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Thank you for applying to work at Challengers…
Contents
Guidance notes for completing your application form .................................................................................... 1
The Challengers Approach............................................................................................................................................. 2
Job Description ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…. .................................................. 3
Application form................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Guidance notes for completing your application form
All applicants must use a Challengers Application Form to apply. The information you provide in your application
form is used by us when we decide whether or not you will be selected to attend an interview and also as a basis
for the interview itself. Your application form is, therefore, very important and we give the following advice to
help you complete it as effectively as possible.
Equal Opportunities and Disclosure section will be detached from the rest of the application form and kept in a
confidential/secure place. This will ensure an unbiased/unprejudiced selection of candidates in line with equality,
diversity principles and good practice.
ONLINE VERSION OF THE APPLICATION FORM
You may have been emailed the application form or downloaded it from the Challengers website.
You can ‘tab’ through the fields and type to enter the relevant details.
Use you space bar or mouse clicks to ‘check’ the ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ boxes.
If you email your completed form to Challengers, you will need to sign the printed version held at our offices.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Look carefully at the Job Description. This gives details of the skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience
which we require. Please read this carefully before completing the application form, so that you know what the
job involves and the range of expertise needed.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
When listing your employment history you should ensure that the dates are correct and in the right order and
that there are no gaps. Please let us know what you were doing during any periods without paid employment.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Address all the points on the job description and outline your experience and skills substantiating your statement
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with examples and evidence. Can you show you meet the requirements for the job? By looking at your past and
present experience you may identify “hidden” skills that you might have taken for granted. This includes any
relevant experience gained through your community, voluntary, leisure, family or home interests.
Ask yourself why you are interested in the job, it can be useful to list these reasons and refer to them. Is the job
you wish to apply for a promotion or is it a good employment or career move? Could it broaden or give you
greater experience?
Place the information in a logical order and make sure that you have included everything you need to.
If you need to continue onto another sheet please attach this to the application form with your name clearly
marked at the top. You may enclose additional information if you so wish.
REFERENCES
You are asked for the names and addresses (including the postcode) of two people we can contact for references.
You should give your present or most recent employer or, if you are a student, an appropriate academic reference
should be given. You cannot use members of your family as referees.
IF YOU NEED HELP
If you need assistance to complete the form, let us know and we will be pleased to help – call 01483 579 390 or
email work@disability-challengers.org
The Challengers Approach
Please read The Challengers Approach carefully – this is our ethos and it is very important that you understand it
and be committed to the aims of our organisation.
OUR VISION
An environment where facilities are provided for disabled and non-disabled children and young people to play
and have fun together, thereby changing the way that society regards and treats disabled young people
generation after generation.
OUR MISSION
To provide a broad range of play, leisure, respite and short breaks thus giving support to disabled children and
young people, their family and friends.
THE CHALLENGERS APPROACH
To enable children to challenge their impairments through play in a stimulating and safe environment.
To provide suitable care for disabled children and young people whatever their impairment with
appropriate knowledge, skill, competence, initiative and sensitivity.
To create an atmosphere where self-expression, co-operation, learning and sharing are encouraged,
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nurtured and supported.
To create a welcoming and supportive environment and proactively enable young people and their
families who use Challengers to participate in the planning and development of our services.
We never exclude a child on the grounds of the severity of their impairment and we do not set
geographical limits - play and leisure opportunities for disabled young people are few and disabled
people seldom have a local resource.
To positively discriminate in favour of disabled young people while inequality of provision exists.
To uphold and encourage freedom of choice for the individual and so we aim to provide both Exclusive
and Inclusive programmes in the communities in which we work.
To treat each other with respect and consideration.
To accept responsibility for one’s own actions.
To conduct all our affairs with regard to individual differences.
To be sensitive to everyone’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
To examine what we do and continually try to improve.
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Job Description: Pre-School Play Leader
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: To manage the safe and efficient day-to-day management of
Challengers Pre-Schools – ensuring the delivery of a high quality service, providing a safe and
supportive environment for children aged two to five years to learn and develop through play. To
deliver schemes and conduct yourself in accordance with Challengers’ Policies and Procedures and
in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.
