Job title: Day Care Manager
Salary: PO1 £38,220 - £40,777
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Little Owls Quarry Mount
Are you interested in a career in childcare? Little Owls nurseries are currently recruiting for a Day Care Manager
Little Owls is a great place to progress in your childcare career and many of our assistants move on to become managers. We support staff to learn and progress by offering regular training.
As a Day Care Manager based in one of our Little Owls nurseries you will be part of a great team and will deliver a high standard of care which meets the individual needs of the children. It is rewarding work, as well as energetic and at times challenging.
We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
You will:
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Lead and provide a broad and balanced Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum that will meet the requirements of relevant National and Local standards in partnership with families.
- support the Children’s Centre Manager in the effective management of the budget in line with Leeds City Council financial regulations.
- facilitate the maximisation of income, minimising debt and reducing costs where possible to ensure the centres financial sustainability and to manage the day to day running of the budget.
- take responsibility for the securing of the building and resources and will be the Person in Charge for Ofsted purposes.
About you:
As a Day care Manager, you will bring to the role:
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excellent communication and listening skills
- the ability to encourage, motivate and efficiently support the deployment of a dynamic and diverse staff team
- the ability to deliver high quality integrated education and care that meets the National framework.
We expect the following experience and qualifications:
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A minimum of a full and relevant Level 3 qualification as defined by sector skills council for childcare.
- GCSE Maths and English at grades A*-C or equivalent (CSE at Grade 1, Key Skills at Level 3, ‘O’ Level Grade A-C) or commitment to achieve this within 2 years.
Please be aware that successful applicants will be employed by LCC and not a particular centre and could be asked to work at any of the city wide Little Owls Nurseries.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
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a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
Please be aware that successful applicants will be employed by LCC and not a particular centre and could be asked to work at any of the city wide Little Owls Nurseries.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Sarah Binns Childrens Centre Manager Tel: 07891271682 E mail
[email protected]
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a 6-month probationary period.
Job Description
Special conditions this post is subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
Job purpose
To provide effective operational management and leadership of the Early Learning setting which will deliver high quality education and care that will support the National Framework for childcare and meet the requirements of the relevant national inspections standards. To develop and maintain positive, respectful and responsive relationships with parents, carers and other professionals, in meeting the needs of all children and families.
All staff are required to support the services main purpose of encouraging and enabling children to develop, behaviourally, educationally and emotionally. To create and maintain a customer focused attitude and approach at all times that promotes positive relationships and generates a culture of openness and trust. To deliver efficient, effective and quality services by way of flexible working. To work together with colleagues from other service areas and organisations to provide and maintain a safe, secure learning environment that promotes the safety and welfare of children in which they can prosper, develop and achieve. To foster, maintain and support pro-social behaviour, a restorative and solution focussed approach with children, families and colleagues.
Responsibilities
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To lead, manage, encourage, motivate and efficiently deploy a dynamic and diverse staff team to deliver high quality integrated education and care that meets the National framework.
- To lead and provide a broad and balanced Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum that will meet the requirements of relevant National and Local standards in partnership with families
- To lead the development and quality assure the delivery of Individual Education Programmes (IEP) and the Early Support Programme for children with Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND).
- To co-ordinate and develop the Special Educational Needs Coordinator role and key worker system to support children with special educational needs, promoting inclusion on site and progressing towards inclusion in mainstream education.
- To pursue initiatives and quality assessments that will develop and improve practice in the Children’s Centre, ensuring that children’s diverse needs are met.
- To maintain client confidentiality.
- To liaise with and provide professional advice to parents, professionals and agencies, building effective partnerships.
- To liaise with the local primary school teachers and prepare reports that will support the child’s transition into school.
- To support parents, carers and families in the successful admission and transition of their children.
- To lead and ensure the effective operation of the policies and procedures for the administration of medication including accurately recording and verifying drug sheets.
- To lead and quality assure the process for reporting any suspicious or suspected non-accidental injury or reportable incident. Ensuring compliance with Departmental Child Protection Procedures in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures (West Yorkshire Consortium Procedure Manual) and Ofsted requirements.
- To assist the management in providing professional support to parents and outside agencies on issues relating to child protection.
- To support students and the Leeds City Council Childcare apprenticeship programme ensuring the effective mentoring of the apprentice and complying with the childcare apprenticeship deployment principles during their time in the centre.
- To collect and analyse data which will inform continuous improvement of the Centre’s progress and the attainment of children.
