SEN Space is a community led organisation providing support and care services for children with disabilities and their families. We are based in Dunmurry and opening our doors in September 2022. We are hoping to provide a wide range of services, but will start with after schools, youth club, weekend club, sibling support and holiday clubs. What will make our organisation thrive, and the children have the best experience possible, is all down to our staff. We want people to join our team who share our vision and who are committed to help us achieve it. We want people who embrace and empower the children in our care, and create a learning rich experience in a safe and need specific environment. 

.

 

This is a competitive interview process to form a panel of suitable candidates to fill vacancies as they arise. The duration of the panels will be for a period of 12 months initially and may be extended by the CEO.

 

Nature of Employment:

Fixed term contract for 12 months with the option to extend, funding permitted.This is in accordance with the General Conditions of Employment with 6 months probation period. SEN Space may also fill future temporary roles from the panel.    

 

Job Location:

Dunmurry, Belfast

 

Reporting to:

CEO

​

Job Summary/Purpose:

 

The Manager will manage and support the Team Leaders and Key Workers in their roles and be responsible for all the children attending SEN Space, ensuring they are in a safe, nurturing and need specific environment. The Manager will devise a plan for each child in our care, and ensure that learning outcomes and personal goals are achievable through the environment and equipment, and that staff understand how to achieve these outcomes.

 

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE JOB / DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

• To support children and young people with disabilities in all areas of development including physical, intellectual, emotional and social.

• Working in collaboration with the CEO and SEN Space staff to provide a safe, fun, educational and high quality experience for the children and families attending our setting.

• Devise individual care plans and support the staff in the implementation of the plan, ensuring each individual’s plan has meaningful and achievable goals.

• Liaise with parents at the beginning and end of the session and ensure a safe handover. 

• Work in partnership with Managers and other professionals to maximise quality of care and learning experience for the children.

• To be flexible and responsive at all times to meet the changing needs of the service and the children and families.

• Communicating on a daily basis with parents via email, phone & SEN Space apps to answer queries and promote activities.

• Responsible for the overall safety and well-being of the children and for implementation of standards laid down by SEN Space and adhere to the Social Services Registration Regulations. 

• Will be aware of Child Protection issues and ensure centre policy on Child Protection is implemented. 

• Will be responsible for planning activities, and direct the Team Leader and Key Worker staff in implementing same.

• Will supervise and motivate all other staff and students and delegate duties appropriately. 

• Will ensure equipment is maintained and carry out routine safety checks of the SEN Space building and equipment. 

• Will ensure record keeping is kept up to date as stipulated by the CEO and in time with requirements of Social Services e.g. Accident / Incident records, fire drill, developmental observations on children. 

• Will organise and ensure adequate supervision of all children. 

• Will maintain relationships with parents and keep them fully informed of their child’s overall experience during their sessions with SEN Space.

• Will liaise with other Professionals to ensure a holistic approach to service provision.

• Will support the CEO with monthly reports, newsletters, social media and fundraising

• Will attend regular ongoing training as laid down by Management. 

• Will work effectively as part of the team. 

• To undertake any other tasks requested by Management in line with the role. 

 

Qualifications & Experience:

 

Essential Requirements:

Candidates must on or before date of (date of advertisement)

 ​

1.  Educated to a certified or accredited in at least QCF Level 5 Diploma in either Playwork or Child Care, Learning and Development, or Playwork, or an equivalent qualification; or a relevant occupational qualification in

early years’ education, social work, nursing, teaching or health visiting

2.  Minimum 2 years’ experience in SEN or a related field.

3.  Demonstrate experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team environment.

4.  Demonstrate a passionate attitude to helping children with SEN and the energy / enthusiasm needed to be part of the SEN Space team.

5.  Ability to interpret children’s needs and translate into operational requirements provided by SEN Space.

6.  Ability to work alongside CEO and manage both staff and SEN Space building

 

Desirable Requirements:

​​​

1. Demonstrate experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team environment. 

2. Demonstrate experience of planning and managing individual care plans, and working towards such goals with SEN children.

3. Demonstrate experience of managing a team.

​

Key Attributes

​​

• Support individuals, both staff and children,  in a non judgemental way based on the principles of anti discriminatory practice.

• To treat individuals with respect and encourage them to meet their individual goals in a fun and need specific environment.

• Ability to interpret children’s needs and translate into operational requirements provided by SEN Space.

• Ability to work alongside Management and manage Team Leader and Key Worker staff.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to lead and advise staff in a mature and professional manner.

• Strong planning and organisation skills, ability to plan and prioritise work schedule and work within agreed timescales.

• Comfortable with engaging in multiple initiatives simultaneously.

 

Performance and Development:

 

• Maintain confidentiality of all children and families using our services.

• To act as a positive role model at all times.

• Work within and help to ensure staff follow SEN Space’s policies and procedures.

• Work in a way that meets the statutory requirements of employees under health and safety at work.

•  Adhere to the Codes of Practice and staff handbook.

• Attend, coordinate and provide training on a regular basis to ensure that all mandatory and personal training and development needs are met in line with company requirements. 

• To organise and attend monthly staff meetings.

• To organise and attend planning meetings.

• To behave in a manner that reflects positively on the company at all times.

• To work closely with other members of the team for the ultimate benefit of the children and families using our services.

 

Pay & Working Conditions:

 

Salary Scale:

£15.00 per hour.

14 hours per week. Working hours will be between 10.00-17.00 Saturday & Sunday. Additional hours may be available during the week and at weekends. 

 

Annual Leave: 

The annual leave for this position is 89.6 hours per year.

 

General: 

Fixed term contract for 12 months with the option to extend, funding permitted. Salary is paid monthly; operates a contributory pension scheme.

 

Expenses: 

SEN Space does not pay expenses for the purpose of attending an interview or taking up employment.

 

Please note that this post is subject to an enhanced check by Access NI and 2 satisfactory references.

​

N.B. The appointed applicant must pay the ACCESS NI fee of £33.00 which will be reimbursed on successful completion of the probation period (6 month). 

 

This Job Description is neither definitive nor restrictive and may be modified at any time to meet changing needs.

 

If you would like to apply for this position, please email us on info@senspace.org.uk We can either email or post an application form to you. Please specify in your email how you would like to receive the application form. 

​