Adventure Playground Manager
Three Corners Adventure Playground, Islington, London
Lead a unique play service where children come first.
Do you believe children learn best through freely chosen play?
Can you inspire a team, manage a busy community facility, and ensure children have access to adventurous, creative and challenging play opportunities whilst maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, health and safety and operational management?
If so, we'd love to hear from you.
Three Corners Adventure Playground is looking for an enthusiastic, organised and inspiring Adventure Playground Manager to lead one of London's most exciting open access play services.
This is much more than managing an adventure playground.
It's leading a community service where children are trusted to explore, create, build, climb, make mistakes, take positive risks and develop confidence through play.
You'll be responsible for ensuring children receive outstanding play opportunities rooted in the Playwork Principles, whilst also managing every aspect of the playground's day-to-day operation, including safeguarding, staff leadership, premises management, health and safety, compliance, partnerships and community engagement.
One moment you might be carrying out a safeguarding discussion with your team, completing a site inspection or meeting with local partners. The next you'll be outside supporting children building dens, lighting campfires, creating giant structures from loose parts or developing new ideas inspired entirely by children's own play.
We're looking for someone who enjoys being visible, approachable and hands-on. This isn't a desk-based management role, it's about leading by example and creating a culture where children, families and staff all thrive.
About Three Corners Adventure Playground
Three Corners Adventure Playground provides an inclusive, stimulating and challenging environment where children and young people can play freely, develop friendships, build confidence and experience adventure in a safe, supportive environment.
Our work is built upon:
- The Playwork Principles
- Children's Right to Play
- The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Managing Risk in Play Provision
- Trauma-informed practice
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Relationship-based practice
- Community engagement
We believe children are experts in their own play and that adventure playgrounds provide unique opportunities for learning, creativity, resilience and personal growth.
Main Purpose of the Role
As Adventure Playground Manager, you will provide overall leadership for the playground, ensuring it is safe, welcoming, financially sustainable and professionally managed whilst delivering exceptional Playwork.
You will lead and support your staff team, develop positive relationships with children, families and community partners, oversee the maintenance of the playground and building, and ensure the service consistently meets organisational, legal and safeguarding requirements.
You will also play a key role in promoting children's participation, ensuring that children's voices influence the development of the playground and everything it offers.
What You'll Be Responsible ForLeadership
- Leading, motivating and developing a team of Playworkers and volunteers.
- Creating a positive, supportive and high-performing team culture.
- Providing supervision, coaching and performance management.
- Supporting staff wellbeing and professional development.
Playwork
- Leading high-quality Playwork in accordance with the Playwork Principles.
- Creating exciting indoor and outdoor play environments.
- Supporting children's freely chosen play.
- Promoting challenge, creativity, inclusion and participation.
- Ensuring children's voices shape the service.
Safeguarding
- Acting as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the playground.
- Promoting a strong safeguarding culture.
- Managing safeguarding concerns appropriately.
- Ensuring safeguarding training remains current.
- Working closely with families and external agencies where required.
Premises Management
- Managing the playground, buildings and surrounding environment.
- Carrying out regular premises inspections.
- Ensuring repairs and maintenance are completed.
- Managing contractors.
- Maintaining adventure playground structures and equipment.
- Ensuring the environment remains safe, welcoming and inspiring.
Health & Safety
- Leading health and safety across the site.
- Managing risk-benefit assessments.
- Completing inspections and audits.
- Investigating accidents and incidents.
- Promoting a positive safety culture that supports adventurous play.
Service Management
- Managing budgets and resources responsibly.
- Monitoring occupancy and attendance.
- Supporting funding requirements and quality assurance.
- Maintaining accurate records and reports.
- Ensuring policies and procedures are followed consistently.
Community Engagement
- Building relationships with local schools, families and community organisations.
- Promoting the playground within the wider community.
- Developing partnerships that benefit children and young people.
- Supporting outreach and engagement activities.
We're Looking For Someone Who Can
- Inspire and lead a passionate staff team.
- Balance children's freedom with effective safeguarding and risk management.
- Make sound decisions under pressure.
- Build positive relationships with children, families and professionals.
- Organise a busy community facility efficiently.
- Manage buildings, resources and budgets responsibly.
- Promote a positive safeguarding culture.
- Lead by example and actively engage with children through play.
- See problems as opportunities and take pride in improving the environment.
- Share our belief that fun comes first, the rest follows.
Essential Experience
We welcome applications from experienced managers from a range of children's services.
You may currently work in:
- Afterschool Club
- Other Play setting
- Nursery Management
- Children's Centres
- Family Hubs
- Youth Services
- Holiday Provision
- Forest School
- Outdoor Learning
- Education
- Community Services
You should be able to demonstrate experience of:
- Managing staff and volunteers.
- Leading safeguarding practice.
- Managing health and safety.
- Managing a building, facility or outdoor environment.
- Working with children and young people.
- Building positive relationships with families and communities.
- Managing competing priorities.
- Leading teams through change.
- Developing services and improving quality.
- Budget management and responsible use of resources.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
QualificationsEssential
- Level 3 qualification in Playwork, Childcare, Youth Work, Education or a related field OR significant management experience within children's services and a willingness to complete a Level 3 Playwork qualification.
Desirable
- Level 3 Playwork qualification.
- Forest School qualification.
- Youth Work qualification.
- Teaching qualification.
- First Aid.
- Food Hygiene.
- Mental Health First Aid.
- IOSH or equivalent Health & Safety training.
We Will Support the Right Candidate
We recognise that excellent Adventure Playground Managers come from many different professional backgrounds.
If you're an experienced manager within children's services who shares our values and believes in children's right to play, we'd love to hear from you.
If you don't already hold a Level 3 Playwork qualification, we will support the successful candidate to achieve it through professional development and training.
Why Join Awesome CIC?
Make a Lasting Difference
- Every day you'll help children develop confidence, resilience, friendships and life skills through play.
Lead Something Truly Unique
- Adventure playgrounds are unlike any other children's service. Every day brings new challenges, new ideas and new opportunities to create unforgettable childhood experiences.
Be Part of an Exceptional Team
- Join a passionate organisation committed to protecting children's right to play and delivering outstanding community services.
Invest in Your Development
- We believe in developing our people through ongoing training, mentoring and professional qualifications.
Community Matters
We're proud to serve Islington's communities and strongly encourage applications from local residents and people who understand the importance of community-led services.
Safeguarding Statement
Awesome CIC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
The successful applicant will be required to:
- complete an Enhanced DBS check;
- undergo safeguarding and safer recruitment checks;
- provide satisfactory references; and
- demonstrate an ongoing commitment to safeguarding children and young people.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Ready to lead something extraordinary?
If you're an organised, compassionate and motivated leader who believes in children's right to play and wants to make a genuine difference in the lives of children and young people, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help shape the future of play at Three Corners Adventure Playground.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £28,845.00-£30,910.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
Experience:
- Managing a team: 2 years (required)
- working with children and young people: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