- To ensure the centre is prepared for all relevant inspections
- To be the named person responsible to Ofsted.
- To ensure risk assessments are undertaken and documentation is completed for any educational visits.
- To provide appropriate training and development opportunities for all staff, through internal staff meetings, appraisal and supervision, external training, and professional development in line with the aspirations of the Children’s Centre and Learning for Life Service. To provide support and challenge in line with improving performance procedures.
- To take responsibility for their own professional development including participating in any training required from time to time by the national statutory framework or designated as essential by the Early Start Service.
- To support the Children’s Centre manager in the effective management of the budget in line with Leeds City Council financial regulations.
- To have day to day responsibility with regards to decision making in relation to EYFFI (Early Years funding for inclusion) & EYPP (Early Years pupil premium) money which the Centre receives for individual children.
- To facilitate the maximisation of income, minimising debt and reducing costs where possible to ensure the centres financial sustainability
- To take responsibility for ensuring the buildings are fit for purpose, safe and secure including external security.
- To support any building evacuation and lead where appropriate.
- To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
- To actively promote and support Leeds City Council's Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
It is an essential requirement of this post that the post holder should hold a minimum of a full and relevant Level 3 qualification as defined by the Sector Skills Council for Childcare, the Children’s Workforce Development Council, as listed on their website at www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/qualifications(NB this includes degrees recognised by the CWDC, such as the BA Hons. Childhood Studies, Early Years Sector Endorsed Foundation Degree but NOT other non- relevant degrees UNLESS Early Years Professional Status has also been achieved).
GCSE Maths and English at grades A*-C or equivalent (CSE at Grade 1, Key Skills at Level 3, ‘O’ Level Grade A-C) or commitment to achieve this within 2 years.
A relevant and current Paediatric First Aid or Emergency Paediatric First Aid certificate or a commitment to achieve this within the first 3 months of employment, as required in the EYFS framework
Essential requirements
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Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, senior management, other professionals and those using the Children’s Centre’s services using a range of methods including use of ICT (information and communication technologies)
- Ability to effectively lead a staff team, setting long term goals and clear plans ensuring that staff understand their roles and responsibilities, monitor and evaluate their progress using appropriate frameworks including one to ones, appraisals and if required, the Improving Performance Policy.
- Ability to prioritise, organise work under pressure and meet competing demands.
- Ability to prepare written reports and plans to the Senior Management Team and relevant inspection services, collecting and analysing data using ICT systems
- Ability to demonstrate commitment to personal development, keeping informed and up to date on developments in effective practice and new strategies to support outcomes for children and families.
- The ability to reflect on your own, and other actions, particularly where errors may have been made so as to engage in a process of continuous learning
- Ability to understand the range of factors which create stress for children and their families and provide a good role model offering positive support
- Able to listen and accept instructions.
- Ability to safeguard children and support them to develop their resilience
- Able to effectively use the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to lead planning and evaluation of activities to aid children’s learning.
- Able to write and oversee the production of reports and plans to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing, to the required standard.
- Ability to lead the team to support parents, carers and families in the successful admission and transition of their children.
- Able to offer support to children and families in a culturally sensitive, positive and non - judgemental way
- Able to use ICT packages, including Word and Excel
- Able to work in a partnership with parents and carers to support their children’s learning, development and wellbeing.
- Able to oversee, complete and quality assure risk assessments.
- Able to support the development of children with special educational needs and disabilities in an inclusive setting.
- Able to supervise students and apprentices.
- An ability to work with staff at all levels, working as part of a team, contributing to team cohesion and liaising with other professionals
- A flexible approach to working hours with the ability to change shift patterns as required.
- Knowledge and understanding of practice in Safeguarding children and Local Safeguarding Board procedures.
- Knowledge and understanding of current legislation, policy and guidance relating to the work of Sure Start Children’s Centres including the 2004 Children Act, the 2006 Childcare Act, the Ofsted inspection framework, the EYFS, the SEN Code of practice and Working Together to Safeguard children 2015.
- Knowledge of a range of factors which create stress for children and families.
- Knowledge of guidance documents which support the development of young children’s learning including the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework
- Experience of professional employment in work with young children and families.
- Experience of working in partnership with other agencies.
- Experience of working in close partnership with parents and carers.
- Experience of professional employment in a nursery environment.
- Experience of leading practice related to Child Protection issues.
- Experience of supervising others.
- Experience of leading practice within a nursery environment.
- Experience of teamwork
- Experience of leading in planning to organise play and learning experiences for children.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
