Deputy Room Leader in Ipswich

Employer East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Ipswich Hospital Town Ipswich Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing Today at 23:59 Interview date 11/08/2026

Deputy Room Leader

NHS AfC: Band 3

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of ESNEFT's core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

Job overview

Hunnitots Day Nursery is looking for an Early Years Practitioner to join the nursery team as a Deputy Room Leader, to provide care for children aged 4 months to 5 yrs.

A full and relevant level 3 qualification in Childcare and Early Years is essential for this role.

As the Deputy Room Leader, you will work closely with the Senior Nursery Room Leader to ensure that the room runs effectively and efficiently in compliance with the Nursery policies and OFSTED standards. You will take responsibility when the Room Leader is absent and supervise other staff within their room. We are looking for people with excellent communication and listening skills to plan the day and respond to the different needs of the children we teach.

Hunnitots Day Nursery, based at Ipswich Hospital, has approximately 70 and 80 children booked in each day. Parents have a choice of in excess of 10 different sessions within the hours of 7 am to 6 pm. The choice provided aims to accommodate the variety of staff working patterns at the Trust.

If you think this is the role for you, then we would love to hear from you.

Previous applicants need not re-apply

Main duties of the job

• To create and develop, with other members of staff, a stimulating environment to meet the needs of the individual child being aware of the requirements of different age groups in line with The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS).
• Plan and supervise stimulating experiences for all children within the room, catering to their individual stage of development.
• Responsibility for ensuring that all Tapestry observations are completed by each Key Person. Overall responsibility for the updating of children’s information by liaison with parents, carers and staff.
• Liaise with Senior Nursery Nurse/ Room Leader with any concerns raised about SENCO or Child Protection issues.
• Liaise with parents/carers of new Key Children during initial room visit, complete relevant children / parent detail forms.
• Encourage and support staff and student members to establish positive relationships with all members of the Nursery team, children and their families.
• Keep up to date with the Code of Practice, SENCO objectives and Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS).
• To be responsible for students, liaising with their tutors where necessary and supporting the student with their objectives.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is thatTime Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Qualifications

• NNEB/B Tech or NVQ level 3 or equivalent
• Food hygiene
• Child protection

Experience

• Experience of working with children aged 4 months to 5 years of age
• Experience of working in day care setting

Knowledge and Skills

• Child development
• Planning for individual children
• Group activities
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to Trust Values

Please note that where response levels are exceptional we may close the post before the specified date, therefore early application is recommended.

Please make sure that you read the Job Description and Person Specification attached and that your statement in support reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria.

If you require any information in an alternative format or have any access needs for the application process, please contact us.

Secondment - if you are interested in undertaking a role on a secondment basis, please ensure that you have discussed this with your current line manager prior to submitting your application. Please note if you are already an employee of ESNEFT fixed term roles will only be offered on a secondment basis.

When providing reference details please provide email addresses so references can be sought promptly to cover the last 3 years of employment.

Successful candidates may be charged for their DBS check. Please ensure you read the information found in the attached DBS Information document

The Trust is committed to its staff and their development and to equal opportunities and diversity. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community.

Whilst we welcome applications from all and your application will be considered on individual merit, if you are offered a position and require a Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship we may not be able to process your application to the final stage due to Home Office eligibility. Please note Band 2 roles are not eligible for sponsorship.

In submitting an application form, you authorise East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust; we look forward to receiving your application for employment.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.