The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

June 2016

A letter from the team

Dear Colleague, Thank you for taking the trouble to send for details for the post of Childcare Leader If you decide to apply and are successful you will be joining a team who are both forward thinking and committed in developing a community resource and facility. We are looking for an enthusiastic and hardworking individual who is prepared to show initiative and want to take an active role in providing quality childcare services. Staff who are appointed to The Fern Partnership should be ambitious both for themselves and young children and also be enthused by future development opportunities of the facilities and the Ferndale partnership and brand as a whole. I hope you will feel excited about the prospect of joining us as team Ferndale and apply for the advertised post. Yours sincerely,

The Trustees The Fern Partnership

The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

The ‘Friends of Ferndale’ is a registered charity who works in partnership with Ferndale Community School under a Service Level Agreement. The objectives and ethos of the trust is to advance the education of the pupils of Ferndale Community School and enhance provision in the wider community by working in partnership with trustees, staff, governors and members of our community.

We are looking to employ an experienced and enthusiastic childcare professional who will work as part of a team to develop our Flying Start / Child Care setting alongside supporting the development of the Friends of Ferndale as a whole. The following skills and attributes are a prerequisite of this post. You will be; 

highly qualified in the relevant field to a minimum of Level 3 standard

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an excellent communicator a positive role model who radiates positivity and a can do attitude



dedicated and committed to providing high quality, hands on experiences for young children



enthusiastic and hard working

The post will be required for maternity cover.

There are currently two Flying Start provisions, one based in Ferndale Community School and one in Parc Primary. Little Ferns Maerdy is an established Flying Start childcare provision, more recently offering fee paying childcare services. Little Ferns Cwmparc is a new mixed economy Flying Start provision. Both provisions received a substantial amount of Welsh Government Capital Funding to refurbish the indoor/outdoor environments. If you are feel you are equally as enthusiastic with the concept of developing our very own Little Ferns and The Fern Partnership as a community brand, we urge you to apply to our sector leading partnership. NB: The employer will be The Fern Partnership not Ferndale Community School/Local Authority. Taking this into account the terms and conditions of employment differ and do not reflect the Local Authority in relation to; sick leave, maternity/paternity leave or pension provision. The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

Job Title:

Childcare Leader

Reporting to:

Childcare & Community Project Manager

Hours of Work:

25 hours/week

Salary:

£8.52/hour

Location:

Little Ferns Cwmparc, Parc Primary School

JOB PURPOSE Under the line management of the Childcare and Community Project Manager it is the role of the

deputy childcare worker to;  Lead the efficient management of childcare provision.  Be aware and comply with all statutory regulations, policies/procedures and ensure the team adhere to these at all times.  Lead with monitoring staff training, qualifications and DBS checks.  Lead with managing and maintaining a high standard of service for all children and their families.  Lead in monitoring health and safety, providing a safe indoor/outdoor environment for children and adults.  Lead in supporting the delivery of child development assessments.  Lead with managing the team including volunteers and students maintaining professionalism.  Ensure the safety of all children is paramount, fulfilling Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies. JOB ACTIVITIES

As a childcare leader it is your role and responsibility to; Roles and Responsibilities As a Childcare Leader it is your role and responsibility to; 

Lead the day-to-day running of the childcare provision. The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

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Promote the aims and objectives of the setting. Update the management regularly and liaise with the deputy leader daily. To assist with recruitment and induction. Supervise and appraise all staff as appropriate and in accordance with settings policies, procedures and CSSIW standards. Ensure all staff are aware of all policies and procedures and adhere to them at all times. Review all policies, procedures and operational plans, implementing in line with CSSIW requirements. Ensure all staff working in the setting on any basis are carefully referenced and DBS checked prior to employment. To co-ordinate weekly staff meetings, including preparation of agenda, training and planning sessions with minutes. Manage staffing ratios and assist with planning of staff ratios in other Little Ferns settings. Maintain an accurate and effective personnel management system, ensuring all necessary paperwork is securely retained on each staff member, and that such files are kept up to date. Maintain an accurate and effective management system of individual children’s personnel files, ensuring files are monitored and updated regularly. Oversee the supervision and training of student placements. Develop, monitor and review the Quality of Care Report. Be a positive role model to all staff, students and volunteers. Ensure positive language and communication is used at all times. Safeguard all children by adhering to the Child Protection and Safeguarding policies and procedures. Motivate and encourage the team to develop the childcare service and practices in line with recommendations, new initiatives and training. Ensure positive working relationships within the team. Resolve grievances within the team, reporting to management where necessary. Liaise effectively with all staff, parents/carers, other professionals and outside agencies. Accurately record all communications in an organised manner. Liaise effectively with all other partners including link schools, building positive working relationships and reputation within the local and wider community. Ensure all children have access to a wide variety of learning opportunities that will support their holistic development in preparation for school and long term life. Observe, plan and review to provide children with age and stage appropriate activities and experiences. Work as a key worker with a set number of children maintaining ratio and support other key workers. Provide children with comfort, warmth and respect. Ensure staff do not talk about a child within child’s earshot and provide a positive role model of this. Manage the development and implementation of systems to monitor and record child development. The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER



