Early Years Assistant

Depending upon the particular hours and responsibilities allocated to the post, the Early Years Assistant may:

• Support the Early Years Programme Manager in the planning, preparation and delivery of Plant.
• Help deliver welcoming, engaging and developmentally appropriate activities for babies and children under five.
• Assist with baby massage, baby sensory, messy play, toddler movement, singing, rhyme, music, storytelling and other Early Years activities.
• Welcome children, parents and caregivers and help create an environment in which people feel safe, included and valued.
• Encourage parents and caregivers to participate confidently in activities alongside their children.
• Help prepare rooms, toys, equipment and resources before sessions and ensure spaces are left clean and organised afterwards.
• Assist with the development of new Early Years activities as Plant grows.
• Build positive and appropriate relationships with children, parents and caregivers.
• Listen sensitively to families and provide encouragement without judgement.
• Help parents and caregivers access other relevant support, activities or services where appropriate.
• Support families who may be experiencing financial hardship, isolation or other difficult circumstances.
• Assist with the operation of The Parish Trust's Baby Bank.
• Receive, sort, organise and prepare Baby Bank donations for distribution.
• Help ensure donated equipment and items meet appropriate safety and quality standards.
• Welcome families accessing the Baby Bank and ensure support is provided sensitively and with dignity.
• Maintain appropriate stock, attendance and service records.
• Help gather monitoring information and feedback from families.
• Assist with recording the outcomes and impact of Plant.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with data-protection requirements.
• Follow safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.
• Report safeguarding or welfare concerns promptly through the appropriate channels.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children and families.
• Follow health and safety procedures, risk assessments and hygiene requirements.
• Work collaboratively with staff, volunteers and external partners.
• Attend relevant meetings, supervision, training and development sessions.
• Support community events, outreach activities and partnership work associated with Plant.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the nature and level of the role.

The precise responsibilities of individual Early Years Assistants may vary according to the needs of the programme and the particular skills and experience of the postholder.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• A genuine passion for supporting babies, young children and their families or caregivers.
• A desire to see children and families flourish.
• Enthusiasm for helping a new Early Years programme develop and succeed within the local community.
• A kind, compassionate and non-judgemental approach to working with people.
• The ability to relate warmly and appropriately to both children and adults.
• Good verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• The ability to listen carefully and respond sensitively to others.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Reliability and excellent timekeeping.
• The ability to follow instructions, policies, procedures and agreed programme plans.
• The ability to keep clear and accurate basic records.
• Good basic written communication skills.
• An understanding of the importance of confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• The ability to recognise when a concern or issue needs to be referred to a manager.
• A willingness to learn and participate in relevant training.
• A flexible approach and willingness to contribute practically within a developing programme.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable people.
• A willingness to undertake the required DBS and safer-recruitment checks.
• A willingness and ability to work positively within the Christian ethos, values and purposes of The Parish Trust.

It would be advantageous for applicants to demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Experience working with babies or children under five.
• Experience within a nursery, school, playgroup, children's centre, family centre or similar setting.
• Experience working with pregnant women or expectant parents.
• Experience supporting new parents and families.
• Experience in health, social care, family support, education, childcare or community work.
• Experience supporting families experiencing hardship, isolation or other vulnerabilities.
• Knowledge or understanding of early childhood development.
• Understanding of the importance of attachment, communication, play and positive caregiver-child relationships.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs.
• Confidence reading stories aloud to groups of children.
• Confidence leading singing, nursery rhymes or music activities.
• Experience facilitating or supporting small groups.
• Experience delivering sensory, creative, messy-play or physical-development activities.
• Experience of baby massage or a recognised baby massage qualification.
• Experience of baby sensory or similar activities.
• An Early Years, childcare, playwork, family-support, health or social-care qualification.
• Paediatric First Aid training.
• Previous safeguarding training.
• Food hygiene training.
• Experience maintaining attendance, service-user or monitoring records.
• Experience collecting feedback or information about programme outcomes.
• Confidence using email, online systems and basic computer applications.
• Experience of working within the voluntary or charitable sector.
• Experience working alongside volunteers.
• Welsh-language skills.
• Knowledge of communities within the Caerphilly area.

Applicants do not need to meet every desirable criterion. We are interested in the overall combination of experience, ability, character and potential an applicant can bring to the role.