Purpose of the post
•Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
•Meet the statutory requirements of the Childcare Act 2006 - Section 22 (ensuring adequate childcare) and Section 26 (assessment of childcare provision)
•Support the assessment of play sufficiency within the Authority, under the statutory requirements of the Play Sufficiency Assessment (Wales) Regulations 2012
•Support Childcare and Nursery Education settings to provide a high quality care, play and early education service.
Responsibility for functions
•Laptop
•Mobile Phone
Main duties
•Co-ordinate the Early Years training programme in conjunction with the Senior Development Officer, Early Years Quality Group, Flying Start Management Board and Childcare Sub Group, planning and ensuring the provision of quality training provision for the early years care workforce for children and play.
•Work with the childcare organisations, Flying Start staff and Foundation Phase teachers to offer a tailored programme of training for the Early Years workforce.
•Overseeing the quality of training through customer satisfaction questionnaires and conducting random monitoring visits to ensure training provision meets quality requirements, and offer value for money.
•Ensure that information regarding training arrangements is clearly communicated to users and partners and developing electronic distribution systems and an up-to-date website.
•Conduct regular reviews of early years, childcare and play workforce qualifications.
•Develop and maintain effective and efficient electronic systems for administering, applying, allocating and monitoring nursery education grants, initial childcare grants, small grants and any other relevant grants. Responsibility to brief the providers as necessary and co-operate with the development officers within the relevant Organisations.
• Working with the Family Information Service to ensure that information on the nursery, childcare and play providers is up to date on the Gwynedd Family Hub.
•Ensure that current and accurate information regarding childcare and play grant provisions reaches potential providers across Gwynedd in co-operation with the Family Information Service
•Ensure the transfer of relevant information as required to the relevant partnerships, reporting regularly to the Childcare Sub Group and the Early Years Quality Group on early years, childcare and play.
•Collaborate and network with other officers and partners to fulfil the requirements of the post.
•Organise and attend outreach sessions to raise the profile of the services and promote early years, childcare and play.
•Attend meetings of local, regional and national groups, forums and networks that address issues relating to childcare and play.
•Work with training providers, Colleges and Secondary Schools to promote childcare and play as a positive career pathway.
•Supporting childcare and play providers with recruitment issues for the sector
•Support childcare providers to develop inclusive settings for children with additional learning needs.
•Responsibility for self-development.
•Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
•Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
•Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
•Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
•Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
•Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
Special circumstances
WORKING CONDITIONS
Employment: Temporary until March 2024.
Hours of Work: 37 hours per week.
Occasionally it is necessary to work unsociable hours such as at weekends or on the 8 to 6 rota.
The Department has an ongoing programme of training and personal skills development. An Evaluation Plan will be implemented which will contribute to this provision. The post holder is expected to participate in the programme.
The ability to communicate in both English and Welsh is essential.