* Reports to: Operation Director / Head of Early Years
Locations: Two Early Learning & Childcare (ELC) settings across Argyll & Bute (travel required)
Contract: Full-time, permanent (flexible hours to meet service needs)
Registration: SSSC (Manager/Lead Practitioner – Day Care of Children)
PVG: Membership for work with children (Disclosure Scotland)
Salary Range: £42,000 – £46,000 DOE
Purpose of role
Lead, develop and empower two ELC settings to deliver high-quality, nurturing and inclusive early learning and childcare that secures positive outcomes for babies and young children (0–5), aligned with Realising the Ambition: Being Me, GIRFEC (SHANARRI), and the Health and Social Care Standards. Ensure both sites meet Care Inspectorate requirements as a minimum and all legal/regulatory duties, including safer recruitment and robust child protection.
Key responsibilities
1) Leadership, quality & improvement
* Provide visible, values-based leadership across both sites; set a clear vision and improvement plan using self-evaluation and the Care Inspectorate quality framework.
* Embed Health and Social Care Standards and children's rights in everyday practice, relationships and environments.
* Lead preparation for inspections and drive continuous improvement with data-informed plans and practitioner enquiry.
2) Pedagogy, curriculum & inclusion
* Champion play-rich pedagogy and interactions consistent with Realising the Ambition: Being Me, ensuring experiences meet each child's stage of development (including babies and toddlers) and progress across the early level of CfE.
* Ensure practice is holistic and strengths-based under GIRFEC; use SHANARRI indicators, the My World Triangle and resilience matrix to plan support with partners and families.
* Lead inclusive practice for children with additional support needs, ensuring early identification, effective planning and partnership working.
3) Safeguarding & child protection
* Act as or support the setting Child Protection Coordinator; ensure all staff understand and apply the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 (updated 2023).
* Maintain rigorous recording, reporting and escalation, ensuring timely multi-agency working.
* Ensure safe care routines, risk assessments and robust incident/concern management are in place across both sites.
4) People management & safer recruitment
* Workforce planning across two sites (rota, ratios, contingency).
* Lead safer recruitment compliant with Safer Recruitment Through Better Recruitment (Care Inspectorate/SSSC, updated): values-based selection, application scrutiny, identity and right-to-work checks, PVG membership, qualification/registration checks, verified references (including last employer), employment history/accounting for gaps, risk-assessed starts, and documented decisions.
* Deliver induction, supervision, coaching, appraisal and CPD to meet SSSC Codes of Practice and qualifications framework.
5) Compliance, health & safety and operations
* Ensure compliance with Care Inspectorate regulations, insurance, accidents/medication policies, food hygiene, infection prevention and control, and data protection.
* Manage budgets, fees, funded ELC claims, procurement and site resources.
* Maintain accurate records: enrolment, consents, learning journals, staff files, PVG/SSSC statuses and training.
6) Partnership with families & community
* Build strong, respectful relationships with parents/carers; communicate progress and plans effectively.
* Collaborate with local services (health visitors, ASN, social work, third sector) across Argyll & Bute to support transitions and continuity.
* Promote inclusion, Gaelic language/culture where relevant, outdoor learning and community engagement.
Person Specification
Essential qualifications & registration
* Childhood Practice award at SCQF Level 9 or above (e.g., BA Childhood Practice or PDA Childhood Practice SCQF 9) to meet SSSC requirements for Managers/Lead Practitioners in Day Care of Children services.
* Current SSSC registration (or eligibility to register) for the appropriate part of the register.
* PVG Scheme membership for regulated work with children (Disclosure Scotland).
Essential experience
* Substantial experience leading practice and teams in ELC (including supervising/mentoring practitioners and running rooms or a setting).
* Proven success in inspection readiness and improvement planning.
* Applying Realising the Ambition, GIRFEC and Health and Social Care Standards in daily practice.
* Leading child protection processes and multi-agency working under the National Child Protection Guidance (2021, updated 2023).
Essential knowledge & skills
* Deep understanding of child development 0–5, high-quality play and environments, observation/assessment, and planning for progression.
* Confident in SHANARRI wellbeing, staged intervention, ASN, transitions, and family engagement.
* Strong grasp of safer recruitment, SSSC Codes of Practice and workforce development.
* Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, analysis and report-writing; able to prioritise across two geographically separate sites.
Desirable
* Outdoor learning leadership; Gaelic language or community links; experience with funded hours delivery/ELC entitlement and transport logistics across rural locations.
Additional Information
* Built in travel time/expenses and lone-working protocols for rural journeys between sites.
* Ensure partnership links with Health Visiting/Family Nurse Partnership and local ASN/education psychology teams are formalised.
* Consider Gaelic-medium engagement where relevant to local communities.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £42,000.00-£46,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company events
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Employee mentoring programme
* On-site parking
Education:
* Bachelor's (preferred)
Experience:
* Nursery leadership: 4 years (required)
* Nursery management: 5 years (required)
* Childcare: 5 years (preferred)
* Management: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
* Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person