Our mission is to provide opportunities for people to develop to their full potential, with a focus on children and young people and those who are vulnerable, have a disability or face disadvantage.
We are excited to be expanding our short breaks Service into Sutton. Our disability clubs will run during school holidays and provide fun and stimulating sessions for children aged 8-17 who have a disability and/or additional needs.
We are recruiting for a Senior Play & Youth Worker for our new Sutton Short Breaks Clubs, joining our Disability Services team. You will be responsible for supporting with overseeing and delivering a programme of high-quality, engaging and meaningful play and youth activities for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs; ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and positive development, development, while supporting compliance with safeguarding, regulatory, and organisational standards.
This role requires someone with First Aid qualification or willingness to undertake this; Introduction to safeguarding children and safeguarding adults or willingness to undertake; Food hygiene training or a willingness to complete this; relevant experience in positive behaviour management, positive touch and epilepsy; e xperience of supporting others in their work with children; experience of running activities for children and young people. ; p ersonal or working experience with children or adults with disabilities and additional needs ; e xperience of planning, organising and carrying out activities such as music, drama, art and cooking sessions.
Key Responsibilities
Personal Care and CYP Support
Ensure high-quality, person-centred support is provided to children and young people with disabilities and complex needs, following and understanding care plans, behaviour support plans, and risk assessments.
Provide and supervise personal care, always ensuring hygiene, privacy, dignity, and appropriate recording
Supporting children/young people with eating and drinking as outlined within their care plan and guidelines
To receive medication from Parents/Carers, check, record and store safely following procedures and administer, where necessary, after appropriate training, medication for children keeping accurate and up to date records.
Where necessary administer first aid after appropriate training.
Assist and lead on movin g and handling children/young people with restricted mobility, including hoisting and use of mobility equipment, after appropriate training.
Implement and ensure regular use of aids to support communication and sensory impairment needs
Provide high level of diligence and surveillance for all the children/ young people, including personal hygiene, behaviour, nutrition, sensory and play needs, feeding back any new observations to the Leader.
Activity Planning, Delivery and Engagement
Contribute to planning, organising, and lead on the delivery of activities, ensuring adaptability and accessibility for all children and young people.
Work closely with children and young people to deliver social, recreational, informal learning, and leisure activities and support engagement, providing help to achieve desired positive outcomes.
Ensure children and young people are welcomed on arrival, feel valued, and experience positive opportunities that build self-esteem and confidence.
Ensure the smooth running of sessions, including preparation, set-up, pack-down and maintain resources required for activities, informing the coordinator if extra resources are required.
Service Delivery and Staff Support
Support the smooth running and delivery of Short Break Clubs, ensuring services are safe, high-quality, and appropriate.
Provide cover for the Disability Leader when required.
Lead and at times be responsible for a team of Disability Play Youth Workers and volunteers when needed, including daily debriefs and feeding back to the coordinator.
Support and mentor Disability Play Youth Workers/ volunteers in their roles ensuring the service and care provided is high quality and knowing when to get further support from more senior team members.
Support Disability Play & Youth Workers to support and meet the needs of the Children and Young People including managing distress behaviours, sensory engagement and intensive interaction.
Support the leader to ensure trips are run smoothly, safely and ensure all Disability Play & Youth Workers are following risk assessments, policies and procedures to ensure all children and young people are safe.
Safety, Supervision and Environment
Ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of children, young people, and colleagues, following safeguarding policies and organisational procedures.
Provide and supervise refreshments, considering balanced diets, cultural/ethnic needs, allergies, and food safety principles.
Complete the daily environment risk assessmentand supervise the environment to ensure the physical and emotional safety of all children and young people.
Complete accurate records of accidents, injuries, safeguarding incidents, and medication administered.
Ensure materials, equipment, and service spaces are maintained, safe, and stored appropriately.
Accompany children/young people on trips, following risk assessments and keeping them safe while providing high-level support.
Ensure appropriate care is provided, ensuring all children/young people eat, drink and stay hydrated and toileting needs are met.
Teamwork, Communication and Development
Support and work as part of a team to ensure high-quality service delivery. Build positive and professional relationships with children, young people, and colleagues.
Assist with greeting parents/ carers and communicate effectively with parents/carers, providing feedback on their child's day and sharing relevant updates, checking that we have the correct information and keep them informed of incidents/ accidents or other concerns relating to their child.
Support promotional activities, including taking photos for marketing and fundraising purposes, completion of CYP participation, evaluations and feedback using suitable tools.
Attend staff meetings, training, and development events to maintain the knowledge and skills required for this role
Undertake other duties reasonably requested by senior staff to support the smooth running of the service.
General
Represent YMCA with professionalism and compassion, maintaining a positive and inclusive public image at all times
b. Participate in supervision, appraisal and learning and development, taking responsibility for maintaining the knowledge and skills required for this role
c. Take responsibility for your own health and safety and that of others, reporting any risk promptly
d. Work within YMCAES policies and adhere to the terms outlined within them
e. Undertake other duties reasonably requested by senior staff to support the smooth running of the service.
Education And Qualifications
First Aid qualification or willingness to undertake this.
Introduction to safeguarding children and safeguarding adults or willingness to undertake.
Knowledge And Experience
Food hygiene training or a willingness to complete this.
Relevant experience in positive behaviour management, positive touch and epilepsy
Experience of supporting others in their work with children.
Experience of running activities for children and young people.
Personal or working experience with children or adults with disabilities and additional needs
Experience of planning, organising and carrying out activities e.g. music, drama, art and cooking sessions.
Key Skills And Abilities
Communicates clearly and appropriately for different audiences, using inclusive language and adapting communication style based on feedback.
Builds and maintains positive, professional relationships with children, families, colleagues, and stakeholders.
Positive, proactive attitude, works independently and as a team and uses initiative.
Commitment to the wellbeing and positive development of children and young people and ensuring the child's needs are the highest priority and maintain safe working practices.
Handles sensitive information confidentially.
Escalates issues appropriately and seeks collaborative solutions.
Collaborates effectively within a diverse team, values different perspectives and contributes to a positive and inclusive working environment.
Personal Attributes
Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of work and understanding of how it applies to own role.
Values collaboration and respect for different perspectives.
Open to learning and continuous development.
Other
Ability to travel to other venues as required for the role. The organisation will consider reasonable adjustments and alternative arrangements to support this requirement.
Flexibility to occasionally work outside standard hours, including evenings and to undertake overnight stays, when necessary, with advance notice and support provided.
We are seeking candidates who are passionate about working for a charity and making a difference to the lives of the children and young people in our community.
If you're enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.
Pay
£15.32 per hour
WORKING PATTERN
9.30am-3.30pm (including a 30 minute unpaid break) school holidays only - 40 days
Benefits
Be part of a long-standing and well-respected charity
Discounted childcare for permanent employees
Gym membership and free access to all leisure facilities for permanent employees
Eligibility for Blue Light Discount Retail Card
Cycle to Work Scheme
6.6 weeks annual leave development, while supporting compliance with safeguarding, regulatory, and organisational increases after 2 years continuous service
Free access to our Employee Assistance Programme
On site parking
CLOSING DATE: 6th March 2026
TO APPLY: Please scroll down the page to the application form.
Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.
Accessibility if you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us at
YMCA East Surrey requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children's and Adult's barred lists) check, along with reference checks.