Deputy Playground Manager

Portsmouth City Council; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is recruiting for an Adventure Playground staff member in Portsmouth. You will support the Playground Manager in day-to-day running and deputise in their absence, ensuring safety, supervising staff and delivering engaging play opportunities for children and families.

You will work flexibly across the week, including Saturdays and school holidays, applying safeguarding knowledge and building positive relationships with diverse communities to promote well-being and

Qualifications

• Strong communication with diverse audiences and cultures.
• Safeguarding knowledge to promote welfare of children.
• Empathic, inquisitive approach to engaging children and families.
• Relational and restorative practice to support behaviour.
• Ability to work under pressure and maintain professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Support the Playground Manager in day-to-day running, including staff oversight, resources, site, health and safety, and safeguarding.
• Deputise for the Playground Manager in their absence, managing staff and attending meetings.
• Deliver and engage children, young people and families in rich and varied play opportunities.
• Respond empathetically to the play needs of children and young people.
• Represent the playground and service in collaboration with external agencies and professionals.
• Engage with training and CPD opportunities to develop practice.
• Create a culture that respects differences and promotes inclusion.
• Implement safeguarding and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct site inspections and support maintenance and cleaning duties.

Skills

Strong communication

Safeguarding knowledge

Empathic approach

Relational/restorative practice

Flexible weekend/hours

Education

Recognised playwork qualification

Job description

Location: Across Adventure Playgrounds in Portsmouth, PO2 8JX

• Support the Playground Manager in the day-to-day running of the playground, including oversight of staff, resources, site, health and safety, and safeguarding.
• Deputise for the Playground Manager in their absence, being the site responsible person, managing staff, attending meetings and ensuring quality service delivery.
• Deliver and engage children, young people and families in rich and varied play opportunities.
• Respond with empathy and perception to the play needs of children and young people.
• Recognise the responsibility of being a positive role model for young people, and the integrity and professionalism required to do that.
• Work respectfully with children and their families, responding positively to diversity and promoting a positive peer culture.
• Recognise the choice that young people make to engage with us, the privileged and unique relationships between young people and playworkers and build on these relationships whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
• Use safeguarding knowledge and experience alongside professional curiosity to promote the welfare of children through robust safeguarding procedures with a contextual focus.
• Engage with children, families, and internal and external agencies to embed the playground within its community.
• Represent the adventure playground and the service whilst working collaboratively alongside external agencies and professionals, such as at safeguarding, community or partnership meetings.
• Engage with relevant training and Continuing Professional Development opportunities.
• Create and contribute to a culture and working practices that recognise, respect and value differences.
• Implement safeguarding and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct site, structure and equipment inspections to check that they are fit for purpose, and support in maintaining a clean, safe environment, carrying out remedial repairs, ongoing maintenance and cleaning duties.

Skills:

You need:

• Strong communication skills with the ability to adapt communication consistent with different levels of understanding, culture, background and preferences.
• Have safeguarding knowledge and experience to promote the welfare of children through robust safeguarding procedures with a contextual focus.
• A willingness to bring your own interests, skills, experiences and personality to enrich the play opportunities for children and young people.
• An empathic, inquisitive, and creative approach to engaging and working with children and young people as part of a small team.
• The ability to build positive, respectful relationships with children, young people and their families whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
• The skills to use relational and restorative practice, recognising that children communicate with a range of different behaviours and having an awareness of your own limits.
• Knowledge and understanding of play and playwork, reflective practice and the importance of risk in play.
• The ability to meet the physical and mental demands of the role, acknowledging that the role can be as challenging as it is rewarding.
• The ability to deliver and engage children, young people and families in rich and varied play opportunities.
• To be approachable and interested in the children and their world, using relational authenticity to support this.
• To be able to work under pressure and manage conflict.
• High level numeracy, literacy and IT skills.
• To be able to work flexibly throughout the week, including on Saturdays and throughout school holidays across the service.

The following would be desirable:

• A recognised playwork qualification.
• A clean, full driving licence.
• Carpentry and structure building skills to support child led self-build projects.
• Relevant specialist skills for example sports, arts, crafts, carpentry and structure building, additional language(s), alternative communication systems, a Food Hygiene certificate.