Creche Deputy Manager

To be the Assistant Manager and senior member of the childcare team working as a Room Leader in the rooms. Combining the practitioner role with the management role and to take responsibility for ensuring high quality and best practice standards are maintained at the service. To work in close co-operation with the Manager and staff team and participate in the strategic direction and financial budgeting of the business.

Overall Duties:

· To report to the Manager.

· To act as Designated Person in charge in the absence of the Manager.

· Be responsible, in consultation with the Manager for recruitment, management, training, motivation and performance of all staff.

· Ensure a dynamic emergent curriculum is delivered to meet the individual needs of children attending.

· Monitor and ensure that all agreed quality and safety standards are maintained always.

· Monitor day-to-day financial transactions.

· Monitor all child protection issues; parents’ issues; complaints, near-misses, incidents and accidents to ensure that any necessary remedial action is taken immediately. Ensure all issues and actions are recorded. Report Child Protection concerns to the Tulsa Social Work Team using the Children First Guidelines.

· Carry out the role in the absence of the Manager as

o Designated Person in Charge

o Designated Child Protection Person for the service

· Support the Manager to develop the service to its full potential ensuring that all opportunities in sourcing additional funding are enabled and applications completed in a timely manner.

· Keep up to date on matters relating to Early Childhood Care and Educations generally, i.e. media/emails, networking etc.

· Establish, develop and maintain professional working relationships with all external agencies, including TUSLA and the Early Intervention Team.

· Review and monitor occupancy levels, to ensure they are maintained to maximum capacity levels in line with service ethos and objectives and to ensure financial sustainability.

· To ensure the building is maintained to a high level of hygiene.

· To be available to the Early Years inspector if an inspection takes place and to ensure all appropriate information is supplied during the course of and inspection.

Children

· To work in the allocated room while leading other staff members.

· To ensure that all practice is child directed.

· To work with existing staff to provide a team approach to delivery of childcare and education of the highest standard, acting as a positive role model and to provide leadership to all the childcare staff with reference to Síolta and Aistear.

· To ensure the protection of children in accordance with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011.

· To ensure developmental observations and Aistear assessments are carried out on children and recorded appropriately.

· To ensure that an appropriate care plan is developed for children with additional needs.

Staff

· Provide direction and support to the other early Years Practitioners in relation to childcare practice – the curriculum, transitions, routines,

· To ensure the staff: child ratios are compliant with the most current Childcare Early Years Services Regulations.

· To assist in directing and supporting students.

· To encourage staff to maintain a good working atmosphere in the service.

· To deal with non-performing staff in accordance with the policies and procedures.

· Undertake regular review meetings with all staff and monitor their performance.

· In consultation with the Manager, to be responsible for the well-being of staff ensuring that disciplinary and grievance procedures are adhered to in line with legislation.

· Monitor staffing levels, ensuring the service is appropriately staffed daily.

· Maintain a list of appropriate cover staff.

· Manage staff annual leave requests to ensure the service is adequately staffed always

· Maintain accurate personnel records for all employees, cover staff and trainees.

· To ensure the staff: child ratios are compliant with the Child Care Act 1991 [Early Years Services] Regulations 2016.

· To manage rotas, breaks and lunch breaks.

· To assist in directing and supporting students.

· To encourage staff to maintain a good working atmosphere.

· Support staff in delivering quality childcare service with a strong emphasis on child development and social inclusion.

Management/Administration

· To make, in the absence of the Manager, appropriate decisions and take appropriate actions in relation to the efficient running of the service.

· Maintain and update necessary records in compliance with the Child Care Act 1991 [Early Years Services] Regulations 2016.

· To record any incidents or accidents.

· To record any fees paid.

· To record any visitors or phone calls.

· To maintain up to date necessary records in compliance with the most recent.

· To monitor staff attendance.

Health and Safety

· To be responsible for the health, safety and well-being of the children.

· To bring to the attention of the Manager any possible hazards or risks.

Parents

· To promote the service by giving a good professional image to parents and visitors.

· To meet parents, when necessary.

· To ensure staff members greet and meet parents in an appropriate manner.

· To ensure feedback is given to parents in a constructive and encouraging manner.

Training and Meetings

· To attend and participate in any meetings [Management, Staff] or training (e.g. First Aid, Manual Handling) as required.

· To encourage other staff members to participate in training or staff meetings.

Flexibility

· To be flexible in your approach.

Communication

· To communicate with all relevant personnel, frequently, in a straightforward, accurate and professional manner

Confidentiality

The person appointed to this job shall not during the period of employment or at any time after the termination of employment disclose any confidential information in respect of the employer or information relating to the work, children, parents or staff participating or working in the service.

Other Duties

· To be knowledgeable of all policies and procedures and ensure the staff team follow them.

· To do a site walk morning and evenings [as well as other times during the day time permitting] to ensure both inside and outside of the building are in perfect order and children and staff are safe.