Play Services Co-ordinator

Salary: Starting Rate £10.00 per hour

Up to 30 hours per week

We are looking for a qualified and experienced Play Services Co-ordinator to manage SAFSS’ Out-of-School Club service, Youth groups and holiday playschemes.

The Co-ordinator will manage an established team of Playworkers who provide sessions term time and in the school holidays.  The Co-ordinator will undertake regular monitoring of sessions, finances and regular staff supervisions to ensure an overall smooth running of the service.

Registered with Ofsted, the Club works to the ECM and EDCM outcomes, the Principles in Play and the Early Years Foundation Stage. SAFSS Out-of-School was also recently awarded the Me2 award for inclusion and is working towards the Quality in Play kite mark. Applicants must have NNEB qualification or NVQ3 in Child Care and Management or equivalent. Applicants must have a good standard of spoken and written English and numeracy. Experience of working with children with disabilities is an advantage. 

Applicants please note that the hours of work are Tuesday and Thursday between 9.00-6.00pm and Saturdays 9.30-4.00pm. Any remaining hours will be undertaken during normal office hours (9.00-5.00pm). During the school holidays all sessions will be held Monday to Friday daytime.           Closing date: 16/5/11 Interview: 20/5/11

Adult Services Support Officer

Salary: £8.50 per hour

Up to 15 hours per week 

We are looking for an Adult Services Support Officer to work closely with the Adult Service Co-ordinator to plan, lead and deliver individual and group sessions for adults with disabilities. The post will focus on consulting with the people who use our services encouraging choice, participation and promoting community integration.

The post will also focus on ensuring that all adult services are CQC compliant, are working to the personalisation agenda and health and safety law.

Applicants must have at least 2 years experience of working with people with learning and physical disabilities, their carers and parents.  Applicants must also have a minimum of a GNVQ in Health and Social Care or equivalent. The ability to work flexible hours is also essential. Closing date: 13/5/11 Interview: 26/5/11

Domiciliary Care Workers (Part Time)

Salary: Between £6.30 and £8.40 per hour

We are currently looking for care workers who will provide domiciliary care for children with disabilities within the home environment. Applicants must work in line with CQC standards and must have experience in care and be qualified to a minimum of NVQ level 2 in care, or have a commitment to undertake relevant qualifications and training. Suitable applicants would be required to work in the daytime and early mornings, evenings and weekends and during school holidays between 6am to 10pm. (possible night sits)

All vacancies require applicants to be able to communicate in at least one of the main South Asian languages spoken in Sandwell and neighbouring boroughs. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who can speak Bengali and male care workers. Closing date: 13/5/11 Interview: 2/6/11

Minibus Driver (Part Time)

Salary: £7.61 per hour

We are currently looking for a minibus driver who will transport children and adults with disabilities within the Sandwell and Birmingham area. Applicants must be aged over 25 years and hold a clean driving licence. Applicants must also have 12 months driving experience with a category D1 licence.

Duties include the general fuelling and maintenance of the vehicle. The hours of work are flexible and will include afternoons, evenings and weekends. All applicants will be required to take a driving assessment and the ability to speak a South Asian language is an advantage, but not essential. Closing date: 13/5/11 Interview: 26/5/11

Male Playworker (Part Time)

Salary: £7.36 per hour

We are looking for qualified and experienced play workers to work with and create play opportunities for children with disabilities at our Out of School Club.

Applicants must work to OFSTED and EYFS standards and work to the ECM outcomes and the Principles in Play. Applicants must have experience in working within a children’s play services and be qualified to a minimum of NVQ level 2 in play work. Suitable applicants would be required to work in the evenings (3-6pm) and Saturdays (11am-4pm). Sessions during the school holidays are 10am– 2pm during weekdays.

Communicating in at least one of the main South Asian languages spoken in Sandwell is desirable. We particularly welcome applications from male play workers. Closing Date: 16/5/11 Interview: 31/05/11

At SAFSS we take the safeguarding of children and adults seriously and all staff will be subject to an enhanced CRB clearance, checks and references. 

