Issue 7
JOB SPECIFICATION
Job Title:
Children’s Centre Assistant
Location:
Hertsmere Leisure’s Children’s Centres
Responsible to:
Children’s Centre Team Leader
Overall Purpose of the job:
1. To work as part of a team supporting the Children’s Centre Workers with Stay
& Play, baby groups, health clinics, crèches, early learning and health
promotion activities.
2. To assist Children’s Centre workers in facilitating parenting courses and baby
massage sessions.
3. To work with schools, early years settings and health as required.
4. To contribute to the development of the Children’s Centre Programme.
5. To record attendance figures, collect evaluations and record outcomes as
necessary.
6. To promote Early Learning and development.
Specific Duties:
1. Direct work with Families
a) To use a variety of methods to actively engage parents and carers.
b) To provide advice and guidance to parents and carers about a range of
family issues.
c) To contribute in the planning of Children’s Centre activities.
d) To assist with the set up and delivery of baby massage sessions.
e) To participate in crèche provision when required.
f) To support parents in accessing training and employment.
g) To support and encourage volunteering within the Children’s Centre.
April 2015
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Issue 7
2. Working in Partnership
a) To work closely and build good working relationships with the other staff
and agencies working at the Children’s Centres and have an
understanding of the individual roles and how they work together.
3. Working as a member of the Children’s Centre Team
a) To participate in staff and group meetings to ensure good communication
and promote effective teamwork.
b) To take part in the development of new initiatives as directed by the
Team Leader.
c) To provide accurate data entry to enable robust tracking and monitoring
evidence.
d) To take on other duties as required by the Team Leader.
e) To work flexibly in order to meet the needs of the service. Due to the
nature of this work the post holder may required to work occasional
weekends or evenings, with time off in lieu given accordingly.
4. Promotion of Children’s Centre values
a) To ensure that customer care is maintained to the agreed standard.
b) To work as a member of a team providing an environment that
safeguards and protects children.
c) To actively support diversity and inclusion throughout the services
available to families.
d) To contribute to the development and maintenance of quality standards
and work in adherence to those standards
5. Professional Development
a) To be informed of current child care and early years practice.
b) To undertake learning and development as required by the role.
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Issue 7
Person specification:
Essential
Education/
Qualifications


Skills/
aptitudes








Skills/
aptitudes




April 2015
Desirable
A nationally recognised 
early years

qualification Level 2/3
(or equivalent).

Safeguarding
Good verbal and
written communication
skills.
IT skills.
Ability to keep
accurate records.
Effective organisation
skills.
Ability to work on own
initiative.
Ability to work within
the boundaries of own
role and
competencies, and to
know when to refer
appropriately.
Capacity for insight
and reflection with the
ability to learn from
one’s own
experiences.
Have the ability to
deal with potentially
difficult situations.
Hold a full current
driving licence and
have access to a car.
Willingness to
undertake continuous
learning and
development
Enjoy working with
children and their
families
Sense of humour


Assessed
from:
First Aid
Basic Food
hygiene
Level 3 in Early
Years
Confidence to
work in sensitive
situations
Experience of
data entry
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Issue 7
Essential
Relevant
Experience

Experience of working
with young children
Desirable


Knowledge





Knowledge of child
development
Understanding of the
issues that have an
effect on the physical
and mental health of
children and their
families
Recognition of
importance of
safeguarding children
Awareness of need to
maintain
confidentiality
Experience of working
with children in a
voluntary or paid
capacity




Assessed
from:
Experience of
working with
parents/carers in
an outreach
capacity.
Experience of
working with
groups
Knowledge of
family support
services
Knowledge of
Parenting
Programmes
Knowledge of
The Early Years
Foundation
Stage
3 years
experience of
working with
children
Other
Requirements
Key:
A = Application Form
I = Interview
T = Test
Special Features:
1. Flexibility in working arrangements to cover all sites used for
services delivery.
2. Subject to enhanced disclosure clearance from the Criminal Records
Bureau (DBS).
April 2015
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Issue 7
Other factors affecting the post of Children’s Centre Assistant:
1.
Hours of Work:
39 hours per week
2.
Grade:
5
3.
Salary:
£16,320 pa
4.
Notice Period:
1 month by either party
5.
Holiday Entitlement:
Annual Leave entitlement is based on service and is as for full time employees (39
hours per week), working a five day week and includes the 8 bank holidays at
present legislated for each calendar year.
All staff are required to allocate all bank holidays as part of their annual leave
entitlement, but other days may become mandatory for operational reasons.
Annual leave entitlement at present is:
6.
Pensions choice:
On commencement with HL
29 days
After 1 year continuous service with HL
30 days
After 2 years continuous service with HL
31 days
After 3 years continuous service with HL
32 days
After 4 years continuous service with HL
33 days
After 5 years continuous service with HL
34 days
After After 10 years continuous service with HL
36 days
After 15 years continuous service with HL
38 days
After 20 years continuous service with HL
39 days.
Options are:
(i) “Workplace Pensions Reform requires Hertsmere Leisure to automatically enroll
all employees who are aged between 22 and State Pension age, and earning above
£10,000 a year into their ‘Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme’. Hertsmere
Leisure’s Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme is a Group Stakeholder Pension
Scheme provided by Friends Life. Employees who qualify for automatic enrolment
will be joined into the Scheme on completion of one month’s service. Other staff
may join voluntarily at any time.
Employees are required to contribute 1% of their Qualifying Earnings (earnings
between £5,772 and £41,865 per annum) and Hertsmere Leisure will also contribute
1% of Qualifying Earnings on their behalf. Employees can elect to opt out of the
Scheme at any time and if they do so within 30 days of joining, any contribution
deducted from salary will be refunded.
7.
8.
9.
Location:
The Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974:
Other Duties:
10.
Leisure Benefits:
April 2015
Further information regarding the Hertsmere Leisure Qualifying Workplace Pension
Scheme will be forwarded to you within one month of joining service.”
(ii) Full participation in the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS).
(iii) The purchase of a personal pension.
Hertsmere Leisure Children’s Centre areas.
This post is exempt from The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 therefore the
post holder will be subject to a DBS check
The other duties shown are those currently operative, but the post holder may be
required to undertake any other associated duties reasonable and compatible with
his/her grading, competence and qualification
Free use of leisure facilities is available to the post holder, subject to booking
conditions. Please contact your Line Manager for details.
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