Job Description

Reports to: Operation Director / Head of Early Years

Locations: Two Early Learning & Childcare (ELC) settings across Argyll & Bute (travel required)

Contract: Full-time, permanent (flexible hours to meet service needs)

Registration: SSSC (Manager/Lead Practitioner - Day Care of Children)

PVG: Membership for work with children (Disclosure Scotland)

Salary Range: 42,000 - 46,000

DOE

Purpose of role

Lead, develop and empower two ELC settings to deliver high-quality, nurturing and inclusive early learning and childcare that secures positive outcomes for babies and young children (0-5), aligned with Realising the Ambition: Being Me, GIRFEC (SHANARRI), and the Health and Social Care Standards. Ensure both sites meet Care Inspectorate requirements as a minimum and all legal/regulatory duties, including safer recruitment and robust child protection.

Key responsibilities

1) Leadership, quality & improvement

Provide visible, values-based leadership across both sites; set a clear vision and improvement plan using self-evaluation and the Care Inspectorate quality framework. Embed Health and Social Care Standards and children's rights in everyday practice, relationships and environments. Lead preparation for inspections and drive continuous improvement with data-informed plans and practitioner enquiry.
2) Pedagogy, curriculum & inclusion

Champion play-rich pedagogy and interactions consistent with Realising the Ambition: Being Me, ensuring experiences meet each child's stage of development (including babies and toddlers) and progress across the early level of CfE. Ensure practice is holistic and strengths-based under GIRFEC; use SHANARRI indicators, the My World Triangle and resilience matrix to plan support with partners and families. Lead inclusive practice for children with additional support needs, ensuring early identification, effective planning and partnership working.
3) Safeguarding & child protection

Act as or support the setting Child Protection Coordinator; ensure all staff understand and apply the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 (updated 2023). Maintain rigorous recording, reporting and escalation, ensuring timely multi-agency working. Ensure safe care routines, risk assessments and robust incident/concern management are in place across both sites.
4) People management & safer recruitment

Workforce planning across two sites (rota, ratios, contingency). Lead safer recruitment compliant with Safer Recruitment Through Better Recruitment (Care Inspectorate/SSSC, updated): values-based selection, application scrutiny, identity and right-to-work checks, PVG membership, qualification/registration checks, verified references (including last employer), employment history/accounting for gaps, risk-assessed starts, and documented decisions. Deliver induction, supervision, coaching, appraisal and CPD to meet SSSC Codes of Practice and qualifications framework.
5) Compliance, health & safety and operations

Ensure compliance with Care Inspectorate regulations, insurance, accidents/medication policies, food hygiene, infection prevention and control, and data protection. Manage budgets, fees, funded ELC claims, procurement and site resources. Maintain accurate records: enrolment, consents, learning journals, staff files, PVG/SSSC statuses and training.
6) Partnership with families & community

Build strong, respectful relationships with parents/carers; communicate progress and plans effectively. Collaborate with local services (health visitors, ASN, social work, third sector) across Argyll & Bute to support transitions and continuity. Promote inclusion, Gaelic language/culture where relevant, outdoor learning and community engagement.
Person Specification

Essential qualifications & registration

Childhood Practice award at SCQF Level 9 or above (e.g., BA Childhood Practice or PDA Childhood Practice SCQF 9) to meet SSSC requirements for Managers/Lead Practitioners in Day Care of Children services. Current SSSC registration (or eligibility to register) for the appropriate part of the register. PVG Scheme membership for regulated work with children (Disclosure Scotland).
Essential experience

Substantial experience leading practice and teams in ELC (including supervising/mentoring practitioners and running rooms or a setting). Proven success in inspection readiness and improvement planning. Applying Realising the Ambition, GIRFEC and Health and Social Care Standards in daily practice. Leading child protection processes and multi-agency working under the National Child Protection Guidance (2021, updated 2023).
Essential knowledge & skills

Deep understanding of child development 0-5, high-quality play and environments, observation/assessment, and planning for progression. Confident in SHANARRI wellbeing, staged intervention, ASN, transitions, and family engagement. Strong grasp of safer recruitment, SSSC Codes of Practice and workforce development. Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, analysis and report-writing; able to prioritise across two geographically separate sites.
Desirable

Outdoor learning leadership; Gaelic language or community links; experience with funded hours delivery/ELC entitlement and transport logistics across rural locations.
Additional Information

Built in travel time/expenses and lone-working protocols for rural journeys between sites. Ensure partnership links with Health Visiting/Family Nurse Partnership and local ASN/education psychology teams are formalised. Consider Gaelic-medium engagement where relevant to local communities.
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 42,000.00-46,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events Company pension Employee discount Employee mentoring programme On-site parking
Education:

Bachelor's (preferred)
Experience:

Nursery leadership: 4 years (required) Nursery management: 5 years (required) Childcare: 5 years (preferred) Management: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:

Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person