Play and Leisure Assistant – Home and Community Support Service
JOB DESCRIPTION
Department:
Prevention and Safeguarding
Job Title:
Play and Leisure Assistant
Post Number:
000626
Section
Moor Lane Children and Young
People’s Development Service
Scale :
7-9 (£8.62- £9.06 per hour)
Responsible to:
Home and Community Support Service Manager
Important Functional Relationships: Group Leaders
Other Play Workers
Parents
Responsible for:
Supporting and supervising disabled
children and young people who attend
holiday clubs.
Main Purpose of the Job:
To assist the group leader by providing a safe, stimulating and enjoyable play
or leisure environment for disabled children and young people.
Duties
Working with children

Provide a warm and friendly environment which will meet the overall
developmental needs of the children and young people attending.

Greet parents, children and young people on arrival and collect
necessary information to inform the child’s care plan. Provide feedback
to parents at the end of the day.

Have an awareness of parent/carers needs and communicate
effectively.

Encourage positive self esteem for all children/young people and
ensure equal opportunities are effectively implemented at all times.

Encourage children to participate in group activities to develop
intellectual and social skills.
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
Escort children/young people to off site visits/activities

Ensure knowledge of each child/young person through their personal
profile and understand how to meet their support needs.

Provide care for disabled child/ young person in accordance with the
child’s individual care plan.

Provide 1:1 support for children/young people where necessary.

Where required provide and carry out personal care needs for
children/young people while respecting their rights and dignity at all
times

Work under the supervision and direction of the group leader and within
the procedures and policies for the service
Resources
 At the start of the session provide children/young people with
resources as directed by team leader
 Ensure that children/young people access the resources properly and
safely
 Ensure that all resources are returned to the appropriate storage area
at the end of each session.
 Encourage children/young people to use various resources and
experience a range of activities.
Housekeeping Tasks
 Tidy room
 Wipe tables.
 Check toilets and take any action necessary to ensure that they are left
clean and tidy.
 Wash up any plates or cups
Polices and Regulations
 Be familiar with all holiday club policies and regulations including
child protection, equal opportunities, fire, health and safety.
 Attend training and staff meetings when required.
 Undertake other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the play
and leisure assistant post that may reasonably be required from
time to time.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality must be maintained at all times.The nature of the play scheme
involves entrusting staff with confidential information about disabled
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children/young people, their families, and carers. Any breach of confidentiality
will constitute gross misconduct.
PERSON SPECIFICATION / PROFILE
Play and Leisure Assistant
Main
criteria
Qualificatio
ns
&
Experience
Essential Criteria

Experience of direct working with
children/ young people.
Desirable
Criteria

Experience of working
with disabled
children/young people.

Childcare/ Youth Work /
Play work qualification
level 2.

An up to date first aid
qualification.
 MIDAS driving licence
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Knowledge
/ Skills



Effective interpersonal and
communication skills, with both
colleagues and young people and
their families.
Ability to contribute to a
programme of activities, which is
safe and stimulating for children
and young people.
Able to contribute and be an
integral part of a team.

A flexible and adaptable
approach.

A self-motivated and positive
approach to work.

A proven ability to organise and
use own initiative in a changing
environment.

Ability to record daily logs about
the children’s/young people’s day.

Ability to show awareness about
issues relating to a range of
disabilities.

Understanding of equalities
issues and in particular how these
relate to children/young people.

An understanding of
Child Protection
Procedures.

Knowledge of the
Children Act (1989).

Knowledge of the
Disability Discrimination
Act (1995)

Knowledge of Health and
Safety procedures and
risk assessment
procedures

Ability to work with
disabled children/ young
people who have
varying needs including
challenging behaviour.

The leadership skills to
manage a small activity
group.

Ability to work on a 1:1
basis

Ability to reflect upon
and evaluate sessions
in order to improve
future delivery.
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September 2013