Registered Manager – Lead Practitioner

Cumbernauld YMCA, a former winner of the Lanarkshire Social Enterprise Award, established the Peace of Mind OSC service in 1989 in response to requests from Head Teachers/PTAs to set up OSC in areas that did not qualify for Urban Aid. The Association is an excellent employer, fully committed to empowering staff in management decision making processes and offers continuous personal development opportunities.

Accountable

The post holder will be accountable to the Child Care Senior Manager who works in partnership with other senior managers to deliver a broad range of core central office support services. These include Administration; HR; Finance; Training, Bookings, Registrations, School Lets; Transport; Equipment etc. The Central Office senior team work collaboratively to ensure Base Manages & Teams have everything they need to deliver and maintain quality school age childcare services.

Job Purpose

Demonstrate professional leadership in their practice and management of the service and teams. Promote a nurturing, inclusive, safe, child-centred care service and learning environment for children and staff.

Implement activities and experiences that meet the developmental, emotional and social needs of children to meet organisational and registration quality assurance standards.

Support continuous improvement by promoting a culture of reflective practice, effective self-evaluation and application of organisational and legislation quality assurance systems and legal requirements.

Quality Assurance and Professional Leadership

• Demonstrate professional leadership to meet YMCA Cumbernauld Core Values, Vision, Mission and SSSC Codes of Practice.
• Effectively manage staff to ensure delivery of a best practice registered service on days you are not onsite.
• Deliver effective mentoring/supervision meetings and work practice assessments.
• Ensure your teams understand and apply organisational policies, procedures, service registration requirements child centred care at all.
• Promote reflective practice to ensure colleagues improve outcomes for children and families.
• Maintain awareness of current childcare legislation, national guidance and best practice.
• Contribute to quality assurance processes, audits, monitoring activities and service evaluations.
• Support development of recommendations arising from inspections, audits, incidents or evaluations
• Promote inclusive practice and children’s rights in line with the UNCRC.
• Work collaboratively with Senior Management, Service teams, parents, schools and external agencies to support positive outcomes for children.
• Undertake professional learning and continuous professional development required for SSSC registration and organisational quality aims.

Management

• Promote a warm, welcoming, nurturing and inclusive environment in line with YMCA core values.
• Ensure systems support staff awareness of every child registered with the services.
• Ensure fire evacuation procedures and equipment are in place, practiced and recorded.
• Ensure parent, input, children’s voices and choices are reflected in wellbeing plans, activities, snacks and self-evaluations.
• Attend and contribute to monthly meetings, training and professional learning plans.
• Support service and staff development identified by effective, participative self-evaluation processes.
• Facilitate inspection readiness through accurate compliance practice, record keeping and development progress,
• Support and maintain positive relationships with your colleagues, parents, carers, schools, community partners and external agencies
• Support organisational marketing, community engagement and fundraising initiatives.
• Seek support or guidance from Senior Manager for issues outwith responsibility and or expertise or knowledge.
• Undertake additional duties associated with the service as reasonably required

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Administration and Procedures

• Support Team Seniors in ensuring all relevant events, incidents, concerns and communications are accurately recorded and processed.
• Support administrative responsibilities as delegated by management.
• Verify that daily attendance registers and collection records are accurate, completed and submitted to CO.
• Support correct use, storage and maintenance of equipment and materials.
• Co-ordinate service self-evaluation, quality assurance processes and improvement planning.
• Assist with preparation, recording, gathering all documentation required for compliance Inspections
• Ensure effective implementation and monitoring of children’s wellbeing plans.
• Maintain confidentiality, security of records and compliance with organisational policies and GDPR

Child Play/Learning Development Activities

• Ensure the individual child Wellbeing Plan needs are met in line with organisational Values, GIRFEC and Shanarri.
• Promote an open, non-judgemental, non-discriminatory, safe, nurturing environment in line with YMCA values and UNCR child rights, Care Inspectorate Registration requirements
• Support our Good Citizenship aims by promoting positive behaviour without demeaning words, action, exclusion or punishment.
• Encourage, motivate staff in delivering creative expanded fun play and learning experiences.
• Support preparation, organisation and effective use of indoor and outdoor/offsite activity areas
• Ensure children’s interests, voices and choices influence planning and evaluation of activities.
• Promote play experiences that support wellbeing, creativity, independence, assertiveness, decision making, choices, resilience and positive relationships.
• Provide child learning and development opportunities through play/activity experiences and child-centred practice.
• Support children with additional support needs and work collaboratively with families and relevant professionals in line with our ability to deliver (staff experience/facility suitability)

Safeguarding/Health & Safety

• Ensure all staff are familiar with and understand how to apply safeguarding/health & Safety policies/procedures and Standards.
• Report child protection, wellbeing, unsafe practice concerns in line with procedures and safeguarding legislation/guidance
• Ensure all accidents, incidents and concerns are reported/recorded in line with organisational procedures and national guidance.
• Leave or cordon off unsafe areas/equipment (on or offsite) and report in line with organisation procedures/national guidance
• Work with management to ensure all indoor and outdoor environments are safe and free from hazards.
• Ensure reasonable precautions are taken regarding children’s health, wellbeing and safety during all activities.
• Contribute to risk assessments and implementation of safe working practices.
• Support infection prevention and control procedures and promote a safe and nurturing environment.

PDA/BA + Management Experience (Applicants currently studying PDA may be considered)

A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle. Willingness to drive a 9/12 seater an advantage Completion of PVG membership, Meet SSSC registration requirements; 2 satisfactory References.

Applicants should have excellent communication, organisation and IT skills alongside comprehensive knowledge and experience of the new Quality Framework for OSC; Health & Social Care Standard; GIRFEC; SHANARRI; Child Rights & Responsibilities, Playwork Principals; Benefits of Risky Play; Programme Planning and Care Inspections. Training in the following areas is an advantage but gaps can be accommodated: Child Protection; Paediatric First Aid; Infection Control; Additional Support Needs; Trauma Informed Practice, Elementary Food Hygiene; Risk Assessment and preferably 4yrs. management/supervision experience.

The key focus for a Registered Manager is ensuring the delivery of a child centred, safe, secure, nurturing care service to a high standard. Plan and deliver a comprehensive range of play learning and development opportunities to meet the needs of every child attending the service. Encouraging reflective practice by all staff to improve practice and enhance service delivery. Unlike other services our Registered Managers and local staff are fully supported by a centralised core team who deal with main administration, HR, finance, policy and procedural functions, leaving Managers free to focus on delivering and developing a quality childcare service

Employee Benefits

We believe a quality service starts by investing in the staff team, our key terms and conditions below:

• Free Continuous Professional Learning Opportunities
• Monthly Team/Network Meetings
• Mentoring Support & Supervision
• Annual Staff Star Award Scheme
• Staff Christmas Lunch
• Mileage for approved work journey/Training
• Competitive Contributory Pension
• Free Uniforms
• PVG fees paid throughout employment and first SSSC registration fee paid
• Generous Annual Leave
• Association Sick pay
• Childcare Staff Discount