Job Description

Job Title / Nursery Manager -(funded for 18 months)
Reporting To / LCDT – Strategic Development Manager / Salary / £28KPro-Rata
Hours / 27 hours per week / Date / February 2018
Purpose of Job
Create a flexible childcare provision in Linwood by establishing an Outdoor Children’s Forest Nursery, model and ethos with the aim to serve parents/carers and children across Renfrewshire. Supporting vulnerable families in Linwood alongside creating a social enterprise, measured by the quality education it provides, the proportion of subsidised places it offers and the employability opportunities it creates.
Context and Scope
Implement and develop policies and build alliances that contribute to meeting the aims of the nursery by delivering high quality childcare and education that is accountable to both the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland.
Major Tasks and Job Activities
  • Establish a high-quality, accredited childcare service; achieving a minimum score of 4 across all Care Inspectorate indicators.
  • Create a safe and innovative Outdoor Children’s Forest Nursery programme that reflects the key principles of Curriculum for Excellence.
  • Develop and implement all policies for the Outdoor Children’s Forest Nursery.
  • Develop a Marketing strategy that will promote and create 24 new childcare places.
  • Recruit a workforce of appropriately skilled and qualified staff.
  • Implement a training programme for staff to increase and upskill staff to support the development of education.
  • Create a customer base of people living and working in Renfrewshire.
  • Establish a financial sustainability plan for the enterprise through income generation.
  • Increase asset ownership of the Community of Linwood, working towardsestablishing a co-operative model that will share the surpluses and decision making amongst staff, users and community members.
  • Strengthen the work and the sustainability of the nursery through a Strategic partnership with Renfrewshire Council.
  • Carry out all risk assessments of the Linwood Woodland and buildings to create a safe learning environment in line with health & safety and fire regulations.
  • Create management reporting system and maintaining staff and child records.
  • Develop a robust Monitoring and Evaluation framework, mechanisms and participative tools appropriate to the stated outcomes / indicators.
  • Establish, manage and build relationships with community leaders, parents, individuals, schools, council, business, voluntary organisations and groups to harness their support, resources,plan activities and develop ideas.

Qualifications, experience and personal qualities required:
  • Ideally BA in Childhood Practice or equivalent experience
  • Good level of applied literacy and numeracy skills
  • Extensive knowledge of working in a group day care setting for children aged 0-5 years
  • Creative in establishing outdoor educational activities that will take up 80% of the working day
  • Knowledge of Education standards and experience of inspections
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Knowledge of health & safety legislation
  • Achievement orientated with an ability to use own initiative
  • Well-organised and works autonomously with minimal close supervision
  • Strong people management skills with the ability to lead and motivate a team
  • Thorough with strong attention to detail and a commitment to excellence
  • Proactive and innovative approach to challenges and ideas, plus strong problem-solving capabilities
  • Flexible and receptive to change
  • Resilience, i.e. maturity, ability to cope with pressure and difficult people
  • Ability to influence and negotiate, not just be an 'order taker'
  • Commitment to the job, business and to quality early years care and education
  • Ability to balance and reconcile different interests and respond sensitively to varying needs
  • Self-confident with strong interpersonal skills
  • Willing to acquire new skills and undertake further training when necessary
  • Enjoys working collaboratively as a member of a team
  • Good Sense of Humour

Desirable skills:
  • Confidence in delivering early years creative art experiences in drama, dance, music and performance
  • Passionate when introducing young people to the arts to discover their own creative potential
  • Ability to promote and transfer creative art experiences to the outdoor environment
  • Ability to play a musical instrument

Linwood Community Development Trust is a registered Scottish charity (Charity No: SC043633)

Registered in Scotland as a company limited by guarantee(Company No:SC428650)

Registered office: Unit 19, Mossedge Industrial Estate, Moss Road, Linwood, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 3HR