Play Enabler - Alternative Provision/EOTAS

Salary: £17 per hour (£12.71 during training and shadowing (expected 4 weeks) - increasing once completed to £17ph)

Hours: various term time agreements and contract types available – some opportunities for work within the holidays but these are limited and cannot be guaranteed.

Overview
Play Torbay is a small charity that provides fun and accessible play opportunities throughout the year. We offer various activities such as playground adventures, weekly clubs and special events in our community.

Play Enabler

This is a challenging yet deeply rewarding role supporting young people who may struggle to regulate their emotions and can display high levels of dysregulation. The Play Enablers role is to support the young person to access education. The requirement for confidence and experience is reflected in the higher-than-average hourly rate. This role requires emotional resilience, confidence in high-pressure situations, and the ability to remain regulated while supporting children who may be distressed, oppositional, or in crisis.

We are seeking a confident, experienced, and highly motivated individual with enthusiasm and empathy to support young people with additional needs who require extra help within their education programme.

Play Enablers support children - usually primary school age - on an individual basis. This includes transporting them, taking part in activities together, and engaging in play, with PACE principles embedded throughout the work.

Our play-based and PACE-informed approach provides vulnerable children with the time and space to engage in child-led outdoor play, benefiting from its restorative qualities while addressing SEMH needs and barriers to education.

This post requires direct work with children, young people and local stakeholders. A full Enhanced DBS check will be required.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience supporting children with high levels of SEMH needs and/or dysregulation.

• Confidence managing challenging behaviour using relational, trauma-informed approaches.

• Experience providing 1:1 support for children with SEND.

• Ability to remain calm, playful, and empathetic under pressure and during crises.

• Ability to work independently, use initiative, and make safe, confident decisions in the moment.

• Good English and ICT skills to support accurate weekly reporting.

• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle (required for transporting children).

Tasks will include:

• Confidently supporting children with complex needs, using consistent, trauma-informed approaches to help them regulate.

• Building positive, trusting relationships that help children engage in play, learning, and activities with confidence.

• Providing an environment that is responsive, nurturing, and celebrates individuality.

• Working with the Play Enabler team to develop personalised development programmes for each young person, with clear, achievable goals and positive outcomes.

• Observing children and adapting activities in response to their needs, wishes, and abilities, both indoors and outdoors.

• Meeting the physical needs of children and young people, including personal care and administering prescribed medication in line with signed medical consent.

• Acting appropriately in a medical emergency if required.

• Ensuring children and young people are supervised at all times; some physical moving and lifting may be necessary.

• Following all health and safety rules across Play Torbay settings, including premises, equipment, storage, activities, fire drills, and staff/child safety.

• Taking prompt action to ensure the safety of children and reporting concerns immediately to the Alternative Provision Lead and/or senior Play Torbay staff.

• Contributing positively to a harmonious and supportive team environment.

• Maintaining weekly contact and attending meetings with the Alternative Provision Lead to uphold quality provision.

• Attending required training, including induction, planning sessions, and evaluation meetings.

• Engaging in consultation with schools, local authority officers, parents/carers, and children to ensure the service meets their needs.

• Working independently and using professional judgement when alone with a young person.

• Keeping accurate daily records such as session planners, reflections, play diaries, and monitoring forms, ensuring confidentiality at all times.

• Being fully aware of statutory requirements relevant to the service, particularly around safeguarding, and adhering to all Play Torbay policies and procedures.

• Undertaking any other reasonable duties required within the Play Torbay service and supporting wider organisational endeavours, projects and tasks when a young person is absent.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Service Manager

LOCATION: Home working and based at various locations within Torbay

DEADLINE: Applications in by 4pm Friday 28th August 2026