Job title: Activity Worker
Salary: £25,584 - £27,269 pro rata
Hours: 18
Contract: Permanent
Location: West Leeds Activity Centre - One Post / Herd Farm Activity Centre - One Post
As an Activity Worker you’ll thrive on ensuring children & young people have the best experience possible, through the delivery of excellent outdoor educational activities at West Leeds Activity Centre AND Herd Farm Activity Centre.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As an Activity Worker, you will bring to the role:
- You will be able to work effectively with children & young people in groups delivering exciting activities in the outdoor environment.
- You will be able to involve young people in design and development of sessions.
- You will have the knowledge, skills and experience to deliver high quality educational outdoor activities, designed to build confidence, self-esteem and encourage team work.
- You will be able to support young people to use learning to enhance their future development.
- You will be able to record and evaluate sessions.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference to children & young people whilst supporting the Leeds City Councils’ priorities around making us a Child Friendly environment, through the delivery of high quality, exciting and challenging outdoor activities – including climbing, canoeing, paddle- boarding, bushcraft & survival skills, archery and team building activities.
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate they are an enthusiastic team player, able to work with children & young people to extend their learning in the outdoor environment and deliver an excellent service to all our clients.
You will need to be flexible to work across all of our Leeds City Council Activity centres (i.e. West Leeds Activity Centre, Herd Farm and South Leeds Youth Hub) as business requires it, although you would be based primarily at West Leeds Activity Centre for this post.
As our next Activity Worker you’ll be a key member of our delivery team, able to work on your own initiative and be flexible. You’ll have excellent ‘people’ skills and be able to communicate with children & young people from all backgrounds and abilities.
The role is integral to our activity centres team and is part of our overall delivery to schools and youth groups.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Vince Foster 0113 336 7414 or Email vince.foster@leeds.gov.uk (West Leeds) Donna Russell 0113 378 3088 or Email donna.russell@leeds.gov.uk (Herd Farm)
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2024. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job purpose To deliver activity programmes working directly with young people to develop innovative and inclusive activity sessions (curriculum linked) for children and young people with a wide range of emotional / behavioural educational and physical needs.
Responsibilities
- Plan deliver and monitor activities to ensure smooth operation of services to meet the needs of children and young people.
- Encourage young people to participate in activities.
- Ensure basic maintenance of activity equipment is built into session time.
- Assist in the development of the service, by planning, delivery, reviewing activity programmes.
- Encourage young people to participate in design, delivery, and review of programmes.
- Encourage young people to take responsibility for their learning and actions.
- Create an environment in which it is safe and appropriate to challenge young people’s thinking, attitude, and behaviour.
- Contribute to performance targets.
- Ensure that all aspects of the work are underpinned by the principles of equality and diversity.
- Create and maintain a safe environment in accordance with health and safety policy and legislation.
- Work with young people on activity related maintenance of equipment.
- The hours of work are primarily determined by the needs of the service the position requires flexible working arrangements involving weekly activity rotas, evening activity sessions and weekend working.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- To participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
NVQ / VRQ level 3 related to work with young people or relevant experience is essential
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following; Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
Skills Required
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
- A flexible approach to working hours with the ability to take part in weekly activity rotas, including evening and weekend activity sessions.
- Able to establish and maintain a constructive and purposeful relationship with young people.
- Able to work effectively with children and young people in groups.
- Able to involve young people in design and development of sessions.
- Able to work with young people to safeguard their welfare.
- Able to support young people to use learning to enhance their future development.
- Able to record and evaluation sessions.
- Able to lead on responding to immediate health and safety issues.
- Able to recognise and challenge prejudices, stereotypes, and discrimination.
- Able to deliver a range of activities and resources which promotes confidence and ensures all can participate.
- Able to lead on a range of activities i.e. climbing / art / environment.
- Able to contribute to all activities on offer.
Knowledge Required
- NVQ / VRQ level 3 related to work with young people or relevant experience
- Of activity specific qualification i.e. climbing / cycling / art.
- Of issues affecting young people.
- Of safeguarding and welfare issues.
- Of local and national policies and their relationship to the centres work.
- Understanding of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality, and data protection
Experience Required
- Of working in a youth work / school environment.
- Of enabling young people to work effectively in groups.
- Of enabling young people to explore their values and self-respect.
- Of enabling young people to use their learning to enhance their future development.
- Of working with young people to safeguard their welfare and developing awareness for self-identity.
- Of effectively planning, recording, and evaluating activity sessions with young people.
- Of working as an effective and reflective practitioner.
Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
