Role Title: Play Lead

Reports To: Child and family Manager 

Division: Charity

Team: Charitable Services 

Location: Office/ Outreach 

Salary: £30,000

About our Charity

As one of the UK’s leading charities providing essential specialist equipment to children with disabilities, Newlife is dedicated to making life better - for the families we serve, and for the people who help us to make that happen.

Through grants and emergency equipment loans, we ensure children get the vital equipment they need, when they need it, while our free nurse helpline offers crucial support and information – as well as a listening ear. Our campaigns help to give children with disabilities and their families a voice, advocating for change to benefit the families we serve. And we support adults with additional needs with volunteering and employment opportunities, providing an introduction to the workplace and a means for career development.

Across the whole of Newlife, our teams are crucial to our success – it’s not just a job; here you’ll be helping us to change lives every day.
 

Person Specification

To be considered for this role, you must hold a full UK driving licence, have access to your own vehicle, and possess a Level 5 NVQ Diploma (or equivalent) in Childhood Studies, Child Development, or Play-Based Learning (including Specialist Play).

Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applications from candidates who do not meet these essential criteria. For further details on the full person specification, please refer to the complete job description.

The Role

Do you believe every child deserves the opportunity to play, connect, and feel joy—regardless of their circumstances? Are you passionate about empowering others to make a meaningful difference in the lives of disabled and terminally ill children?

We are looking for a committed and enthusiastic individual to deliver engaging, inclusive, and developmental play-focused training sessions to staff and volunteers who support disabled and terminally ill children. Designed by the Play Service Manager, these sessions will equip participants with the knowledge, practical tools, and confidence needed to create meaningful play opportunities within grassroots and community settings.

This is a hybrid role that requires a high level of independence, strong self-motivation, and excellent diary management. You will be responsible for organising your own caseload, scheduling training sessions, and delivering high-quality training with minimal supervision. Regional travel is expected as part of this role.

The role is ideal for someone who thrives working independently, can manage their own time effectively, and is confident engaging with different audiences. Clear communication, professionalism, and reliability are essential, as you will be trusted to deliver training independently while keeping the needs of families and children at the heart of the work.

Role Accountabilities

• Deliver pre-designed, engaging, and accessible training sessions to staff and volunteers of community based settings.
• Uphold the highest standards of child safety in all interactions and training.
• Manage your own diary, caseload, and workload with initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Conduct in-depth interviews with settings to understand needs and ensure the service is appropriate.
• Foster positive relationships and set realistic expectations with settings.
• Collect data, produce clear impact reports, and highlight successes to inform future planning.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of training, feedback, and follow-up actions.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the needs and experiences of disabled and terminally ill children.
• Confidently engage with partner organisations, settings, and community stakeholders.
• Act as a positive ambassador for the organisation, reflecting its values of inclusivity, respect, and empowerment.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently and independently throughout the region to reach settings, families, children and underserved or rural areas

At times Newlife may request you carry out additional duties in line with this role.