RESPONSIBILITY: You are responsible to the Challengers Play/Youth Services Manager,
Operations Director and ultimately to the Chief Executive Officer.
LIAISE WITH: Play and Leisure Team, Administrative Team, Fundraising Team, Chief Executive
Officer and health/social service/education professionals as appropriate.
DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF PRE-SCHOOL PLAY LEADER
ACTIVITIES & ENVIRONMENT – Children need and deserve a varied and high quality play and
leisure programme. The Leader is responsible for researching and inspiring fun and creative
activities that excite and ‘wow’ children. The Leader will identify toys and equipment to
facilitate activities. It is the Leader’s responsibility to provide and maintain a physical
environment that is cared for, respected and valued by children, staff and visitors. An efficient
and well cared for environment will allow staff to deliver effective play work.
STAFF – The Leader has an important role in supporting a team of staff who are often young
themselves. The Leader is responsible for the day-to-day supervision and oversight of staff at
Challengers.
CHILDREN – Children and young people at Challengers should feel welcome, safe and that
they ‘belong’. The Leader will support a staff team to provide a supportive environment where
children feel confident, happy and able to challenge their limits. Challengers should be a place
that children and their families want to return to.
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Children and Young People
1. To be a champion and advocate of positive play, youth and leisure for disabled children
and young people.
2. Liaise on a regular basis with the line manager and/or the Operations Director regarding
any issue where you require support to provide a service to children and young people at
Challengers.
3. To be responsible for and to support staff to protect children from harm. The Leader is
responsible for reporting any concern about a child’s welfare or safety in accordance with
Challengers’ Child Protection Policy and Procedures and local authority procedures for
protecting children from harm.
4. Ensure that children’s information is up-to-date and disseminated to staff appropriately at
team meetings and ‘on the ground’ to support of staff.
5. To supervise all aspects of care of children and young people (including administration of
medication) who attend Challengers’ schemes – positively encourage and support children
to fully realise their abilities in a fun and happy environment.
Environment, venue, site and property maintenance
1. Responsibility for the day to day maintenance of the fabric and security of buildings and
sites used by Challengers.
2. To support staff teams to maintain a clean, tidy, secure site and environment – treating all
buildings, structures, toys and equipment used by children with respect and care.
3. Responsible for supporting the staff teams to comply with the Health and Safety at Work
Act (see Challengers Health and Safety Policy and Procedure) – including Fire Drills for each
site.
4. Conduct and oversee use of scheme/site checklists, day to day inspections and maintenance
routines for toys, equipment, sites and buildings.
5. All damaged or dangerous equipment or facilities should be reported to the Leader’s line
manager and/or the Operations Director.
Staff
1. To be a role model to all staff and to provide ongoing support and encouragement to the
staff team in an appropriate manner.
2. To inform the line manager and/or the Operations Director of any complex staff support
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issues.
3. Identify and prioritise training needs of staff and to liaise with Operations Director and the
Play and Leisure Team to deliver appropriate training and induction to staff.
4. Attend regular internal and external training to develop skills, competence and approach to
role.
5. To be responsible for a rota that ensures an appropriate number of staff, of sufficient
experience and competence to deliver activities and provide care for children. To report any
concern about the rota as soon as possible.
6. Monitoring staff hours, holidays and sickness - ensuring that staff time sheets are kept
accurately and up-to-date and prepared for the Finance Officer’s payroll.
7. To motivate, guide and encourage staff and facilitate effective working relationships
between staff members (deputies, workers, student placements and maintenance people)
8. Chair the briefing (morning), debrief (afternoon) and Team Meetings (weekly) at which you
will discuss any issues arising at the scheme, allocate the workload and disseminate relevant
information needed for the effective and efficient delivery of activities for that day or
coming period.
Activities
1. To be responsible for the effective liaison and working arrangements between the play or
youth setting, children, young people and their parents. As necessary to develop a working
relationship with teachers, schools and other organisations in the locality.
2. To be responsible for the delivery of creative and stimulating projects and activities for the
children that represents Good Practice and in consultation with children, families, schools
and other agencies/organisations.
3. To ensure that programmes, including projects, outings, entertainments, artists and
workshops are planned and properly executed within an agreed budget.
