Job Title: Multi-Sensory Coordinator
Responsible to: Deputy Operations Manager
Contract Type: Permanent
Contracted Hours: 35.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday – Friday
Salary: £21,949
Conditions: A six-month probationary period applies. The centre will operate Monday – Saturday from morning to evening. Applicants must be available to work on a rota basis, including bank/public holidays, and demonstrate flexibility to meet business needs.
Key Purpose:
The post holder will be responsible for coordinating the multi-sensory and quiet rooms, multi-sensory parties, and meeting the needs of visitors with additional needs, as well as their families, within ASPACE2. This includes providing a welcoming environment for individuals with learning, physical, or emotional difficulties, including autism and those with mental health challenges.
They will also advise families and/or carers on how to use the multi-sensory equipment and facilitate sessions to ensure visitors gain maximum benefit, helping them enjoy their experience and develop their skills to the fullest extent.
Main Responsibilities and Duties:
* Provide a welcoming and enriching experience for all visitors.
* Promote the use of ASPACE2 for individuals with additional needs and their families/carers, especially focusing on the multi-sensory and quiet rooms and dedicated sessions.
* Facilitate a positive experience for centre users by appropriately interacting and communicating with visitors who have additional needs, offering support where necessary.
* Maintain an accurate and up-to-date schedule to ensure the multi-sensory and quiet rooms are utilised effectively but not overbooked.
* Keep detailed records of users' needs and their experiences with the equipment to tailor future visits.
* Liaise with colleagues, families, and professionals from partner agencies to ensure visitors are provided with the fullest opportunities available within the Centre.
* Create an environment that supports service users in becoming as independent as possible, while helping them grow in confidence and competence using the facilities.
* Always respect the privacy and dignity of visitors.
* Coordinate with parents, carers, and professionals to deliver multi-sensory teaching approaches.
* Monitor the usage of all multi-sensory equipment and resources.
* Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, adhering to all safeguarding procedures.
* Address customer complaints sensitively and report issues to the duty manager where appropriate.
* Set up, dismantle, and store equipment in line with standard operating procedures and health and safety requirements.
* Prepare and maintain the multi-sensory and quiet rooms, ensuring they meet cleanliness standards and adhere to health and safety procedures, including:
o Daily health and safety checks.
o Testing control systems, themes, lighting, sound, and visual effects.
o Regular equipment checks and troubleshooting as needed.
o Adjusting heating levels according to the group’s needs.
o Selecting appropriate equipment for each session’s goals (e.g., projector wheels).
o Tidying the room post-session and ensuring all safety measures are in place.
o Cleaning and maintaining all equipment to the required standards, following daily, weekly, and monthly schedules.
o Scheduling periodic equipment checks as per manufacturer guidelines and warranties.
o Maintain high standards of cleanliness and presentation in all visitor areas to ensure a quality experience.
o Comply with health and safety policies and procedures, reporting any incidents, accidents, or hazards, and adopting a proactive approach to health and safety to protect yourself and others.
o Report any defects or concerns regarding the building or equipment to management and complete relevant documentation as required.
o Support and uphold the Centre’s policies and procedures, including session times, payments, and ticket collection.
o Promote a harmonious working environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect.
o Comply with the organisation’s security and confidentiality policies, ensuring the highest standards of information security, data protection, and confidentiality.
o Undertake other duties related to this post as required from time to time.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed depending on operational needs and staffing levels.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications and Experience:
* Possess or working towards a relevant NVQ qualification or equivalent.
* Minimum of 1 year’s experience in a customer-facing role.
* Experience of working with children and/or adults with additional needs.
* Experience of diary/schedule management.
* Computer literate to include use of internet, Microsoft packages including Outlook, Word and Excel, and databases.
Desirable Criteria:
* Experience of working with children and/or adults with autistic spectrum disorders.
* Experience of working with children and/or adults with learning disabilities.
* Previous experience working within a sensory room.
* First Aid at Work for children and/or adults.
Skills, Aptitude, Qualities and Behaviours:
Essential Criteria:
* Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate and interact with a range of people at different levels, from children to professionals.
* Good administrative skills including ability to maintain and update records and files, both paper and electronic.
* Intuitive and can think on your feet.
* Be comfortable working with members of the public.
* Ability to empathise and prioritise the customer’s needs.
* Possess a positive ‘Can Do’ attitude.
* Have an outgoing, enthusiastic and friendly manner.
* Ability to work well under pressure.
* Good organisational skills with ability to prioritise and multitask.
* Able to demonstrate initiative and work unsupervised.
* Willingness to be flexible and take on other duties in the Centre.
Knowledge and Understanding:
Essential Criteria:
* Familiar with the work of ASPACE2.
* Understanding of additional needs.
* Knowledge of helpful approaches, strategies and interventions in working with people with learning disabilities / autism.
Desirable Criteria:
* Knowledge of relevant H&S safety legislation that will impact on service delivery.
* Have a knowledge of a range of helpful communication techniques (e.g. Makaton, PECS, TEACCH System, etc).
Special Circumstances:
* Ability to work flexible, unsocial hours including bank holidays, evenings and weekends.
* This post is subject to a basic criminal record disclosure check. This will be applied for through AccessNI.
* You must be resident in the UK and eligible to work.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £21,949.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company events
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Employee mentoring programme
* Free parking
* Health & wellbeing programme
* On-site parking
* Sick pay
Schedule:
* Monday to Friday
* Weekend availability
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 02/10/2024
Reference ID: Aspace2MS
Expected start date: 04/11/2024
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