, Chorley, West Lancs, Burnley and Pendle, we also operate in Blackpool.
Working Pattern:
You will be working on an as & when basis. Hours tend to be after school, weekends and school holidays.
Essential Requirements to evidence in your written application:
- Experience of working with children & young people (gained either in employment or volunteer capacity)
- Ability to communicate effectively with children & young people and respond with warmth and empathy.
- Ability to work well as part of a team with energy and enthusiasm.
- Ability to demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding and the commitment to adhere to Barnardo's safeguarding & child protection policies/procedures.
- Most importantly, you will need to enjoy the challenges and rewards of working with children & young people!
Some of the main responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- To contribute to the planning of sessions and activities.
- Delivering and recording group sessions.
- Facilitating activities and days out.
- To ensure the sessions run smoothly and our safeguarding policies and procedures are adhered to at all times.
- To provide a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all our service users.
This is a rolling vacancy. Applications will be reviewed and interviews arranged on a regular basis. Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.
Pay & Reward Framework
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
Benefits
Workplace Offer: What it means for you
Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.
Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata.
- The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
- A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
- Service related sick pay from day 1
- Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
- Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
- Cycle2work scheme
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
- 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
- Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
- Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
- Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
As and When Play Worker in Ilford employer: Barnardo's
Contact Detail:
Barnardo's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land As and When Play Worker in Ilford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research Barnardo's and their Include Me 2 Services. Understanding their mission and values will help you connect with the team during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for your application. This insider knowledge can give you an edge!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by thinking about real-life examples of how you've worked with children and young people. Be ready to share stories that highlight your communication skills, empathy, and teamwork – these are key for the Play Worker role!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our fun-loving team at Barnardo's!
We think you need these skills to ace As and When Play Worker in Ilford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for working with children and young people shine through. We want to see that you genuinely enjoy making a positive impact in their lives!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have, whether it's from paid work or volunteering. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team.
Understand Our Values: Take a moment to familiarise yourself with our safeguarding policies and the ethos of our Include Me 2 Services. Reflecting this understanding in your application will show us that you’re committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment.
Apply Early!: Since this is a rolling vacancy, we recommend applying as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the closing date; get your application in early through our website to increase your chances of being considered!
How to prepare for a job interview at Barnardo's
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Play Worker and the specific needs of children with Special Educational Needs/disabilities. Familiarise yourself with the Include Me 2 Services and think about how your experience aligns with their mission.
✨Show Your Passion
During the interview, let your enthusiasm for working with children shine through. Share personal stories or experiences that highlight your love for engaging with young people and how you’ve positively impacted their lives in the past.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since teamwork is crucial in this role, be prepared to discuss examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others. Highlight your ability to work energetically and enthusiastically as part of a team, especially in challenging situations.
✨Understand Safeguarding
Make sure you’re well-versed in safeguarding policies and child protection procedures. Be ready to discuss how you would ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all service users, showing that you take these responsibilities seriously.
