Senior Nursery Practitioner; Room Leader

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please see below for a detailed job description of the role. You’ll be based at Western Community Hospital at Trust Taplins nursery in our Purple room (children aged 2 :6‑3 :6), working as a key-person and room leader.

We are looking for a knowledgeable and inspiring Early Years practitioner, passionate about providing high standards of care and education to children aged 3 months‑5 years. You will develop your own skills as well as the skills of the practitioners in your team.

We operate two purpose‑built day nurseries supporting local NHS staff. Our schedule is Monday – Friday, 7 am – 6:30 pm. Your shift will be Monday 10:15 – 6:30 pm and Tuesday 6:45 – 2:30 pm. We provide generous holiday allowance, a discount scheme and a flexible working environment.

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities. Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work.

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At UHS we proudly champion individuality and are committed to an anti‑racist, anti‑discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe and empowered. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

You will role model, motivate, lead, coach, support and manage our teams to provide high standards of childcare and education. You will be responsible for leading specific areas of practice or completing specific management tasks.

• Hold an appropriate Early Years qualification (Level 3 or above). Current food hygiene certificate.
• Calm, kind and caring with a sense of humour. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic and inspiring approach to leading a team.
• Committed, reliable and flexible.
• Experience as a Senior Nursery Practitioner or equivalent, recent work with 3 months‑5‑year‑olds within a childcare setting.
• Current paediatric first aid (PFA) or emergency PFA certificate if qualified post‑June 2016.
• Additional desirable experience: supervising students or colleagues, current paediatric and/or first aid at work certificate if qualified pre‑June 2016 or higher than Level 3.

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers during short‑listing.

• Good standard of secondary education with literacy and numeracy skills demonstrable to GCSE pass level or equivalent.
• Current food hygiene certificate.
• Full Level 3 Early Years Qualification (or above) in accordance with  and, if qualified post‑June 2016, full paediatric first aid (PFA) or an emergency PFA certificate.
• Experience as a Senior Nursery Practitioner or relevant equivalent.
• Able to provide relevant activity ideas and care for children.
• Enthusiastic approach to working with children and learning practically within nursery.
• Recent experience working with 3 months‑5‑year‑olds within a childcare setting.

• Current paediatric and/or first aid at work certificate (pre‑June 2016) or a qualification higher than Level 3.
• Experience supervising students and/or colleagues.

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together