Playworker (Casual)

Royal-Borough-of-Kensington-and-Chelsea; Greater London; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly rate

Shadow shifts

Training opportunities

Job summary

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is seeking a Casual Play Worker to deliver engaging play for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, helping them build confidence and express themselves while offering essential respite to families.

You will work on a sessional basis at designated centres in W10 and SW3, committing to at least three days every school holiday and two Saturdays per month, with one-to-one or small-group support and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Calm, patient, and understanding approach when working with children with SEND.
• Excellent communication with children, parents and colleagues.
• Willingness to undertake personal care with warmth and respect.

Responsibilities

• Deliver fun, creative play activities for children aged 5–18 with SEND.
• Work one-to-one or in small groups to build confidence and independence.
• Assist with minibus outings, family events and collaborate with parents and professionals.

Skills

Calm demeanor

Great communication

Patience

Flexibility

Job description

Bring joy, creativity and confidence to disabled children while providing essential respite for local families.

As a Casual Play Worker you’ll deliver hands-on, engaging play activities that help children thrive while giving parents vital support. It’s a role with genuine community impact – a chance to create safe, fun environments where local children with special educational needs and disabilities can build confidence, learn new skills and express themselves.

Working Style

RBKC’s Casual workers operate on a Sessional basis, committing to work as and when required. You’ll be based at St Quintin Disabled Children’s Centre in W10 (North centre), the South Centre in SW3, and local community settings, committing to at least three days every school holiday and two Saturdays per month. Whether you’re working on the frontline or supporting activities in the community, you’ll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to local children and their families.

What you’ll be doing

Your focus will be delivering fun, creative play activities tailored for children and young people aged 5 to 18 with special educational needs and disabilities, including autism, ADHD, sensory impairments and complex behaviours. Every day at the centre or out in the borough brings something different.

Working one-to-one or in small groups, you will use tailored communication tools to engage children – including those who are non-verbal – helping them build confidence and independence. Personal care is an essential part of the job, which you will carry out with dignity, warmth and complete competence.

You will also assist on minibus outings, support family events and collaborate closely with parents and multi-agency professionals to ensure a safe, positive and well-managed environment for everyone.

What you’ll bring

You’ll bring a calm, patient and understanding approach, along with an awareness of special educational needs, child protection, and health and safety. Experience in a special educational needs setting, school or childcare environment is ideal, alongside a genuine willingness to undertake personal care with warmth and respect.

You’re an excellent communicator – someone who knows how to build trust with children, parents and colleagues alike. You’re adaptable, proactive and resilient, comfortable thinking on your feet in a fast-paced environment and able to respond flexibly to children’s changing needs.

Most importantly, you’re someone who sees the potential in every child and is committed to making their time with us positive, safe and empowering.

Why join us

At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.

You will receive a competitive hourly rate, along with initial shadow shifts alongside experienced colleagues and ongoing training opportunities. You’ll join a supportive, close-knit team that operates like a family unit, where knowledge is shared freely and every team member is backed and valued. It’s a deeply rewarding environment where you can watch children grow, gain confidence and enjoy positive experiences every single day.

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

In this role, you’ll bring energy, empathy and dedication to work that really matters. Working with children with complex needs is fast-paced and won’t always be smooth sailing, but every ounce of effort pays off when a shy child learns to interact, laugh or smile. When you commit fully, daily challenges become opportunities for professional growth and meaningful connection, making you a vital part of our shared commitment to local families.

Interview Details and Position Requirements

Interviews will be held in person week commencing 21st September.

Successful appointment to this position will be subject to completion of an Enhanced DBS check, which will be carried out as part of our pre-employment checking process.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will normally start at the minimum of the pay scale. However, a higher starting salary may be negotiated where a candidate demonstrates exceptional skills, knowledge, or experience. Employees receive annual salary increments until they reach the top of the pay scale, as well as any agreed cost of living pay awards.