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Childcare Connector - Family Support Worker

  • Full time
  • £23,218 – £28,379
  • City of Edinburgh wide, based at OPFS Headquarters
  • Closing 16th September 2022


  • Advertised from 19th August 2022
  • 35 hours per week

Role

OPFS is looking for a dynamic colleague who can help parents over one of the biggest barriers in getting back into employment or education – finding and securing childcare.

The Childcare Connector will work with parents and providers to help them find each other and ensure that families can make a positive transition to the next chapter in their lives.

This is a fixed term position for 6 months, with the potential for the post to be extended if successful and further funding is secured.

OPFS Edinburgh supports single parents with a range of issues that affect their ability to play a full part in the economic and social life of their communities. A major barrier for many parents in doing that is identifying and successfully using affordable and flexible childcare that meets their needs. This affects their abilities to find suitable employment, progress within their current jobs and enroll in education or training opportunities. While some aspects of this are due to larger systemic issues, there is a need for a worker with local knowledge of the different forms of childcare in the city who can proactively support single parents to create sustainable packages of care for their children.

Specific Duties Include

  • Supporting parents in the community to understand the different forms of early years care, education and after school care.
  • Supporting parents in the community to understand the best form or combination of care for their needs and how it can be funded.
  • Supporting parents in the community who have not used childcare previously to feel confident in the benefits to their children and themselves.
  • Liaising with different providers of childcare in communities across Edinburgh to support effective transitions for parents going into employment or education.
  • Remain in touch with single parents for at least 13 weeks to ensure that the care arrangements are suitable and sustained.
  • Liaise with OPFS to ensure that families are receiving holistic support from the project.
  • Meeting regularly with line manager for support and supervision.
  • Attending scheduled team meetings and training as required.
  • Documenting work and maintaining confidential information.

Personal Specifications

Essential

  • Childcare – A sound understanding of the childcare sector and the different ways parents can fund it based on their circumstances.
  • Lone Parents – Awareness of barriers faced by separated parents and ways of addressing these challenges
  • Equalities – An awareness of the barriers different communities face in accessing services and a commitment to be proactive in reaching out to those parents.
  • Qualifications: Relevant professional qualification or an exceptionally good standard of education (equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ 3 or 4) combined with relevant experience.
  • Relevant Knowledge - Understanding of differences in informal and regulated care and the role of regulatory bodies in helping parents make informed choices.
  • Communication Skills – A good standard of written and oral communication. Ability to engage effectively with less confident parents as well as childcare providers and employers.
  • Outreach - Experience of engaging with parents and children in their own communities.
  • Organisational Skills: Able to work effectively on own or with colleagues to an agreed plan. Demonstrates initiative to solve problems.
  • IT: Competent in word processing, spreadsheets, use of databases, and of e- mail.
  • Safeguarding: Completion of a satisfactory Basic Disclosure check

Desirable

  • Child development: Knowledge of child development, attachment and how transitions affect families.
  • Collaboration: Experience of partnership working with other statutory and voluntary agencies.
  • Services for families: Knowledge or experience of local (statutory and third sector) services particularly in regard to employability, training and further education.
  • Employability and Further Education – Understanding of processes that single parents may be undertaking to reach their goals and how childcare contributes.

Terms & Conditions

  • Confirmation of Appointment: Contract October 1, 2022 (or asap after that) – March 31, 2023 with the possibility of extending (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period.
  • Salary: £23,218 – £28,379
  • Hours of work: 35 hours per week by arrangement with flexibility to meet the needs of the service.
  • Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays
  • Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 3% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 7%
  • Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
  • Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People Silver status.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Application notes

Closing date for applications is 9:00 am on Friday September 16th.

Interviews will be held on Monday September 26th.

To find out more and to apply, please visit our website