Maternity Cover

HR & OD

Grade 4: - £19,202 – £21,414
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 27-Jan-2022, 7:59:00 AM

Durham University

Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

It is expected that all staff within the University:

• Contribute to our learning culture by engaging in mentoring, training and coaching.
• Positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Have due regard to Health and Safety requirements appropriate to grade and role.

Family key attributes

Roles in this family provide an excellent stakeholder experience for our diverse and supportive community.

Overall family purpose

• Provide excellent student support services, development and extra-curricular activities.
• Align and deliver programmes and activities to meet operational and strategic objectives to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Respond to stakeholders at the point of service delivery, either in situ or remotely.
• Facilitate the development of excellent colleague and academic engagement.
• Provide a stakeholder focussed service designed to increase widening participation and diversity.
• Promote the Durham reputation by establishing and broadening national and international community links to enhance the cultural and economic viability of the City and region.
• Enhance the Durham wider student experience by developing extra-curricular activities.
• Contribute to and enhance active, inclusive and supportive communities of stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively and network across the University with staff in other families to ensure a smooth, timely and high-quality delivery of service.
• Engage with suppliers, consultants and specialist professionals to deliver programmes and activities to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Engage and encourage outreach and participation with external professionals, schools, alumni and donors.
• Engage and network with both internal and external stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and impact through local, national and international communities.

Link to key strategic plan

• An economically and environmentally sustainable approach to delivering stakeholder focussed services across the University;
• A world-class student, alumni and donor experience;
• Focussed on the needs of all users working together to deliver front-line services as part of the Wider Student Experience;
• Learn from and match best practice in the Wider Student Experience around the world;
• Opening up our world-class sporting facilities to local clubs and athletes;
• Support and facilitate activities as part of the Widening Student Experience at Durham;
• A stakeholder-focused orientation, offering satisfying careers to all staff;
• Ensure that an increasingly diverse workforce is treated equally, fairly and with respect, and that all staff are demonstrably valued and actively engaged.

The Department and the role purpose

At Durham University Day Nursery we aim to provide high quality childcare in a safe secure and stimulating environment for children from 0 to 5. We aim to operate in partnership with parents, helping children to be happy, independent and well-adjusted emotionally and socially.

Our Nursery aims to promote self-confidence and a positive attitude to learning in all children whatever their gender, ethnicity, home language, special educational needs, disability or ability. We aim to offer a broad, balanced and diverse curriculum where learning will be fun and will provide basic skills for the future. We recognise that every child is unique and aim to assist all children to attain their maximum development potential by paying attention to their individual needs.

We aim to support students and staff of Durham University with parental responsibilities, in order that they can achieve their goals at study or at work. Please note that we also welcome non-Durham University staff/students.

The Nursery Practitioner has key responsibilities for ensuring the quality of early years provision is embedded under the EYFS and ensuring safeguarding is paramount.

Core responsibilities:

• Provide a responsive and proactive support service for parents.
• Focus on checking parents’ requirements to ensure the delivery of excellence with the frontline stakeholder experience.
• Respond to service users answering and recording standard queries and bookings for activities and/or events.
• Contribute to the planning of team activities, work and deadlines to ensure the smooth running and timeliness of service.
• Solve day-to-day routine problems and source background information within the role.
• As required, record data and information on children’s development accurately and provide reports as required to team members and more experienced staff.
• Operate an enquiry service and process requests finding solutions or escalating queries where necessary.
• Flexible in approach to accommodate the needs of team members and/or service users.
• Assist team members to organise, plan and prepare for events, meetings and activities.
• Liaise with parents and outside agencies to pass on information.
• Apply professional and regulatory procedures and processes and use of systems.
• Resolve queries and requests for information and advice and escalate more specialist and complex queries or issues to more experienced team members.

Role responsibilities:

• Work with team members to ensure the timeliness and relevance of the service we deliver in partnership with parents, colleagues and outside agencies.
• Apply recognised professional, commercial and/or organisational service level standards to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Provide guidance to parents around the EYFS with the use of and access to resources and equipment.
• Work with team members and others across the organisation to prepare for the delivery of exhibitions, activities and events.
• As required, record, collate, store and report data and information related to children’s development, level and uptake of services, and quality of experience.
• Provide service and support for parents and meetings, to draft and distribute documents and communications in standard professional formats.
• Follow EYFS Statutory Framework at all times ensuring a high quality curriculum is delivered with a balance of both child initiated and adult led activities. 
• Contribute to OFSTED inspections and have an understanding of the OFSTED requirements. 
• Safeguard children ensuring policies and procedures are followed and adhered to at all times. 
• Be aware of the University's Equal Opportunities Policy and committed to implementing this across the childcare service and respect confidentiality at all times following the nursery policy and procedure.
• Follow Health and Safety Policy and Procedures:
  1. Maintain a safe and secure working environment in line with University Health and Safety procedures.
  2. Report any maintenance defects, accidents and near misses to the Line Manager.
  3. Maintain personal hygiene and appearance to an exceptional standard and in line with standard operating procedures. 
• Ensure all relevant paperwork required is completed and daily risk assessments are completed.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

• This post requires shift work: Monday to Friday, between 7:45am and 6:15pm.
• This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check.
• There will be a requirement to attend team meetings and training sessions on evenings and occasional weekends.
• With regard to car insurance, drivers will need cover for business use in order to attend meeting/training off site.

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above (including those listed in the section ‘Realising Your Potential Approach’). 

In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application.

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit

1. A CV;
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application cannot proceed to the next stage.

Contact details

For further information please contact Kim Roberts kim.roberts@durham.ac.uk

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
2. Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
3. Evidence of personal development to maintain skills. 
4. Experience of working on the front line with service delivery, and the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.
5. Relevant experience in a similar role / environment.
6. Experience of working as part of a team in a customer focussed service to ensure the delivery of high quality services. 
7. Relevant industry and professional recognition and certification of achievement of skills and knowledge.
8. Experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues. 
9. Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve straightforward issues. 
10. NNEB or CACHE/NVQ Level 3 qualification in Childcare (or equivalent).
11. Knowledge and experience of the EYFS Statutory framework.

Desirable Criteria

• Five GCSE’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent experience).
• Paediatric First Aid trained and First Aid certificate.
• Knowledge of the SEN Code of Practice.
• Food Hygiene certificate
• Safeguarding certificate.

Realising Your Potential Approach

DEVELOPING MYSELF AND OTHERS - Showing commitment to own development and supporting and encouraging others to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential for the wider benefit of the University.

1. Using all situations as potential learning opportunities
2. Being a role model by devoting time to own development, managing workload and making effective use of time
3. Proactively engaging in formal and informal learning and development activities

WORKING TOGETHER - Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Applying a wide range of interpersonal skills.

1. Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of working relationships

DBS Requirement: Please note that the succesful applicant will require DBS disclosure.