Deputy Playground Manager
| Company: | Portsmouth City Council |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,170 to £33,119 a year |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Across Adventure Playgrounds in Portsmouth, PO2 8JX |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 29 Sept 2026 |
| Closing date: | 27 Oct 2026 |
Summary
• Support the Playground Manager in the day-to-day running of the playground, including oversight of staff, resources, site, health and safety, and safeguarding.
• Deputise for the Playground Manager in their absence, being the site responsible person, managing staff, attending meetings and ensuring quality service delivery.
• Deliver and engage children, young people and families in rich and varied play opportunities.
• Respond with empathy and perception to the play needs of children and young people.
• Recognise the responsibility of being a positive role model for young people, and the integrity and professionalism required to do that.
• Work respectfully with children and their families, responding positively to diversity and promoting a positive peer culture.
• Recognise the choice that young people make to engage with us, the privileged and unique relationships between young people and playworkers and build on these relationships whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
• Use safeguarding knowledge and experience alongside professional curiosity to promote the welfare of children through robust safeguarding procedures with a contextual focus.
• Engage with children, families, and internal and external agencies to embed the playground within its community.
• Represent the adventure playground and the service whilst working collaboratively alongside external agencies and professionals, such as at safeguarding, community or partnership meetings.
• Engage with relevant training and Continuing Professional Development opportunities.
• Create and contribute to a culture and working practices that recognise, respect and value differences.
• Implement safeguarding and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct site, structure and equipment inspections to check that they are fit for purpose, and support in maintaining a clean, safe environment, carrying out remedial repairs, ongoing maintenance and cleaning duties.
Skills:
You need:
• Strong communication skills with the ability to adapt communication consistent with different levels of understanding, culture, background and preferences.
• Have safeguarding knowledge and experience to promote the welfare of children through robust safeguarding procedures with a contextual focus.
• A willingness to bring your own interests, skills, experiences and personality to enrich the play opportunities for children and young people.
• An empathic, inquisitive, and creative approach to engaging and working with children and young people as part of a small team.
• The ability to build positive, respectful relationships with children, young people and their families whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
• The skills to use relational and restorative practice, recognising that children communicate with a range of different behaviours and having an awareness of your own limitations.
• Knowledge and understanding of play and playwork, reflective practice and the importance of risk in play.
• The ability to meet the physical and mental demands of the role, acknowledging that the role can be as challenging as it is rewarding.
• The ability to deliver and engage children, young people and families in rich and varied play opportunities.
• To be approachable and interested in the children and their world, using relational authenticity to support this.
• To be able to work under pressure and manage conflict.
• High level numeracy, literacy and IT skills.
• To be able to work flexibly throughout the week, including on Saturdays and throughout school holidays across the service.
The following would be desirable:
• A recognised playwork qualification.
• A clean, full driving licence.
• A MIDAS qualification.
• A first aid qualification.
• Carpentry and structure building skills to support child led self-build projects.
• Relevant specialist skills for example sports, arts, crafts, carpentry and structure building, additional language(s), alternative communication systems, a Food Hygiene certificate.
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