Midlothian Association of Play, Dalkeith

Play Services Manager

• Pay: £24,482 (pro rata), 26 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed term (expected one year) with the possibility of extension

We are seeking a dynamic, organised and proactive individual to lead our play services and help us make a difference to children's lives in Midlothian.

Midlothian Association of Play (MAP) is a registered charity (no SC025474) working to improve and increase children's opportunity to play, because we know how important play is for their health, wellbeing and development. It is important for their lives in the here and now as well as for their future life chances. We provide both services for children and for other groups working with children (including training and an annual conference). We have an office base in Dalkeith but deliver services throughout Midlothian. The new Play Services Manager post will lead MAP's direct to children services. These currently are:

• Out2Play - twice-weekly, open-access, outdoor play sessions in Woodburn/Dalkeith (though we plan to expand to other areas), using the ‘play rangers' project of delivery, aimed at children aged 5 and up (and their families if they wish to join in)
• Holiday playschemes - play sessions for children aged 5-12 during the Easter and summer school holidays, in Woodburn/Dalkeith, Mayfield/Easthouses and Gorebridge, within community facilities, and featuring free play, trips out and a healthy snack
• Playday - a large public play event, trying in with the UK Playday campaign on the first Wednesday of August, with play opportunities run by MAP and partners for families and groups from throughout Midlothian
• Assorted small play projects - we run various other blocks of play projects in response to local need

We recognise that the postholder will be starting once the summer is underway and so please note that we currently have other staff capacity in place working on summer programme coordination and there will also be crossover after the Play Services Manager post commences, to aid the transition.

The key purposes of the role are:

• To support children's heath, wellbeing, development and relationships, through the provision of play services.
• To effectively manage operations of MAP's play services for children, ensuring a high quality of provision, and to organise play events such as Playday.
• To ensure play service outputs are delivered and outcomes achieved, the projects are effectively evaluated and budgets adhered to.
• To recruit, support and supervise staff and volunteers delivering the projects.
• To manage the ongoing development of MAP's play services to ensure they continue to meet Midlothian children's needs.

The manager will also play a key role in developing MAP's volunteering programme in 2016/17. The Play Services Manager will also cover for staff leave at play sessions as required. The contract will require working evenings and weekends if that is when we have projects running (though note that our current play sessions are daytime on weekdays).

We currently have funding for the post for one year (although release of some of that funding is dependent on progress made). However continuation funding will be sought.

The role requires each individual to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme if not already a member. Each post is subject to the Scheme Record accessed prior to the post commencing.

An application pack can be downloaded from our website at www.map- midlothian.org.uk/pages/news. CVs will not be accepted. If you require further information please contact Susan on 0131 633 2243 or at susan@map-midlothian.org.uk.

The application deadline is 5pm Thursday 2nd June 2016 Interviews will take place Thursday 9th June 2016