Management and administration
1. To assist, as required, the Operations Director and any Administrative support staff to
maintain records of attendance, income, expenditure (including petty cash) and general
correspondence.
2. To contribute to the effective liaison and working arrangements between the Challengers
schemes, children, their families, schools, local authority departments, other centres and
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other organisations in the locality.
3. To report (in writing and in meetings as required) regularly to the line manager and/or the
Operations Director to ensure that she/he is aware of all significant developments and
events at schemes for which you are responsible.
4. To represent Challengers at meetings with external agencies as appropriate.
5. When necessary ordering and sourcing equipment that is ‘fit for purpose’ and within the
budgets agreed with the Service Manager.
6. To deliver schemes in accordance with Challengers’ systems, policies and procedures. And
to participate in and contribute to the development of Challengers schemes and systems.
Conduct
1. To conduct yourself and represent the Charity in a manner which reflects all the values and
principles of The Challengers Approach. The Leader will be a ‘champion’ of The Challengers
Approach.
2. To undertake such other duties as they become necessary. These may include help with
fundraising activities and other events which promote the charity to the public.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Qualities, character, attitude and experience of a Challengers staff
1. Able to demonstrate the skills necessary to motivate, encourage, organise, lead and
supervise the staff team in a professional manner in an informal working environment.
2. Experience of leadership in an Early Years environment.
3. Applicants must have a Level 3 qualification or above in Early Years.
4. Ability to perform basic administration duties – authorising time sheets, completing forms
and liaising with parents and the Play and Leisure Team.
5. Commitment to the development of high quality (interesting, fun and creative) play
opportunities for disabled children. The ability to plan varied play programmes and
delegate work to other team members.
6. Experience of play or youth work. It is desirable that applicants have experience working
with disabled children and young people.
7. An understanding and appreciation of the experience of disabled, young people and their
families – a practical appreciation of the barriers to inclusion that disabled children and
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their families experience.
8. An understanding of the importance of all children’s need to play and how play and youth
staff can support children and young people to do so.
9. Prepared to use skills you have – these may include the arts, sport, gardening and
computing.
10. Demonstrate a capacity for the enthusiasm and energy that children require of their
playmates – join in, play with, get involved and get to know the children and young people
who attend Challengers schemes.
11. Prepared to attend training and to learn new skills with which to develop an understanding
of good practice in play and leisure for disabled young people – including Child Protection,
Disability Equality, First Aid and Good Playwork.
12. The ability to drive a Challengers vehicle/minibus is desirable.
Application Form
Complete this form and return it by email to work@disability-challengers.org or post it to HR at
Challengers, Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1TU (remember if you use a large envelope you will need a
large letter stamp).
CHALLENGERS OFFICE USE ONLY
Date
entered:
Interview
Our Ref:
WHICH POST ARE YOU APPLYING FOR?
Job role
Farnham Pre-School Leader
Date:
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Title
(Miss/Mrs/Mr/other)
Forename
:
Surname:
Postal address
Town
Postcode
Email address *
Home Tel
Mobile
Other Tel
* Please note we do most of our communication via email.
Date of Birth
Age - Optional
(optional)
Nat Ins No
OTHER DETAILS
How did you find out about this
vacancy prior to visiting our website?
Do you hold a full driving licence?
YES
NO
Do you have use of a car?
YES
NO
YES
NO
If required do you have a permit to
work in the UK?
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HEALTH DECLARATION
Do you know of any health reasons which
would prevent you from carrying out the duties
YES
intrinsic to this position as outlined in the job
NO
description?
If you ticked ‘yes’, please give details and
supply information of any adjustments you will
need to make in order to carry out these
duties.
DISCLOSURE DECLARATION (This section must be completed)
The position for which you are applying potentially involves significant unsupervised contact with
children and is therefore subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order
1975. This means that you must disclose details of any convictions, bindover orders or police
cautions, warnings or reprimands, including those which are considered “spent” under the terms
of the Act. Please use the Disclosure Form at the end of this Application Form if this applies to
you. This information will not be used to discriminate against you unfairly.
DO YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THE DISCLOSURE FORM?
