Disability Leader

Job Purpose:  To oversee, deliver and lead Short Breaks Club session for children and young people who have a disability or additional needs. To ensure that all, safeguarding, regulator and health & safety requirements are being met. 

Hourly Pay: £13.91

Hours of work:  37.5

Working Pattern: Various (Sat & Sun in Reigate; Mon-Fri in school holidays)

Employment type: Permanent and Casual Options Available

Contract Type: Permanent and Casual Options Available

Location:  Across all YMCA East Surrey locations; Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex, Reigate, Epsom, Leatherhead  Across all YMCA East Surrey locations; Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex, Reigate, Epsom, Leatherhead

Annual leave:  Starting allowance - 25 days plus Bank Holidays.  Please note that school holidays are key delivery periods and annual leave is not usually agreed during these periods.

Benefits:

Free Gym Membership: The post holder will be entitled to free use of the YMCA East Surrey fitness centre in Redhill and half price YMCA childcare for dependents.

Free Parking : There is free parking available  at all our delivery site. YMCA East Surrey also operates a Bike to Work Scheme.

Pension Scheme: There is a YMCA East Surrey pension scheme - details available on request.

Closing Date for Applications: 31st January 2025

Interviews to be held: YMCA East Surrey reserves the right to interview candidates and appoint to roles as and when applications are received.

Proposed Start Date: As Soon As Possible

Main Responsibilities:

·        To take responsibility of the day to day running of Children and Young People’s services to ensure that the service provided is safe, high quality and appropriate for the children and young people who attend.

·        When the coordinator/manager is not available to act as the responsible person in charge of the scheme.

·        To take a lead during sessions of ensuring that are aware of what all children are doing and that they are signed into and out of the service correctly

·        To build trusting relationships with children and young people that enable them to benefit from the services provided.

·        To lead a team of play workers and volunteers, supporting them with their roles and knowing when to get further support from more senior team members. 

·        To ensure that all children and young people upon their arrival are welcomed and feel comfortable and valued enabling the development and improvement of self-esteem, self-confidence and positive experiences

·        When required to ensure that appropriate care plans and risk assessments are carried out for specific children and young people to meet any additional needs.

·        Where appropriate to work with parents and families, checking that we have the correct information about the children and young people that attend. To ensure that parents and carers are kept informed of incidents/ accidents or other issues relating to their children. 

·        To contribute to the planning, organisation and delivery of activities, ensuring they are adapted where appropriate to be accessible to all children and young people to the best of their abilities, using and checking children’s Care Plans.

·        To work closely with individuals and where appropriate their families to offer a range of free play opportunities as well as a structured programme of social, play and leisure activities to the varying ages and needs of the children attending the service.

·        To prepare and plan the session planning documents to ensure smooth running of the day. Including allocation of staff members, toileting record, daily staff logs and lunch rota.

·        To supervise the activity environment to ensure physical and emotional/personal safety for all children and young people attending. This includes completing appropriate records of any accidents, injuries or incidents that may occur and any medication administered

·        Ensure children’s choices are evidenced and feedback gathered from children in a suitable manner.

·        To provide and supervise the hygienic provision of refreshments for the children/young people, recognising the principles of a balanced diet and the requirements of varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds and allergies

·        To ensure that resources are set up and packed up while being kept neat and tidy as well as to inform the coordinator/manager if extra resources are required.

·        To ensure that all children and young people are made to feel valued and enabled to develop and improve self-esteem, self-confidence and positive experiences

·        Where necessary to administer first aid for children who have had an accident as well as medication for children with health issues ensuring that have attended necessary training with regards to this

·        Provide and supervise the hygienic provision of personal care, ensuring privacy, dignity at all time and recording in care plan.

·        To receive medication from Parents/Carers, check, record and store safely following procedures. 

·        Administer, where necessary, after appropriate training, medication for children keeping accurate and up to date records.

·        Assist with moving and handling of children/adults with restricted mobility, after appropriate training, including hoisting and use of mobility equipment.

·        Provide high level of support for children/adults with complex needs, ensuring care plans and behaviour plans are understood and followed to meet individual needs.

·        Regular use if aids to support communication and sensory impairment needs.

·        Provide high level of diligence and surveillance for the child you are supporting, including personal hygiene, behaviour, nutrition, sensory and play needs, feeding back any new observations to the Leader.

·        Accompany  and lead children/adults on trips, following procedures and policies, risk assessment and keeping them safe whilst providing high level of support.

·        To provide annual leave cover for the Coordinator

·        Supporting children/adults with eating and drinking as specified within their care plan and guidelines.

·        Assisting children/adults to engage with activities providing appropriate support and help to achieve desired outcomes.

·        To work with the rest of the YMCA children and young people’s team to help ensure attendance figures reach agreed targets in line with budgets. This includes supporting with promotional tasks including taking photos and attending promotional events.

·        To be flexible in order to meet the needs of service including covering sites aside from usual site.

·        Attend YMCA East Surrey staff meetings, training and staff development events, as appropriate, to ensure continuous professional competence and development

·        Undertake any other duties and responsibilities reasonably requested by the Coordinator / Manager.