HR & OD

Grade 4: - £20,600 – £22,254 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 08-Aug-2022, 6:59:00 AM

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:

• Collaborate with and supervise team members as a team leader within the work team to ensure objectives are met, contributing and carrying out staff ADRs and supervisions under guidance from senior colleagues and acting as a named coordinator where required.
• Provide guidance with the induction of new staff, students and agency workers into the work team by explaining basic procedures and processes as directed.
• Demonstrate new techniques or processes to other team members following attendance at a training/skills development activity.
• Provide a responsive and proactive support service to parents and colleagues.
• Focus on checking stakeholder requirements to ensure the delivery of excellence with the frontline stakeholder experience.
• Respond to parents, answering and recording standard queries and bookings for activities and/or events.
• 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 a booking and enquiry service and process requests from parents, finding solutions or escalating queries where necessary.
• Liaise with external agencies to pass on information around children’s development.
• Apply professional and regulatory procedures and processes and use of systems.
• Liaise and collaborate with staff in other areas of the organisation to ensure a seamless, smooth and efficient service.
• 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 products and services.
• 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.
• Lead and implement working with other agencies with the organisation planning and delivery of services, activities and events.
• Work with team members and others across the organisation to prepare for the delivery of nursery activities and events.
• As required, record, collate, analyse, store and report data and information related to nursery rooms, children’s development, level and uptake of services, and quality of experience in relation to the EYFS.
• Act as key holder, opening up and closing up acting in accordance with Nursery & University Policy.
• Under the guidance of the Nursery Manager and Team Leaders, lead and implement on the EYFS Statutory Framework at all times ensuring high quality curriculum is delivered with a balance of both child initiated and adult led activities.
• Effectively 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.
• To audit children’s chronologies and absences for the room to address any areas of concern in line with documented procedures and the safeguarding policy, escalating any issues to senior colleagues as necessary.
• 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.

Reward and Benefits

To support the delivery of the University's People Strategy to attract, retain and reward the very best, we offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits to our staff, including:

• 27 days annual leave, plus 4 customary days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part time) and the option to purchase additional leave; 
• Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme;
• Corporate and local discounts;
• Wellbeing resources and discounted health benefits; 
• Health discounts on sports and activities at Maiden Castle Health and Activity Centre; 
• Reward and Recognition Schemes; 
• Personal and career development; 
• And SO much more, with further information available here 

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 gives examples of how you meet the Criteria in the Person Specification below.

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

Contact details

For an informal chat to discuss the role, Kim would be happy to be contacted on 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. Experience of supervising a team.
8. Relevant industry and professional recognition and certification of achievement of skills and knowledge.
9. Experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues. 
10. Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve straightforward issues. 
11. NNEB or CACHE/NVQ Level 3 qualification in Childcare (or equivalent).
12. 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.
• Safeguarding certificate.

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