YES
NO
IF YES PLEASE COMPLETE THE SECTION ON THE LAST PAGE OF THIS FORM
Please supply any certificates or documents which are relevant to this role
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS (including current course if applicable)
Date from
Date to
College/University
Qualification & date if
applicable
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TRAINING – PLEASE PROVIDE COPIES OF ANY RELEVANT CERTIFICATES
Date
Course/Certificate
Awarding body
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Give details of all previous employments, full and part time, paid or unpaid.
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List in order, STARTING WITH THE MOST RECENT FIRST.
Explain any breaks in your employment history.
Date from
Date to
Name & address of employer
Job title and duties
Salary and reason
for leaving
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SUPPORTING INFORMATION - this section must be completed
Please tell us why you are applying for this role, plus any relevant experience to support your
application with particular reference to the job description.
This statement is crucial to further consideration of your application.
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REFERENCES – Please note:
Please supply FULL contact details of two people who will provide a reference for you. Please do
not supply both from the same place of work or education.
ONE MUST BE FROM YOUR CURRENT OR MOST RECENT EMPLOYER OR, IF YOU ARE A FULLTIME STUDENT, FROM YOUR PLACE OF EDUCATION.
REFEREES MAY NOT BE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY.
REFEREE 1
Title
(Miss/Mrs/Mr/other):
Forename:
Surname:
Relationship to
you:
Organisation:
Postal address:
Postcode:
Daytime
Email (essential):
May we contact this person
now?
phone:
YES
NO
REFEREE 2
Title
(Miss/Mrs/Mr/other):
Forename:
Surname:
Relationship to
you:
Organisation:
Postal address:
Postcode:
Daytime
Email (essential):
May we contact this person
now?
phone:
YES
NO
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PLEASE READ AND SIGN THIS SECTION
I confirm that the information which I have given is true and complete.*
I consent for Challengers to carry out the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service checks, and to
monitor status of a check on line using the DBS Update Service if this is subscribed to.
I have read and understand the job description and The Challengers Approach.
Signed:
Date:
* Any false statements or omissions may result in dismissal.

If you have emailed this form to Challengers, you will need to sign a printed version at interview.
NB: Please complete the Equal Opportunities Section on the following page and, only if applicable to
you, the Disclosure.
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EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING
Challengers is committed to achieving a Play and Leisure service which provides equality of opportunity
and freedom from unlawful or unfair discrimination. Our policy covers all aspects of our operations,
including recruitment. Please complete this part of the form. This information will be used only in order
to monitor our recruitment processes and prevent unfair discrimination on any grounds.
Forename:
Surname:
Male
Female
Disabled
Non-Disabled
How would you describe your ethnic background?
White & Black Caribbean
British
White
Irish
Dual
White & Black African
Other White background
heritage
White and Asian
Other Mixed background
Indian
Asian or
Pakistani
Black or
Black Caribbean
Asian
Bangladeshi
Black
Black African
British
Other Asian background
British
Other Black background
Other
Chinese
ethnic
Chinese
Please feel free to expand or specify:
group or
background
DISCLOSURE
The position for which you are applying potentially involves significant unsupervised contact with children and
is therefore subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
If you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings that are not "protected" as defined
by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013
1198, please complete the information below and return it with your application. This information will
not be used to discriminate against you unfairly. For more information on the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act please go to: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1198/pdfs/uksi_20131198_en.pdf
Title (Miss, Mrs, Mr,
other):
Forename:
Surname:
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Registered Charity No. 1095134, A Charitable Company limited by guarantee No. 4300724
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Postal address:
Postcode:
Details about your criminal record:
Date
Nature of Offence
Place offence occurred and
Details of conviction,
Court which issued
bindover caution or
conviction if applicable
warning
I declare that the above information is accurate and complete.
Signed:
Date:
It is our policy to employ the most suitable personnel and ensure equality of opportunity in the advancement of employees and not to
discriminate against any person on the grounds of age, race, national origin, sex, marital status, disability or sexuality.
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Challengers, Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1TU | 01483 579 390 | www.disability-challengers.org
Registered Charity No. 1095134, A Charitable Company limited by guarantee No. 4300724