Do you want to work with disabled children and young people?
Are you available in school holidays?

Western Corner is setting up new holiday play schemes for disabled children and young people as part of Oxfordshire’s Aiming High programme. We are looking for staff in the Oxford, Witney, Wallingford, Wantage/Didcot, & Faringdon areas. Convenient working locations will be agreed with post holders.

Working alongside the Activity Leader you will assist in running activity groups for disabled children and young people during school holidays. You will also provide individual support, enabling them to safely participate in play and leisure activities.

You will hold a relevant childcare qualification at NVQ 2 or equivalent, and have experience of working with disabled children and young people.

Due to the nature of the work, where specified, posts are offered on a part time or Sessional basis, as and when required. When applying please quote the relevant reference number.

We offer flexible working patterns.

All posts are funded until 31 March 2011, with potential to extend for a further two years.

Activity Support Worker

Location:

Oxfordshire

Reward Band:

Project Worker 1 (SAN)

Part Time 11 hours per week

Reporting to:

Activity Leader

Job purpose:

• To assist in the provision of Specialist Holiday Activities and support for disabled children, young people, enabling them to safely participate in play and leisure activities, which give them a positive and inclusive experience to live safely and participate fully in their communities.

Key activities:

• To assist with the provision of child centred activities, care and leisure experiences for disabled children and young people.
• To work directly with disabled children and young people and their families to enable them to be involved in decision making processes that enable their inclusive participation in the Local Community.
• Consult with disabled children and young people using creative and appropriate tools.
• Assist in the compilation of care and medical plans under direction of line manager and in partnership with parents/carers and professionals. Keep concise and careful records in accordance with health and safety requirements.
• Support disabled children and young people to develop skills, knowledge and self-confidence to communicate their thoughts and feelings and respond to issues that affect them.
• Share information with parents/carers and relevant agencies to develop their capacity to support children and young people.
• Work in partnership with colleagues and professionals to ensure quality standards are evident in all aspects of work with children and young people.
• Attend all relevant training, planning meetings and supervision.
• Keep accurate records and provide them to deadlines, ensuring that the Children’s Society’s confidentiality policy is maintained.
• To assist in the transportation of disabled children and young people and families, including acting as escort or authorised driver.
• To assist in the induction of volunteers with line management support and in accordance with The Children’s Society’s policies and procedures.

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:

Experience

• Experience, paid or unpaid, of working with disabled children and young people
• Experience of assisting in planning creative and leisure activities

Qualifications

• Relevant NVQII or equivalent qualification

Work based knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of disability issues
• Knowledge of safeguarding children
• Knowledge of Health and Safety, Manual Handling and People Moving
• Awareness of current child care legislation
• Familiarity with children/young people’s individual programme plans

Skills

• Clear and concise communication skills appropriate to respond positively to disabled children and young people
• Ability to fully record and take messages
• Basic IT, including Word Processing

Core competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:

Managing People

Leading Others:

• Participates fully as a member of a team

Innovation:

• Improve work methods to achieve higher levels of efficiency
• Learns from experience

Leading Change

Communicating with Others:

• Communicate effectively with others in own area on day-to-day matters

Building and Maintaining Partnerships:

• Maintain friendly, helpful and supportive relationships with immediate colleagues
• Participates fully in team activities

Managing Continuity

Managing Resources:

• Supports the efficient use and takes responsibility for the sustaining of resources
• Shares relevant information with others

Providing Service to Others:

• Provide services to others, internal and external
• Treats others with respect and dignity
• Complies with safeguarding requirements
• Works in partnership with children and young people so their views and ideas are listened to and taken seriously

Producing Results

Managing Yourself:

• Take steps to improve performance
• Takes initiative and is aware of own learning needs.

Agreeing and Meeting Targets:

• Focus on what needs to be done
• Meet service and quality standards
• Act in line with specific directions

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Availability to work during school holidays: - Specialist Holiday Activities for disabled children and young people operate in school holidays throughout Oxfordshire, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the areas of Didcot, Farringdon, Oxford City, Wantage & Witney.
• To be a designated key person for individual children and young people.
• Some weekend/evening work for the purposes of staff training and/or supervision.
• Some residential time away from home for team development and/or training.
• Direct work with disabled children and young people with moderate and severe learning impairments, attending to individual care needs which will include; Administration of medication, lifting and personal care tasks.
• Travel across the county to attend training, meetings, and to provide additional staff cover at other venues.

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions)

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and The Society you will require:

• To actively promote the values of The Children’s Society in your day-to-day work.
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the Children’s Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.
• A commitment to ensuring the needs and rights of disabled children and young people are upheld through their active participation in the work of the project and the Society.
• Resilience to supervise and keep safe children and young people with challenging behaviours
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the project and of the Society.
• To be flexible and adaptable and be able to cope with changing priorities and demands.