Support Worker - School Age Childcare
Craigiebarn Owls Out of School Care Club
Location: Craigiebarns Primary School, Dundee
Contract: Permanent, Part-Time
Contracted Hours: 16 hours per week
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Due to current funding, an additional temporary supplement of £0.74 per hour is paid, bringing the current hourly rate to £13.45 per hour. The £0.74 supplement is funded until 31 March 2027 and relates only to the enhanced rate of pay, not the duration of the post. The supplement may continue beyond this date; however, this cannot currently be guaranteed.
About the Role
Craigiebarn Owls Out of School Care Club is looking for a caring, enthusiastic and reliable Support Worker to join our friendly team.
We provide a welcoming, nurturing and child-led environment where children can relax, play, socialise, explore and have fun before and after school and throughout the school holidays.
We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys working with children, brings enthusiasm and positivity to their role and is happy to get involved in all aspects of the day-to-day running of a busy out of school care service.
Hours of Work
This is a permanent 16-hour-per-week post.
Our normal term-time shift windows are:
- Breakfast Club: shifts between 7:15am and 9:15am
- After School Club: shifts between 2:00pm and 6:00pm
Your contracted hours will be worked across a combination of Breakfast Club and After School Club shifts. Staff are not expected to work every morning and every afternoon, however applicants should have sufficient availability to work a mixture of shifts within both of the above session times according to the staff rota.
During school holiday periods, additional hours are available and working hours may typically increase to approximately 20–30 hours per week, depending on service requirements and bookings. Some flexibility to work additional hours during school holidays is therefore required.
Key Responsibilities
As a Support Worker, you will:
- Engage positively with children and support them to play, socialise, explore and have fun.
- Plan, prepare and facilitate a variety of engaging, age-appropriate and child-led play opportunities, both indoors and outdoors.
- Listen to children's views, interests and ideas and support them to have genuine choice and influence over their experiences at the club.
- Promote children's independence, confidence, wellbeing and inclusion.
- Build warm, positive and professional relationships with children and their families.
- Support children with individual needs and help ensure every child feels welcomed, valued and included.
- Supervise children effectively and contribute to maintaining a safe environment throughout each session.
- Prepare, set up and facilitate snack and mealtimes, including food preparation, serving and supporting children to develop independence during these times.
- Ensure children's dietary requirements and allergies are understood and followed and that appropriate food hygiene procedures are maintained.
- Support children to develop good hygiene practices, including effective handwashing and appropriate routines around food and snack times.
- Take an active role in cleaning and maintaining the club environment throughout each session, including play areas, food and snack areas, equipment and other shared spaces.
- Follow the club's infection prevention and control procedures, including regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, resources, equipment and high-touch areas.
- Help ensure the club remains clean, organised, safe and welcoming for children throughout the day.
- Assist with setting up the environment and resources before sessions and ensure equipment and areas are appropriately cleaned, organised and stored afterwards.
- Carry out routine safety and environmental checks as required.
- Follow all safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, infection control and other service policies and procedures.
- Work cooperatively as part of the staff team and take responsibility for completing allocated duties without requiring continual direction.
- Contribute ideas, observations and feedback to children's planning and the ongoing development of the service.
- Attend staff meetings, training and development opportunities as required.
We place a strong focus on maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control, and successful applicants should be comfortable taking responsibility for these duties as part of their normal working day.
Who We're Looking For
We would love to hear from someone who:
- Is caring, friendly and genuinely enthusiastic about working with children.
- Is reliable, punctual and responsible.
- Enjoys getting involved in children's play and isn't afraid to be creative, messy or have fun!
- Is proactive and able to recognise what needs to be done within a busy environment.
- Is comfortable undertaking practical responsibilities including food preparation, cleaning and organising the environment.
- Is patient, approachable and supportive.
- Works well as part of a team while also being able to use their own initiative.
- Communicates positively and professionally with children, families and colleagues.
- Is committed to children's wellbeing, inclusion and safeguarding.
- Takes pride in maintaining high standards within their working environment.
- Has suitable availability to work a mixture of morning and afternoon shifts within our Breakfast Club and After School Club operating hours.
- Is flexible and willing to work additional hours during school holiday periods where required.
Experience & Qualifications
Previous experience working with children in an out of school care, childcare, playwork, education or similar environment is desirable but not essential.
We are happy to consider applicants who do not currently hold a relevant childcare qualification, provided they have the right qualities for the role and are willing and able to work towards the qualification required for their SSSC registration.
The successful applicant will be required to undertake the appropriate PVG Scheme checks and be willing and eligible to obtain, the relevant SSSC registration for the role.
Why Join Craigiebarn Owls?
At Craigiebarn Owls, we want our club to feel like the children's space - somewhere they can relax after school, spend time with friends, make choices, be creative, explore their interests and have their voices heard.
You'll be joining a friendly and supportive team where staff are encouraged to bring their own ideas, skills and interests to the service and contribute to creating positive experiences for our children.
We're looking for someone who will bring enthusiasm and warmth to the team while also taking pride in the everyday responsibilities that keep our club safe, fun and welcoming.
Interested?
Please send your CV along with a short covering statement telling us a little about yourself, your relevant experience and why you would like to join the Craigiebarn Owls team..
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Expected hours: No less than 16.0 per week
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
