We are looking for a trainee Playworker who wants to build a career in the Children and Young People sector to join our small and friendly team.
CARIS Families is a charity that supports homeless families living in hostel accommodation in Camden and Hackney. We run play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 from within 4 hostels in these boroughs, as well as a school holiday day trip programme. Our services for children aim to reduce the stress on children and parents of living in overcrowded, insecure accommodation, and to put back some of the vital childhood experiences that homeless accommodation deprives children of.
We are currently looking for a trainee playworker to join our dedicated frontline play team. We do not expect you to have a qualification in the CYP workforce yet, but we are looking for someone with a genuine passion for working with young children and who has relevant professional or voluntary experience to demonstrate it. We will provide plenty of training on the job, and subject to passing a probationary period, we will fund your training to Level 3 for the Children and Young People's Workforce, enabling you to get a diploma.
Our new Playworker will:
- Help to deliver our hostel-based Kids Club’s play session for 0-16 year olds during term time in the London Borough of Camden
- Help to deliver our School Holiday programme during school holidays (in Camden, Hackney and the wider London area)
- Support the running of our term-time Essential Bank programme, providing free household goods to families in hostels
- Provide a warm and welcoming experience for children & their families attending CARIS Families’ Services
- Proactively engage with children in their play and learning experiences, through staff-led activities and supporting child-led play.
Person Specification
We are looking for a trainee who is:
- Experienced in working or volunteering within a play-based setting and working with 0- to 16-year-olds
- Experienced in facilitating safe and creative play experiences
- Enthusiastic about supporting and playing with children, helping them to develop their confidence, stretch themselves and discover the world around them.
- Understanding of the varied needs of children and their families, and passionate about improving opportunities for disadvantaged children.
- Understanding of Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding best practice
- A good communicator, comfortable with working with a wide range of service users and professionals
- Responsible and punctual with a professional attitude to work, who is able to work well as part of a team.
Salary: £14 per hour (traineeship), which will rise following qualification
Contract: 12 months initially, with the possibility of extension subject to funding
Hours: 12 hours a week in term time (40 weeks a year), Monday – Thursday inclusive. 8 hrs a week in school holidays (12 weeks a year), days variable. 25 days per year Annual Leave (pro rata) with an additional week off over Christmas.