Recreation Assistant

Southwark Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwark Council is hiring a Recreation Assistant for our leisure centres in London. You will help keep customers safe in and around the water, while supporting lifeguard duties and delivering a welcoming, high-quality service.

In addition to lifeguarding, you will clean areas, set up and pack away activities, and perform pool testing according to procedures. The role requires a 36-hour week with some evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• You must be a strong swimmer and have excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent verbal communication and ability to correct behavior as needed.
• High level of physical fitness and a confident, approachable personality.
• UK recognised pool lifeguard qualification (RLSS) is required.

Responsibilities

• Keep customers safe in and around the water.
• Clean assigned areas and help set up/clear away activities.
• Conduct pool testing according to procedures.
• Work a 36-hour week across rotating shifts including some evenings and weekends.

Skills

Strong swimming

Customer service

Verbal communication

Physical fitness

Approachable personality

Education

RLSS Lifeguard Qualification

Job description

About Southwark

We are passionate about delivering the best customer service and getting our community active. Every team member plays their part, working within a diverse and dynamic team in a fast-paced environment.

Why Southwark?

About Southwark

We are passionate about delivering the best customer service and getting our community active. Every team member plays their part, working within a diverse and dynamic team in a fast-paced environment.

We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Benefits And More Information

• https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

What You'll Be Doing

About the Role

Recreation Assistants have one of the most important jobs at our centres, and that is keeping our customers safe in and around the water.

Southwark Leisure Recreation Assistants also perform a number of other duties in addition to lifeguarding, such as cleaning assigned areas, setting up and breaking down various activities and events and conducting pool testing according to procedures. You will work a 36 hour week across varying rotated pattern of shifts, which will require some evening and weekend work.

If you are interested in a career in leisure, Southwark Leisure also has fantastic training programmes that can lead to management positions, with a real focus on individual development.

Skills

In order to be considered for a Recreation Assistant position at Southwark leisure, you need to be a strong swimmer, and have excellent customer service skills. You should also have:

• A UK recognised pool lifeguard qualification (RLSS)
• Understanding of relevant health and safety legislation
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to appropriately correct behaviour of pool users where necessary
• A high standard of physical fitness
• Confidence and an approachable nature

Additional Information

Application Closing Date: 02 November 2026

Interview Date: 11 November 2026

Requirements

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Attachments

• Click here to view the Job description and Person specification