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Use your knowledge of your key children to actively contribute to the planning process ensuring that all children have opportunities and experiences that support their development and are of interest to each individual child. Work alongside parents/carers and other professionals of children requiring additional support to provide full integration in the setting. Support staff with developing ‘play plans’ for children requiring additional support liaising with parents/carers, other staff members and professionals. Work as part of a team assisting all staff to develop the setting and practices to a high standard. Use your own initiative to develop the setting and practices in line with best practice guidelines and initiatives. Maintain staff awareness of key practices within the setting e.g. health and safety, food hygiene, safeguarding, fire drill procedures and paediatric first aid. Feedback information from training attended and plan ways to implement the information recording this in a professional style. Attend all ‘out of normal working hours’ training, staff meetings, parent’s evenings. Assist with community events that will benefit partnership building and motivate all staff to participate. Ensure all other duties such as cleaning, snack preparation, cleansing of equipment, risk assessments and health and safety checks are carried out effectively. Assist leader with monitoring and reviewing all health and safety practices. Support all staff with accurate recording of accidents/incidents in line with policy and procedure ensuring to report to your leader/manager. Look upon the setting as a ‘whole’ always ensuring to utilise your time effectively, ensuring all children’s needs are met and all office duties completed. Ensure correct child collection procedures are followed and support all staff with child protection and safeguarding issues. Respect the confidentiality of all information received adhering to the confidentiality policy. Develop positive snack times that are valued as a quality opportunity to encourage holistic development. Meet children’s individual needs with regards to differing cultures and religious backgrounds, individual age and stage of development, changing, washing of hands and faces, wiping noses, appropriate clothing for activities/experiences. Ensure the indoor and outdoor environments are of a consistently high standard providing children with a ‘want’ to explore. Display children’s work and photographs to a high standard using I.T. Be aware of the high profile of the setting at all times. Provide students, volunteers and visitors with a high quality experience in line with best practice. Attend regular supervisions with manager. Meet deadlines set by manager. Keep up to date with new initiatives and best practice guidelines sharing this information with the whole team. The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

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Monitor and review all staff training, qualifications and DBS checks. Attend training and qualifications that will support your Continuous Professional Development and benefit the setting as a whole. Actively promote the setting to ensure that vacant places are filled. Manage petty cash effectively in line with annual budget. Complete all administrative duties associated with the management of the provision.

Job Activities – Standard Terms Common to all Job Descriptions   

Promote the organisation’s Equal Opportunities policies. In discharging the duties of the post to have due regard to the provisions of Health & Safety at Work legislation, as detailed in the Health and Safety manual. Undertake such additional responsibilities as and when required.

The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

Person specification Essential

Education & qualifications

1. Level 3 Childcare qualification, with a commitment to achieving Level 5

Experience & Abilities

2. At least two year experience of working in childcare with children in the 0-5 age range and their families 3.

Evidence and Assessment Certificates and application form

Application, interview,

At least one year of working as a deputy or leader in childcare

4. Experience/knowledge of Flying Start aims and objectives 5.

Experience of working as a staff team,

6. Ability to monitor own training and professional development needs as well as the training and professional development needs of other staff, 7. Detailed knowledge of the emotional, physical, psychological and educational development of children, in order to provide an environment in which the child’s full potential can be developed, and in which parents/carers can be supported in their relationship with their children. 8. Extensive knowledge of the particular requirements of children with special needs in terms of their support, development and care planning. 9. Experience of working with parents and carers from a range of cultural backgrounds, encouraging full participation in their children’s play and learning opportunities 10. Detailed knowledge of all legislation relating to childcare 11. Detailed knowledge of the Code of Practice for Special Educational needs 12. Detailed knowledge of child protection issues and policies and relevant Safeguarding Children Board procedures 13. A working knowledge of relevant Health & Safety and Basic Food Hygiene requirements

Skills: -

Planning & Organising

14. Enthusiastic, positive attitude and ability to motivate others 15. Ability to monitor training and other professional development needs. The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

Application and reference

Information resources

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16. Able to use Word

Application and interview

17. Ability to communicate effectively verbally, orally and in writing including the writing of reports and records Communication

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Personal Qualities: -

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Interpersonal skills Communications

18. An empathetic, supportive and non-judgemental attitude towards children, parents/carers, staff and trainees/volunteers

19. Ambitious and striving for excellence

Application and reference

Application and reference

20. Ability to develop effective working relationships 21. Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of users, partners, providers, volunteer and staff. Interview

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Team/Collaborati ve working

22. Ability to contribute to ideas ongoing development and improvement of services 23. Responsive to change and ideas; able to adapt to new systems and flexible working patterns

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Flexibility 24. Committed to continuing professional development 25. Able to plan and prioritise in a flexible and informed way

Desirable

26. Experience of working within Flying Start 27. Able to use Excel 28. Experience of working with trainees and/or volunteers 29. Experience of working with community groups, voluntary sector organisations etc., as a way of building and maintaining links with the local community 30. Experience developing high quality childcare services.

The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER

Application and Interview

PRINCIPAL TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Childcare Leader

1. Hours of Work

25 hours per week with future opportunities in line with our expansion. 2. Duration of Contract

July 2016 to 16th December 2016 initially, future possibilities in line with our expansion. 3. Holidays

This post will be term time only plus three additional weeks. Your annual salary, 25 days annual leave and bank holidays will be calculated on a pro-rata basis reflecting this. 4. Salary

£8.52/hour 5. Method of Pay

Salaries are paid by direct debit into the staff members nominated bank account on the 25th day of each month. 6. Place of Work

Main - Little Ferns Cwmparc, Parc Primary School, Tallis Street, Treorchy, R.C.T CF42 6LY Occasional - Little Ferns Ferndale Community School, Rear of Excelsior Terrace, Maerdy, Ferndale, CF43 4AR

For further information please contact Nikki Beach (01443) 735988 [email protected]

The Fern Partnership - CHILDCARE LEADER