Out of School Service Manager (555)

BENEFITS – What is in it for you?

• To work for an organisation who truly consider work life balance and have high expectations for our outcomes not only for those who use our services but for our teams as well.
• Free Training – We regularly invite all our staff to free training courses including Disability and Inclusion Awareness, Medication Administration, Safeguarding, First Aid, Makaton and more!
• Free DBS – As we require all staff to have a DBS before they start with us, we have decided to offer this free of charge.
• Pension & Health Care Cash Plan – All our staff have access to a NEST pension and Simply Health care plan.

ABOUT US-

Challengers is a voluntary sector organisation providing play and leisure services to disabled children and young people across Surrey, Hampshire and in Richmond, Kingston, and Chichester.

Our 555 Service offers urgent support to families of disabled young people aged 5 – 12 who are currently out of education. This may be due to awaiting a suitable school placement, because the young person has been excluded, or because their current school place cannot provide the appropriate support. We offer a fun, safe space at Challengers during the day where our highly trained staff help young people build their confidence, and prepare them for a successful return to school.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES –

Responsibilities – Children, Young People and Families

• Oversee daily activities, ensuring a varied, high-quality programme tailored to individual needs and interests.
  • Safeguard children and young people by supporting staff and following safeguarding policies and procedures.
  • Maintain accurate records and share relevant information with the 555 team and professionals involved.
  • Liaise with the Service Manager regarding attendance, session changes, behaviour, and other updates.
  • Ensure behaviour plans are in place and reviewed regularly with the Behaviour Support Team.
  • Provide appropriate physical and emotional support to promote children and young people’s wellbeing.

Staff

• Act as a positive role model, providing consistent support and guidance to staff.
  • Escalate complex staff issues, including sickness and conduct, to the Service Manager and HR.
  • Identify training needs and coordinate inductions and ongoing training with relevant leads.
  • Manage staff rotas and hours to ensure safe, trained staffing levels within budget, reporting changes as required.
  • Liaise with Service Manager and Recruitment on staffing needs.
  • Maintain clear communication through briefings, debriefs, meetings, and supervision.

Health and Safety

• Be responsible for the day to day maintenance and security of the building. Reporting any concerns to the Caretaker.
• Be responsible for supporting the staff teams to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act (2018)
• Conduct and oversee the use of checklists related to day-to-day inspections and maintenance for toys, equipment and building.
• To be a key holder and be an emergency contact for the alarm system
• To support staff teams to maintain a clean, tidy, secure site and environment – treating all buildings, structures, toys and equipment used by children and young people with respect and care.

Management and Administration

• Support the Service Manager and Administration Team to maintain accurate records, including attendance, finances, and correspondence.
  • Assist with local authority monitoring and represent Challengers at external meetings as required.
  • Order and source appropriate equipment within agreed budgets.
  • Deliver the service in line with Challengers’ policies, procedures, and systems, contributing to their ongoing development.

555 Manager Job Description

About you:

• At least 2 years’ experience in childcare, youth work or a similar setting
• Proven experience leading and managing staff
• Confident supporting children with behaviour that challenges
• Organised, resilient and hands-on

Paediatric First Aid and CPI training are desirable (or a willingness to undertake training).

Join us and help shape an exciting new service that makes a real difference

Challengers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS Check and satisfactory references. 

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job- There is no such thing as the perfect candidate.  Challengers is a place where everyone can grow.  We follow equal opportunities so however, you identify and whatever your background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day.

Closing Date – 23/01/2026

Interview Date – 29/01/2026

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• Kingston Deputy Leader
• 555 Deputy Manager
• 555 Manager
• 555 Support Worker 5-12 yrs
• 555 Support Worker 8-18 yrs

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Disclosure declaration

The position which you are applying for potentially involves significant unsupervised contact with children and is therefore subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. This means that you must disclose details of any convictions, bindover orders or police cautions, warnings or reprimands, including those which are considered “spent” under the terms of the Act. Please use the Disclosure Form below only if this applies to you. This information will not be used to discriminate against you unfairly.

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If you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings that are not "protected" as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198, please complete the information below and return it with your application. This information will not be used to discriminate against you unfairly. For more information on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act please click here.

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On the next few pages we will be asking for your education history, dating back to GCSEs (or equivalent) and your employment history. In order to process your application we need to have a full history from your secondary education to present day, including any gaps in your study or work. If you fail to provide a full history, your application may be rejected, this is due to the nature of our work with vulnerable young people, and the strict Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Policies we must adhere to.

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Equal Opportunities monitoring

Challengers is committed to achieving a Play and Leisure service which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from unlawful or unfair discrimination. Our policy covers all aspects of our operations, including recruitment. Please complete this part of the form. This information will be used only in order to monitor our recruitment processes and prevent unfair discrimination on any grounds.

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