Childcare Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Phoenix Futures team at Harper House our Specialist Family Residential Service in Saltcoats.  We are looking for a Childcare Manager for one-of-a-kind Nursery at Harper House, National Specialist Family Service in North Ayrshire.

Harper House: The rehab service that keeps families together - BBC News

The Role
You will be the Registered Manager for our Care Inspectorate registered on-site Nursery, as well as leading on specific interventions for primary school aged children, and have the opportunity to deliver parenting interventions of the wider programme while working in conjunction with the Therapeutic and Care Team.

Your role is full time, based on-site, working Monday to Friday from 9 to 5 (37.5 hours per week).

The nursery runs from the hours of 9:15am to 4pm, and your team of 8 Childcare staff will carry out various hours including 8:30am start to support school runs, and evening/weekend hours to offer wider support to our families.

About You
You will be an experienced childcare practitioner and leader, displaying a positive and motivational attitude to helping children and their families as a whole to develop. You will assist in promoting openness, trusting, positive relationships with all individuals accessing the service. You will require a deep understanding of regulations, educational requirements, health and safety, safeguarding, child protection and experience in helping children accessing our support to develop, learn and grow.

• A formal qualification in Early Learning and Childcare (for example BA Childhood Studies, PDA, or equivalent)
• An understanding of parental substance use, mental health, trauma, and whole family approaches
• A background in leadership role within a childcare setting
• Knowledge of Care Inspectorate standards
• Knowledge of early years curriculum and willingness to keep up to date with current practice

• Passionate and enthusiastic about making a real difference to the lives of people we support

Your Rewards

• Starting salary of £30,500, with opportunity to access potential yearly salary increments subject to appraisal, meaning potential salary increase up to £36,000
• Committed to providing a Real Living Wage for you, through accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation
• 25 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing each year to a maximum of 30 days)
• Benefits including season ticket loan, pension scheme and life assurance
• Support through occupational sick pay, eye-care vouchers and regular wellbeing talks and activities
• Continuous training and career development via PXL, our dedicated learning management system 
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance programme including telephone and online access
• A rewarding role with the opportunity to help us support people on their journey to recovery and change their lives for the better.
• We’ll ensure you get all the support you need to thrive and succeed in your role and find your place amongst our incredible and collaborative team.

The Service
Harper House, National Specialist Family Service is based in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, and offers safe, structured support for the whole family to address their problematic drug and/or alcohol use, improve their mental health and quality of life.

Harper House offers 12-24 weeks programs during which parents will be engaging with a recovery program based on the Therapeutic Community model. During this time, nursery aged children will be supported in our one-of-a-kind on-site Nursery, and school-aged children will be accessing our local school. Outside of nursery and school times, parents are the sole carers of their children, and will be supported by the wider team to develop parenting skills and strengthen their relationships.

The site has free on-site parking, dedicated staff room spaces, and is located 5 minutes away from local buses, and Saltcoats train station.

Take a full tour of the service here -Harper House - Specialist Family Service Scotland | Phoenix Futures

About Phoenix Futures
Phoenix Futures Group is a charity with over 50 years’ experience and a leading provider of drug and alcohol treatment in Scotland and England. We use our expertise to support people in their personal recovery and to improve their lives. We are dedicated to advocating for people who are often overlooked and stigmatised, to ensure they have a fair chance to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Our aim is for everyone to be able to achieve their potential for themselves, their families and communities.

We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe it is important to include people with lived experience to ensure the needs of the people we support are represented. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone is free to be themselves and we ensure equity of opportunity.

Interview Process
We want you to feel comfortable to be your best during the interview process, so that you can get to know Phoenix and we can get to know you. If shortlisted, you will be contacted for a short face to face or digital interview via Microsoft Teams depending on your availability and preference. You will be interviewed by a panel of 2x managers. All details will be provided in advance so that you can feel adequately prepared, and we can support you with reasonable adjustments as required.

Please note, we will be assessing applications as they are submitted and may close this role should we find sufficient applicants with which to make our shortlist. As such, we would advise applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.