Senior Support Worker (Breakfast & After School Club)

Senior Support Worker – Childcare

Permanent position | 48 weeks per year

25 hours per week | £14.14 per hour

Monday–Friday: 7:30am–9:00am and 2:30pm–6:00pm

Strathaven After School Club, Ashkirk Road, Strathaven, ML10 6JT

Closing date: Saturday 26th September 2026

Please note, this post may close early if we receive sufficient applications.

About us

Strathaven After School Club is a registered charity, established in 2000, providing high-quality before and after-school care for children aged 4–12. We are looking for a Senior Support Worker to join our small, friendly team. This is an important role within the club, supporting the day-to-day running of the service and taking on additional responsibility when the Manager or Assistant Manager is not available.

About the role

As a Senior Support Worker, you will be a key member of the team, providing excellent care and creating fun, safe and engaging experiences for children.

You will:

• Take day-to-day responsibility for the team and ensure children receive consistent, high-quality care.
• Take the lead in planning and delivering fun, engaging play opportunities, involving children in the planning process.
• Support and supervise staff and help ensure the smooth running of each session.
• Take responsibility for the club when the Manager/Assistant Manager is absent, using your initiative and making appropriate decisions.
• Build positive relationships with children, parents, carers and other professionals.
• Help maintain children's personal plans and ensure records are kept up to date.
• Support the implementation of Care Inspectorate, SSSC and other statutory requirements.
• Prepare safe, stimulating play environments and ensure resources and equipment are ready for use.
• Collect children safely from school and support their transition into the club.
• Prepare and serve healthy snacks.
• Respond appropriately to children's individual needs, including behaviour and additional support needs and deal confidently and calmly with accidents, incidents and emergencies.
• Ensure all club policies, procedures and safeguarding requirements are followed.
• Work closely with the Manager and Assistant Manager to continually develop the service.

This is a busy, hands-on role and we are looking for someone who is confident taking responsibility, can use their own initiative and genuinely cares about providing the best possible experience for children.

What we're looking for

Essential:

• SVQ Level 3 Social Services (Children and Young People) or an equivalent relevant qualification.
• Experience of working with children in a childcare, out-of-school care, playwork or similar setting.
• Experience of taking responsibility within a team.
• A responsible, trustworthy and reliable approach.
• Confidence to make decisions and use initiative when working independently.
• Ability to lead by example and support other members of staff.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues.
• A good understanding of children's health, safety and wellbeing.
• Ability to remain calm and professional when dealing with challenging situations.
• A willingness to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the club when required.
• Willingness to join the PVG Scheme.

Desirable:

• Current First Aid and/or Food Hygiene qualification.
• Experience working with children with additional support needs.
• Knowledge of GIRFEC and SHANARRI.
• Experience with children's records, personal plans or other childcare administration.

The person we're looking for

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is caring, passionate and genuinely enjoys working with children. You'll need to be someone who can be trusted to take responsibility, is confident using their own initiative and isn't afraid to get stuck in. You'll be a positive role model for the rest of the team and someone who can remain calm, organised and approachable even when things get busy. If you're energetic, reliable, responsible and passionate about providing children with a safe, fun and welcoming place to be, we'd love to hear from you!

To apply please contact the After School Club management team on 07813 469 481 or send your CV to managersasc@hotmail.com

Strathaven After School Club is a registered charity (SC205113) and is committed to providing high-quality, safe and engaging childcare for children in our local community.