For information and an application form for all of the above posts please contact Kam or Amar on

(0121) 558 2198 

SAFSS, Fenton St, Smethwick, West Midlands B66 1HR

Registered Charity: 1098917

Race Relations Act: 1979 Section 5 (2) (d)                    

Sex Discrimination Act: 1976 Section 7.22

Argos Vouchers – 304
Next Vouchers – 139
Cinema tickets – 296
Hamper – 165
Costa Coffee Goodie Bag – 136
Tin of Celebrations – 245
Green Goodie Bag – 148
Pink Goodie Bag – 241
Thorntons Chocolates – 251
Beauty Gift Set – 166
M&S Chocolates – 185

Thank you to everyone who donated prizes and bought tickets. If you havea winning ticket please contact Claire or Geeta on (0121) 558 2198 to collect your prize!

Winter conditions did not stop the SAFSS Winter Celebration Party on Saturday 18th December. The event, supported by Irwin Mitchell, went ahead despite the terrible snow. Food, dancing and fun was had by all and our thanks to Irwin Mitchell and all our staff and volunteers who helped the event.

Any child or adult who uses our services can attend the daytrip free of charge and can also bring a main carer who is free of charge. For any additional seats SAFSS are charging a flat rate of £7.00.

For further information and a booking form please contact Kam or Amar on (0121) 558 2198

Mark Davis (SCVO), Neelam Pallen (SAFSS) and Carole Harte (SCVO)

For more information about PQASSO visit: http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=329

We are particularly interested in meeting individuals who are interested in working in domiciliary care (in both Birmingham and Sandwell) and Playworkers.

We look forward to meeting you!

Mohammed and Steven have recently joined the healthy walks programme, Sandwell Strides, as Mohammed enjoys walking and they also regularly play basketball. Linking in with the Cycling Programme at Sandwell PCT Mohammed has had his first cycling lesson and will now be cycling and having lessons regularly. His aim is to ride around the cycle routes in Sandwell with Steven.

Mohammed has also started attending a gardening club once a week and wants to start travelling around on the bus and metro.

SAFSS services for adults with disabilities are based on individual need and the individuals support plans. We can tailor our culturally-sensitive services to create opportunities for adults which can include care on an individual basis or in a group setting.

If you would like to know more about our services for adults please contact Arathi on 0121 558 2198 adults.safss@btconnect.com

*names have been changed for confidentiality reasons

The Safe Place Scheme has been designed to help people with learning disabilities know what to do if they become a victim of hate crime, bullying or harassment in the community.

Each person with a learning disability carries a card which gives their name and personal contact details. The logo on the card matches the logo displayed in local shops, businesses and community venues. The logo is recognised by a person with a learning disability and they know they can go to this place if they are in trouble.

If a person with learning disabilities comes into SAFSS we will assist them by making one or two phone calls and will provide a temporary safe place until further help and support is accessed.

For further information on the Safe Place Scheme:

http://www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm/content/councilgeneral/pressreleases/2009-03/safe-places-scheme-launched.en;jsessionid=ahaAvHqwr2Bf

The poem “My Friend” was entered into the Young Writers’ My Favourite Person competition where young poets wrote about the people that are most important to them.

Over 4,000 poems were received and the best poems were selected for publication in a book representing the best of young authors work: My Favourite Person – That Special Someone.

Congratulations!

Makaton is a language programme used by children and adults who
have communication difficulties. Makaton uses speech, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and body language and it enables children to develop communication skills.

Our staff, who work in our After School Club, Adults Domiciliary care and Children’s Domiciliary care, all gained a basic knowledge of Makaton. The aim of the session was to give staff a range of tools and techniques for communicating with the children and adults that they care for.

Staff learnt how to write sentences using symbols and how this can be used to write menus and plan activities for the people who use our service. By learning new communication techniques our staff can support our services users to make independent choices about the service that they receive.

The course was funded by Sandwell Early Years at SMBC and the training was provided by Sue Eley from The Orchard School. Our thanks to both SMBC and Sue.

Congratulaions to all our staff!