Playground and Young People’s Wellbeing Coordinator

Playground and Young People’s Wellbeing Coordinator Hours: 34 hours per week (job share considered) including evenings and weekends. Please note that hours will reduce to 22 hours in October 2025. Are you passionate about creating inclusive play experiences for disabled young people? As the Playground and Young People’s Wellbeing Coordinator, you will play a vital role in leading the adventure play service at Lady Allen Playground. You’ll have the opportunity to create transformative experiences for children and their families, helping them build confidence, enjoy social interactions, and develop new skills. This role offers a blend of hands-on play facilitation, team leadership, and program development, making it ideal for someone with a strong commitment to improving the lives of young people. Key Responsibilities: * Team Leadership: Oversee, manage, and inspire a diverse team of play practitioners, ensuring they deliver high-quality, inclusive play experiences that promote positive outcomes for children. * Activity Planning: Design and implement creative and engaging play programs that offer children opportunities for choice, exploration, and social interaction. Activities should cater to a range of interests and developmental needs, ensuring every child can participate meaningfully. * 1:1 Support: Provide tailored, compassionate support for children with varying disabilities, ensuring their individual needs are met and their voices heard. * Child-Centered Development: Actively involve children in the planning and development of playground activities, empowering them to make decisions and take ownership of their play environment. * Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on children’s progress, ensuring that any concerns, achievements, or developments are carefully documented and shared with relevant stakeholders. * Outings and External Visits: Lead and manage external trips and outings, ensuring that all safety protocols are followed and that children have enriching and enjoyable experiences outside of the playground. * Facilities Management: Assist in managing the physical upkeep of the playground, including site inspections, maintenance tasks, and the renewal of playground equipment to maintain a safe and fun environment for all. * Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that the playground complies with all relevant standards, including Ofsted, Health and Safety, and Quality in Play. * Collaboration: Build strong relationships with Local Authority officers and other partners, attending regional and Kids meetings to advocate for the service and share best practices. * Budget Oversight: Manage playground budgets, ensuring financial resources are used effectively to enhance the service provided. * Professional Development: Take an active role in your own continuous professional development, seeking out opportunities for growth and engaging in regular supervision sessions. Additional Responsibilities: * Wellbeing Group Coordination: Plan, coordinate, and deliver a weekly wellbeing group for young people with SEND (ages 14-21) in Wandsworth. These sessions should focus on the five steps to mental wellbeing, empowering participants to build confidence, develop social connections, and enhance their mental health. * Session Facilitation: Ensure wellbeing group activities reflect the interests and needs of the participants, incorporating their input into the planning process and providing them with opportunities to lead and make decisions. * Monitoring and Evaluation: Complete detailed reports and evaluations on the outcomes of each session, tracking progress against agreed targets and ensuring continuous improvement in service delivery. * Team Support: Provide guidance, coaching, and support to the youth practitioners working within the group, fostering a positive, collaborative work environment. * Compliance: Ensure that all sessions comply with Kids policies and procedures, including safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, and equality of opportunity. What we’re looking for: * Experience: Extensive experience working with disabled children, young people, and their families in a play or wellbeing setting. * Skills: A strong ability to engage, support, and communicate with young disabled people and their families, combined with excellent planning, problem-solving, and organizational skills. * Knowledge: A solid understanding of disabilities and their impact on children and families, along with a strong grasp of safeguarding practices and regulatory compliance. * Leadership: Experience in managing, mentoring, and developing staff, with the ability to foster a culture of good practice and innovation among the team. * Creativity and Passion: A natural ability to think creatively and adapt play activities to meet the diverse needs of participants. A passion for inclusive, adventurous play is essential to this role. * Personal Qualities: You’ll be proactive, energetic, and adaptable, with the ability to think on your feet, take initiative, and handle challenges with calm and confidence. Your organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks across different areas will be key in delivering a successful program. Why Join Us? This is not just a job; it’s a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of disabled young people. You’ll have the opportunity to work in a dynamic, supportive environment where creativity and personal growth are encouraged. In this role, you’ll gain a strong sense of achievement, seeing first-hand the positive impact you’re making on children’s lives. If you are ready to lead with energy, enthusiasm, and a commitment to inclusive play, we want to hear from you