Reporting to:Kidscene Club Manager

Role Purpose:Kidscene is an after school and holiday club for children from the schools in the surrounding area as well as children from the Royal Blind School who have additional support needs as well as a vision impairment.

You will ensure all the children who attend Kidscene feel included and safe by assisting with day to day activities, you will do this by providing quality play and care within the framework of the club’s policies and procedures.

All roles within Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans are expected to work to our values and Our Ways of Working framework:

Our Ways of Working - Managing my Work

The main responsibilities and accountabilities of this role are:

• To assist with planning, preparing and delivering quality play opportunities within a safe and caring environment adjusting for children with a vision impairment or additional support needs.
• To provide comprehensive care for the children including collecting them from school and delivering them safely to the club and then to parents or carers at the end of the day.
• Provide snacks and refreshments, ensuring that hygiene and health and safety standards are met, including the wearing of appropriate PPE.
• Assist children with personal care.
• To administer first aid to the children when necessary.
• Involve the children in planning activities.
• Helping with club administration, where necessary.
• Facilitating good communication with all members of the organisation, parents, schools and childcare and play related agencies.
• Keeping the work environment healthy, safe and secure.
• Supporting students and volunteers.
• Taking on duties/tasks as delegated by the Kidscene Club Manager

Our Ways of Working – Managing Myself and Managing my Relationships

To do this role, you will:

• Have an appropriate SVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification, as per SSSC requirements or willingness to work towards
• Be registered or in a position to register with the SSSC
• Understand the varied needs of children and their families
• Have experience of working with children and be willing to learn new skills in relation to working with children with additional support needs and vision impairment
• Have an understanding of the issues involved in the delivery of quality play care for all children including those with additional support needs
• Provide and facilitate safe and creative play
• Have the ability to adapt to change and respond positively to non-routine situations
• Have good communication skills
• Be able to work as part of a team
• Undertake appropriate and relevant training
• Have an understanding of the issues of equal opportunities

On a day to day basis you will work with different people and teams, these could be:

• Families or Carers
• Colleagues
• Other Sight Scotland services
• Senior Staff

Requirements of this role are:

• You are a member of the PVG scheme (paid for by Sight Scotland)
• You will have a 6 month probation period
• You must register with the SSSC within 6 months of your start date
• That you participate in all staff training and development and maintain your own professional development
• You will wear the appropriate PPE in accordance with current guidance for the role.
• You will follow Sight Scotland’s guidance, policies and procedures relating to your own health and safety and that of colleagues and service users at all times
• You will uphold the principles of Sight Scotland’s Dignity at Work and Equal Opportunities policies at all times, working in a way which supports an inclusive work environment that is respectful of differences.

What we can offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement which increases after 4 years’ service
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounts for Carers
• Access to learning and development opportunities
• Employee Perks through the Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• And many more, please visit our website for more information

This job profile is not exhaustive. The duties of the post holder may be reviewed from time to time and the employee may be called upon to work in other locations within Sight Scotland.

Do you have what it takes to make a difference in someone’s life?

Maybe you are already working in social care and want to join an organisation with real relationships and community at its heart.

This is a great opportunity to work as part of a small team providing specialist support to a young man with autism, who requires, reassurance, predictability, and consistency from those supporting him. More details below:

We are looking for a full-time support worker on a permanent basis to work with a very active young man, providing 1:1 support within a shared supported living setting.

I am a 34-year-old man with autism. I live in a flat with 3 other young men and I am an active part of my community. I attend two different day services on site four days a week. The Printmaking studio and the Peregrine’s of which I am a founding member and which I have attended for 10 years. I particularly enjoy being outdoors and litter picking. I enjoy languages and am good at puzzles like crosswords and also enjoy watching quiz shows and cartoons. I am healthy and enjoy physical exercise, particularly walking. I have a large family who I am close to, and I sometimes get the train home independently to see them.

I have very good verbal skills, however I can struggle to articulate myself and find this frustrating. I require clear communication, avoiding long sentences, open questions or abstract language. At times I get overwhelmed with situations and find it challenging to communicate my needs, at these times I need a gentle approach in order to move forward and be able to finish my set task.

I am looking for someone to provide support with activities like going to the gym, going for long hikes and generally further developing my core life-skills. I really benefit from 1:1 support and focussed attention although I also need personal space at times. I am looking to build on my ability to do things independently and to develop my sense of self and agency. I need someone to support me to plan and organise skill building sessions in order for me to become more independent which is my greatest wish. For example I would like to be able to travel on the bus and go to the shop by myself.

The ideal candidate for this role would:

• Have experience working with people with autism
• Have experience in managing stressed and distressed behaviour
• Be reasonably physically fit and able to provide support with physical exercise
• Be patient and empathic
• Be a clear communicator and able to work as part of a small team.
• Have an understanding of community and shared supported living services
• Have a flexible and adaptable personality
• Be able to embrace working in a vibrant community setting.

We have several permanent posts working a variety of shift patterns per week. These contracts require full flexibility, From 8am to 11.00pm during Monday to Sunday, and occasional sleepovers required.

We are looking for kind, caring, creative, forward thinking and dedicated people to join our team offering care and support to children and young adults with visual impairment and complex needs. This will be based within our residential houses in Morningside, Edinburgh.

If you want to make a difference to the lives of people living with sight loss and you have a HNC in Social Care plus all eight SVQ units, an equivalent degree or qualification for registration with the SSC or other professional body, please apply now. We would love to hear from you!

This role is advertised as full time however, we consider applications from candidates wishing to do part time hours and flexible working patterns.

Posts are subject to PVG Scheme Record/Update.

If you require any of the information relating to this role in an alternative format, please email people@sightscotland.org.uk.

Please note, we cannot provide VISA sponsorship for this role.

As part of the care and school staff team you will support the coordination and delivery of the learning and care of children and/or young people with a range of visual impairments and additional complex needs in different learning and care environments by providing a safe and high-quality environment in which children and/or young people will thrive.

You will work collaboratively with the multi-professional team within the learning and care provision and colleagues across Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans.