8 Over 8 jobs in Barking and Dagenham

Work with Us!

We are on the search for passionate and enthusiastic playworkers to join the wonderful staff team at ELHAP! As a playworker, you can expect to play all day and ensure that our children and young with very diverse care and support needs have the best possible day! Where else can you get paid to play all day with some of the most incredible and inspiring children you’ll ever meet?

It's a perfect job for students where you can choose which days you work including only working in school holidays plus gain amazing experience and make a real difference (whilst earning money and having lots of fun too).

About us

ELHAP is one of only eight adventure playgrounds for disabled children and young people in the UK. For over 50 years we have provided fantastic adventure play opportunities to many thousands of disabled children from across North East London and Essex. We are a truly unique and magical setting!

This is what our staff say about working at ELHAP:

“The most rewarding job I’ve ever had!”

“Every day is an adventure.”

“I love the team and how friendly, welcoming and helpful everyone is.”

“In 14 years working at ELHAP from the first day to today I still feel I am fulfilling and enhancing children's lives.”

Job purpose and context
The Playworker is expected to provide a high quality stimulating environment to support play opportunities and to promote inclusive play with all children. They will ensure that the care needs of each child are met at the highest standards throughout the day.

Playworker’s work as part of the Playground team which requires the co-operation of all staff and volunteers to ensure the efficient and professional running of the service.

Roles and responsibilities

1. Ensures that all children and young people are at the heart of everything ELHAP does.

2. Devise and deliver best playwork practice to every child and young person by adhering to the playwork principles.

3. Ensures the safety and well-being of children and young people attending ELHAP by always protecting children from abuse, harm and risks and following the ELHAP Safeguarding Children policy and ELHAP Health and Safety Policy at all times.

4. Fully meets the individual needs of children and ensure the highest standards of care are achieved throughout each day (including personal care, medication, feeding, drinking etc).

5. Responds to behaviours that challenge, difficult life experiences and any difficult issues that children and young people are experiencing in a compassionate, sensitive and respectful manner.

6. Liaises with parents and completes daily reports in a respectful, sensitive and professional style.

7. Uses own initiative, common sense and knowledge at all times to ensure ELHAP is safe, fun, stimulating and engaging.

8. Helps prepare the playground in the mornings and to clean up at the end of each day, as directed by senior staff.

9. Raises appropriate and important issues or concerns in a timely manner with their line manager, suggesting ways in which they could be addressed

10. Supports ELHAP senior staff in developing the charity according to its ethos and philosophy of care.

11. Commits to personal and professional development including attending training, supervision and other work related learning whenever possible

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the ELHAP senior staff

PERSON SPECIFICATION: PLAYWORKER

Skills and abilities Essential Desirable
Good communication skills
Ability to work in a team
Ability to meet children’s individual needs
Ability to work on own initiative and to implement directions from supervisory staff
Ability to establish positive relationships with young people and their parents
Ability to provide and facilitate high quality play
Good literacy skills

Qualities
Highly motivated
Reliability
Creative, fun approach
Energetic and enthusiastic personality
Respectful and sensitive to people’s needs
Willingness to work outdoors in all weathers

Knowledge
Basic awareness of health and safety practices
Knowledge of record keeping practices
Commitment to equal opportunities
A thorough understanding of Child Protection procedures and good
practice

Experience
Experience of working with disabled children and young people aged 6 – 19 years
Experience of working in a team
Experience of working in a play setting

Your Commitment!

We need staff that are available to work a minimum of 6 days each term as follows:

· Fortnightly Saturdays in term-time at our Saturday Club.

· Monday to Fridays in school holidays at our Playschemes.

· We are flexible about which days you work – you choose!

· You can book into as many Saturday Clubs and Playscheme days as you want to (as long as you can do 6 or above each term)

How to Apply

For further information, and to apply for this role, please visit https://www.elhap.org.uk/workatelhap to complete our online application form.

Deadline for applications: 5:00pm on Friday 23rd October 2026

Please note all interviews will held on Saturdays and School Holidays.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; the successful applicants will be expected to undertake satisfactory DBS Enhanced Disclosures. ELHAP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

ELHAP Charity Registration No: 1077508. ELHAP is an equal opportunities employer.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Volunteer

Pay: From £13.15 per hour

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free flu jabs

Application question(s):

• Are you aged 17 years and over (please note that this is an OFSTED requirement and so are required to ensure we only recruit people aged 17 and over)?

Education:

• GCSE or equivalent (required)

Experience:

• working professionally with children and young people: 1 year (required)

Language:

• English proficiently (required)

Work Location: In person