Senior Community Playworker

We are looking for a motivated, passionate and dynamic individual to join the Crawley Play Service team. You will lead and supervise a team of Community Outreach Playworkers to plan, coordinate and manage the delivery of an excellent and high-quality outreach play programme within the local community. The programme supports the achievement of better outcomes for children, young people and families.

You will be responsible for planning and delivering a successful play streets (playing out) model across the town in identified areas with high numbers of children and young people.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring that all of our Play Service policy and procedures are adhered to as well as the effective administration of paperwork. This will include staffing arrangements, sessions plans, registers, monitoring and evaluation of activities against agreed outcomes for the service.

You’ll plan and deliver a stimulating and creative outreach programme in fixed locations across Crawley, such as playing fields, unsupervised play areas, schools, neighbourhood hotspot areas and youth clubs.

You will also manage the delivery of targeted outreach across Crawley which responds to incidents and issues quickly and creatively. This will provide diversion and safety for children and young people, encouraging them to make positive life choices.

You’ll regularly attend key partnership meetings and have the confidence and initiative to engage with parents, children, and young people in a friendly and professional manner to help build strong positive relationships in the community.

You will need to have experience of managing a small team, working with children and young people and providing play and youth opportunities through outreach in different settings and locations within the community.

• Normal working hours will be 30 hours a week. You’ll be expected to work flexible hours across the week with predominately afternoon, evening and weekend working:
  • during term time this will be between 12pm and 8pm, Monday to Friday
  • during school holiday periods this will be between 10:30am and 7pm Monday to Friday
  • you will also be expected to work a minimum of two weekend days per calendar month for which a 14% enhancement will be paid in line with the Community Services Local Pay Agreement
• Up to 1 week’s annual leave can be taken in the school holidays
• A full current UK driving licence is a requirement of the role
• Satisfactory clearance of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check (DBS) will be a condition of your employment

We offer a generous employee benefits package, with a range of discounts, benefits and wellbeing incentives to suit everyone.

Our shared values and behaviours reflect the special nature of our council. We encourage all colleagues to put them into practice, whatever job they do. Take a look to see if we are the perfect match.

Crawley Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.

Click the Apply button to complete your application online. Please ensure that the reference details you supply are for your current or most recent employer and that any gaps in employment are covered on your application form. Please note that CVs will not be accepted without a fully completed application form.

For an informal conversation or further information regarding the role, please email Vikki.jacobs@crawley.gov.uk, Community Development and Play Officer, or call 01293 438565.