Fairthorne Manor, Botley
Zero Hour Contract - School holidays
Salary: £13.21 per hour
Job Purpose
Buddies are paired 1:1 with a child with special needs, which may include physical disabilities, learning difficulties, sight or hearing impairment or emotional or behavioural difficulties. Buddies may also support leaders within a group where there are several children who do not require individual attention but collectively may need additional supervision.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
To work with a designated child as a 1:1 carer to ensure that they can engage with a group of nondisabled peers and participate in the activities on offer.
Actively engaging children/young people, providing encouragement and support.
Being a welcoming and caring individual and an inspirational role model.
Working with and respecting others in a large and diverse team.
To support and champion the child ensuring that their individual needs are identified, acknowledged and met.
To ensure good communication is maintained with parents, carers and colleagues. Specifically, this will involve providing a daily written handover report.
Depending on the individual the role may require aspects of personal and intimate care or giving/witnessing the giving of medication.
The role may require aspects of manual handling and behaviour management
To report all concerns with regards to Safeguarding and Health and Safety to your line manager or safeguarding officer.
At the end of each day, you will be required to complete a handover to parents/carers or to ensure that your child is handed over to a transport escort with appropriate notes and feedback for parents.
You may be required to assist a 1:1 on the buses to escort 1:1 children where needed. Bus pick up can be anytime from 07:40am across our seven bus routes.
Person Specification & Key Competencies
Qualifications And Experience
Experience of care/1:1 support work for children with disabilities
NVQ Level 2 or above or working towards a relevant childcare/social care/medical/mental health/youth work qualification
Good knowledge of safeguarding
Experience working with children with special needs aged 4 to 16
Sports/Outdoor experience or qualification essential
Paediatric First Aid desirable
Behavioural management experience essential
Personal Attributes
Sympathetic to the aims and purposes of the YMCA.
An empathy and enjoyment of working with Children.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Ability to actively engage with the children (and adults).
Good leadership skills
Positive attitude towards disability and diversity
Terms and Conditions
This position will be subject to the normal terms and conditions for working within the YMCA.
You will have a 30 minutes unpaid lunch break (where the children will have 1 hour). During your own lunch time you are welcome to stay with the children, but we do encourage you to take some personal "down time."
Compulsory Pre-Summer Daycamps Training Course
For Daycamps staff
First Aid training – 1 day (You will be provided with a certificate and the qualification lasts 3 years. You will not be paid for attending the course).
Successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via Disclosure and Barring Service.
We are an equal opportunities charity with commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.
Please apply now for this rewarding position and be part of an amazing charity who continue to support and achieve wonderful things within the community.