entertaining your community

Introduction

Do you fancy making Halloween masks with a bunch of ten-year-olds? Supervising 20 kids on an outing to a local museum? Or, refereeing a friendly football match? If so, playworker may be just the job for you.

Playworkers manage out of school play settings and holiday playschemes, where children between the ages of four and sixteen come to play and mix with other children and young people. These play schemes provide a safe environment for children before and after school, and during school holidays.

Local authorities employ around 1700 playworkers and summer and easter playscheme organisers.

Work Environment

Playwork schemes are usually held in adventure playgrounds, play centres, community centres, school halls, or village halls. Some play projects only operate during term time; others only operate during school holidays. Some keep going all through the year.

Full-time hours are usually 35-39 hours per week, and some evening work is often required – to facilitate the service in out of school hours.

The working environment will, at times, be noisy and messy – but if you like being with children you will be used to that.

The work can be quite physical – getting equipment ready before the children arrive, tidying everything away when they have gone home and, of course, keeping up with them!

Daily Activities

Duties vary slightly, depending on the type of play project it is, when and where it is held, and the ages of the children attending. However, this type of work usually involves:

• talking to the children about how they would like to spend their time
• planning a stimulating programme of activities for children to choose
• welcoming children and their parents
• setting ground rules and making sure that all the children are aware of them
• preparing the space before the children arrive – getting materials, such as paper, paints, etc. ready; checking that all play equipment is working properly and safely
• coming up with ideas for special dates like Easter or Halloween e.g. decorating eggs or organising a spooky fancy dress party
• organising and participating in art and crafts, sports, storytelling, team games, competitions, music, outdoor activities, day trips etc.
• encouraging all children to get involved with activities
• supervising play and ensuring the safety and well being of all the children
• some cleaning and tidying away following activities
• performing simple first aid, if necessary
• supervising more junior playworkers
• basic administration and control of petty cash.

Skills & Interests

Playworkers need:

• to like working with children
• lots of energy and enthusiasm
• patience and a caring nature
• good organisational skills
• lots of imagination
• to be alert and observant
• good communication skills
• to work well as part of a team.

Entry Requirements

To enter as a playwork assistant you do not necessarily need any academic qualifications, but some relevant experience, such as voluntary work with children or bringing up a family is advantageous and may be required.

Some employers ask that playworkers have relevant playwork qualifications, such as the CACHE Certificate/Diploma, or the City and Guilds level 2 Award in Early Years Care and Education, or NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 in Playwork or Early Years Care and Education or Playwork.

Apprenticeships (part of the Skillseekers Initiative in Scotland) are available in some areas.

Once in employment you may be asked to work towards relevant NVQs/SVQs (in Playwork at levels 2 and 3, and in Playwork and Early Years Care and Development at level 4). NVQ level 3/4 in Early Years Care and Education is currently considered appropriate for those responsible for managing a team.

Higher level qualifications in playwork include the Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) in Playwork (two years full time) and the BA (Hons) Professional Studies in Playwork available at Leeds Metropolitan University.

With the introduction of the National Standards for Under Eights Day Care and their regulation by OFSTED there is a requirement for all workers in a supervisory capacity and 50% of all assistant workers to achieve a qualification in playwork. There is currently no fixed date for this to be achieved but it is likely to be by 2005. The exploration of a route to qualification that will recognise previous experience and learning and a ‘qualification for holiday playscheme workers is being explored.

Estimated salary range

Salary varies from region to region and on the type of setting. A part-time sessional worker might earn £10,278 and a full time senior worker £20,000.

Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities

Playworkers can progress to be managers, development workers and trainers although career paths in the sector are somewhat limited. However, this type of experience will be useful for those wishing to move into similar areas of work such as early years, childcare and youth work. A direct route into teaching via a Foundation Degree is also a possibility.

Opportunities for playworkers also exist in the voluntary sector and in hospitals.

Related Occupations

Follow this link to view a list of all related occuptions in Entertaining Your Community.
Alternatively, follow this link to view all career profiles placed in the same job area.

Further Information & Services

SkillsActive www.skillsactive.com

Playwork information www.playwork.org.uk

Playwork qualification information www.playworkvq.org.uk

Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education www.cache.org.uk

You may find further information about this area of work in your local Connexions service/careers office/school careers library - under F.

What should I do next?

Look for current local government Playworker vacancies in the following places:

• LGjobs.com - the official recruitment website for local government.
• Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly jobs bulletins produced by local councils themselves, available from libraries, community centres, town halls/main civic buildings and central council personnel departments.
• Local council websites.
• Local newspapers
• National newspapers - The Guardian is particularly well known for its public sector job advertisements on a Wednesday.

Find out about the council and get some work experience if possible by:

• Making the most of work experience placements arranged through your school, college or university.
• Contacting councils close to your home to find out about the work experience opportunities they offer.
• Talking to someone who does the job you are interested in - ring your local council to see if someone can spare some time.
• Making an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.