Early Childhood Practitioner, The Community School of Auchterarder - PKC13653

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job; it’s about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch. We currently have the following opportunity: Early Childhood Practitioner - PKC13653 £4,532 - £4,854 (6 Hours per week, Term-time only) The Community School of Auchterarder.

Do you like working with children and want to make a difference? If so, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an Early Learning and Childcare Practitioner at the Community School of Auchterarder, Breakfast Club, term-time before school. The contracted hours are 6 hours per week, term-time, between 07.50am - 09.00am. This is an excellent opportunity to manage, develop and oversee the provision of high-quality play experiences within the breakfast club.

You will gain a wider range of skills as the role involves managing the smooth day-to-day running of the services. As a practitioner, you will be responsible for the planning and organisation of the day-to-day operations of the service, providing flexible childcare before school. You will provide high-quality care and a comprehensive range of appropriate stimulating and creative activities, for example, arts and crafts, storytelling, den building, physical play appropriate to the needs and interests of the children in the service.

You would be expected to work as a member of the team and wider school team contributing to children’s learning and development within a safe and inclusive environment out with school hours in a registered childcare service. Perth and Kinross Council can offer you a range of employee benefits including the Local Government Pension. We can also offer training and development opportunities and invest in our staff and value their contribution.

Skills & Experience Required

The position is child-focused which requires sensitivity, patience and compassion along with a welcoming approach to generate a feeling of trust and safety for children and their family/carers. A genuine interest in the development of children and their wellbeing is essential and the important qualities are kindness, sensitivity, respectfulness, and good manners, a sense of fun, as well as the ability to respect confidentiality at all times. Excellent planning and organisation skills are also required with the ability to maintain registration and financial information and maintain effective working relationships with children, parents and carers and other professionals to ensure the effective delivery of services.

You will be required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for Day Care of Children within 3 months of commencing employment and be responsible for maintaining annual membership. You will hold a childcare qualification with one of the following: SVQ Level 3 in Social Services (Children & Young People), HNC Childhood Practice, HNC Childcare Early Education and Childcare, SVQ Level 3 Care Learning & Development.

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

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours.

Here’s what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Access to a range of benefits
• Paid SSSC annual membership for relevant positions

A healthy work-life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

This role requires you to be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC); if you are not yet registered, you can still apply, as long as you are willing to apply for registration within 3 months of starting with us and be registered within 6 months.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Helen Roach, Area Co-ordinator or Susan Johnstone, Team Leader at childcare@pkc.gov.uk and also visit www.pkc.gov.uk/KidsClubs to find out more. Click “APPLY NOW”. External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments.

Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process. Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming 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.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above-mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.