Job Advert
Responsible to: Head of Children’s and Families Outreach
Rate of Pay: £15.77 per hour (inclusive of holiday pay)
Working Hours & Pattern: 15-20 hours per week available
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Shift Window: Between 7:15 AM and 6:15 PM (Approx. 4 hours per day, you will plan your own diary)
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Location: A mix of club visits, remote work, and our main office at The Polygon Centre.
Contract Type: Permanent, term time only (+2 weeks)
Work Base: Multi site, Amber Valley (currently Alfreton Christ the King, Ripley St Johns and Belper Long Row). Main office is The Polygon Centre at Alfreton
We offer a predictable yet agile schedule designed around the needs of our clubs. Your 15-20 hour week will generally be split into two main areas:
Club Presence & Emergency Cover (Approx. 14 hours/week)
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Club Visits: You will manage your own diary to visit our various settings, focusing on one session per day (either a morning breakfast club or an afternoon after-school club). Your focus will be on staff support, quality observations, and driving shared standards.
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On-Call Cover: A core part of this role involves being available to provide short-notice emergency cover when staffing ratios require it. On days when cover isn't needed, you will use this time for your planned club visits.
Flexible Admin Time (Approx. 6 hours/week)
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Dedicated time for administration, management tasks, and line management duties.
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To support the needs of our club, these hours can be worked completely flexibly, either from home or at The Polygon Centre.
Operational Flexibility:
We recognise that business needs fluctuate. Some weeks will require more admin time, while others will demand more face-to-face club presence. You will have the autonomy to adjust the weight of admin functions and on site functions at clubs accordingly within your weekly hours.
Job Description
Purpose & Scope
To provide effective management oversight and support for the day-to-day delivery of Zest breakfast and after-school clubs, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of all activities in line with organisational and regulatory standards.
To work collaboratively with the Head of Children and Families Outreach to develop team confidence, maintain clear objectives, and address any issues impacting the successful delivery of the clubs.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
Team Management
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Act as the line manager and first point of contact for Zest Club Managers, and provide support where required for Zest Club Assistants.
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Conduct regular 1:1 meetings with Club Managers to ensure support with their roles and the smooth operation of the clubs.
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Arrange and deliver team meetings to review policies and procedures, and to facilitate team building.
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Support with the arrangement and completion of staff training plans and continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.
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Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), supporting staff in the event of any safeguarding concerns.
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Ensure that Zest Club Managers’ administration tasks and paperwork are up-to-date and accurate in their respective club folders (including safeguarding documents, parent/carer contracts, and hygiene control monitoring sheets).
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Support with the recruitment of new staff, including interviewing, inductions, and probation reviews.
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Liaise with staff regarding changes in working hours (e.g., overtime/sickness) and inform HR as required.
Provision Management
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Ensure that activities are fun, enriching, and inclusive, supporting all forms of children’s learning and development.
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Promote positive behaviour within the clubs in line with the Zest Behavioural Policy, recognising that Club Managers may from time-to-time require support with planning appropriate interventions and strategies.
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Ensure that each setting has adequate levels of staffing to remain compliant with staffing ratios, arranging relief cover when required.
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Support managers with the use of the online booking system ‘Pebble’, and liaise with the Head of Children and Families Outreach and the finance team when necessary (e.g., following up on payment arrears).
Ofsted
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Maintain familiarity with Ofsted requirements for wraparound care settings via the Out of School Alliance website and the government website.
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Liaise with the Trustee (Registered Person for Ofsted) and the Head of Children and Families Outreach regarding any notifications of Ofsted inspections.
Self-Management and Professional Development
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Take responsibility for the effective planning, organisation, and administration of your work.
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Attend meetings and supervision sessions as requested by the Head of Children and Families Outreach.
Person Specification
Characteristics & Values (Essential)
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A genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with children.
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Highly self-motivated, creative, and resourceful when planning activities.
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Well-organised and able to work effectively alone or as part of a team.
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Deeply committed to equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion when working with children and colleagues.
Skills (Essential)
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Ability to communicate effectively with both children and adults.
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Ability to develop creative, inspiring, and inclusive resources.
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Comprehensive ICT skills, including competence in Microsoft Office and Excel.
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Strong creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge and Understanding
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Essential: Knowledge of and commitment to Equal Opportunities practices.
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Essential: Strong knowledge of Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures.
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Desirable: Knowledge and understanding of Ofsted expectations for out-of-school club settings.
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Desirable: Knowledge and understanding of key child development interests.
Experience
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Essential: Proven experience of working with children.
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Essential: Experience facilitating opportunities for children to learn in creative ways.
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Desirable: Experience planning and delivering sessions or activities for children.
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Desirable: Prior experience in a line management or supervisory role.
Qualifications
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Essential: Relevant qualification in childcare or working with children (e.g., Level 2 Childcare Qualification or equivalent).
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Essential: Minimum Level 2 Maths and English qualifications (or equivalent).
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Essential: Willingness to undertake further training & CPD opportunities.
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Desirable: Specific Safeguarding Qualification.
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Desirable: Food Hygiene Level 2.
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Desirable: Paediatric First Aid.
Other Requirements (Essential)
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A full UK Driving License with access to a car to enable travel to fulfil the multi-site duties of the post.
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Willingness to travel between and work across multiple venues in Derbyshire.
Benefits
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Enhanced Annual Leave
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Company Sick Pay Scheme
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20% discount in all Lighthouse Charity Shops
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Company Pension
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Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
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Access to exclusive shopping and lifestyle discounts
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Christmas Saver Scheme
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Company Events
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will therefore be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check along with other relevant pre-employment checks.
To Apply: Please download the full application pack from our application page.
