Lisson Green Play Centre - Westminster Society for People with ...

Lisson Green
Play Centre
Staff Information Pack

Change of management at Lisson
Green Play Centre
We are pleased to
announce that
The Westminster Society
has been awarded by
Westminster City
Council the contract to
manage and run the
Lisson Green Play
Centre from June 2009.
Our Vision
We will deliver fun, enjoyable, exciting
and inclusive play services in partnership
with children, their families
and local communities.

About us
We believe in working in partnership and working with families to ensure that all
children, young people, adults and families receive the best possible
opportunities in life. All our services are dedicated to this.
We provide:
Children, Youth & Family Services - Rainbow Family Centre
• Early Years Services
• Play Services
• Youth Services
• Family Services Team
• Sure Start Children’s Centre Outreach Team
Community Services
• The Croxley Project—Social & Activity Groups for Adults
• Community Support Team
• Holiday Scheme
• Short Break Outreach Team
Housing Services
• Housing Services with around the clock support for 70 people
• Shared & Individual Supported Housing Schemes for 35 tenants
• City Living — Outreach & Drop-in Service
“We are incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to meeting
with the children and families at Lisson Green. It is our intention to build the
existing service into an exciting and innovative play provision where all children
disabled and non-disabled alike can have fun and play in an inclusive and child
centred environment.”
Gabby Machell, Chief Executive

Our Children, Youth and Family Services is the department of The
Westminster Society that is run from Rainbow Family Centre.
We work in partnership with Westminster’s Children’s Centres and all
children’s services in Westminster to deliver activities for local families.
Play and Youth Services
We currently offer a range of
play and youth opportunities
for children and young people
aged 5 to 18 years.
We provide a range of fun
and enjoyable play
opportunities and social
activities which offer children
and young people access to
experiences and friendships
that help them develop their
full potential as individuals,
while also ensuring that we provide high quality care and personal support to
meet individual needs.
Early Years Services
We provide a nursery service for children with severe and complex disabilities
from 6 months to 5 years and have places for up to 9 children. We also offer
inclusive under 8’s holiday play schemes and Saturday play activities.
The Early Years Service also run afternoon drop–in and crèche services
delivering inclusive play sessions for children and families from the local
communities.

Outreach Services
The Outreach team visit mums and dads in their own home, as well as being
available at different venues and events in the local community.
As a team, we are here to help mums and dads find out about all the services
in the local area, as well as support them to attend. We also provide
information, support, links and referrals to other services, and we plan and
organise activities, community events, outings, fun days and training sessions
for parents.
Family Services
We work in partnership with parents and carers of people with disabilities to
improve quality of life for them and their families. We support families to
access a wide range of information and support across all areas of life
including education, benefits, housing, health, play and leisure, early years
intervention and respite services.
Play Service
Lisson Green – under new management
From June 2009 we will be very happy to run the Lisson Green Play Centre on
behalf of Westminster City Council for all the children and families who want to
use the play centre.

Our commitment to running
Lisson Green Play Centre
Westminster City Council has committed more resources
to Lisson Green Play Centre creating a bigger
and better play service
• We will provide inclusive, safe, supervised and stimulating play opportunities for
all children where they are able to explore their potential in secure familiar
surroundings with high quality resources, good outdoor play space and qualified
staff
• We will provide a quality play curriculum which extends children’s learning with
opportunities for homework support, access to information technology, educational
and creative activities and sport and physical activities
• Our staff will be qualified and trained and will have a range of experience and
skills to support individuals and groups
• We will have policies, procedures and guidelines in place to enable us to work
safely and ensure that all children are kept healthy, well and happy
• Our play work team will be diverse to reflect the many different local communities
around Lisson Green and we will ensure all workers receive Diversity and Equal
Opportunities training

Our commitment to running
Lisson Green Play Centre
• We will have simple charging information so that it is easy for parents to be able
to book places for their children and know in advance what they can expect
• We will work in partnership to consult and involve children and their families on all
aspects of play services at Lisson Green as this will ensure that we provide the high
quality services that children and families want
• We will work in close partnership with local groups and children’s services across
Westminster to ensure best use of resources
• Safeguarding
We are committed to ensuring that all children are kept safe and free from harm.
We do this by carrying out a rigorous interview selection process, an in-depth
induction to the service and on all policies, procedures and guidelines, as well as
regular supervision and annual appraisals
• Our Acting Play and Youth Services Manager is trained as a Play England Quality
in Play Mentor and we are committed to continuous improvement in the quality of
play that we offer as well as to supporting other play providers to develop high
quality play. We are members of Play England and are fully signed up to the
government’s first ever national Play Strategy; a 10 year play strategy published in
2008 which sets out the government’s plans to improve and develop play facilities
for children throughout the country

Employee
Benefits
We offer a variety of benefits including:
• Regular professional supervision and appraisals
• High quality comprehensive training and induction
• Excellent career and development opportunities
• An attractive pension scheme
• Access to childcare voucher scheme
• Generous annual leave - All full-time employees receive 25 days annual leave
per year increasing to a maximum of 30 days after 5 years service (in addition
to all bank holidays which fall within that year). This is pro rata for part-time
employees.

Training Opportunities
The Westminster Society is committed to providing good quality support,
induction and training for all its employees. We do this because we know that
supporting our staff helps them to provide a better, safer and more stimulating
environment for all children and develop their own skills and potential.
While working for us you can expect to receive daily support and information,
structured one to one and group supervision, formal and informal training. We
have a well resourced training department and an annual programme of over 50
different courses as well as being able to provide training specific to the service
at Lisson Green. Courses provided include specific training around working with
children, play, safeguarding, health and safety, and management development.
We try to promote a culture of continuous learning where we all learn together
from our experiences and staff are involved and consulted in the development of
the service.
The Westminster Society has held the Investors in People Award since 1999
and in 2008 was also recognised for the Leadership and Management Award, a
reflection of how seriously we take our support and development for all
employees.
You can expect a detailed job description, code of conduct, and policies and
procedures so it is absolutely clear what is expected of each team member.

Managing
Diversity
All Westminster Society employees are
expected to work individually and
collectively to promote a constructive and
sensitive approach to working with others
from a variety of cultures and backgrounds
where the work of others are valued and
respected; all employees are expected
therefore to carry out their tasks within the
terms and intention of the Society’s
Managing Diversity, Core Values and Confidentiality Policies, the Employees
Code of Conduct and in accordance with meeting Ofsted standards.
The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means
understanding that each individual is unique, and recognising individual
differences as well as the things we have in common.
Upholding diversity is about the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive
and supportive environment. It is about understanding each other and moving
beyond simple tolerance to finding positive ways to build relationships and work
together, making the most of everyone’s potential.

Useful
Information
Opening times
We will run play sessions every week day
after school, at weekends and during the
school holidays. We will be able to provide
play services for 80 children aged 5-16.5
years.
The Team
The Lisson Green Play Centre staffing
structure will include a core team made up
of full time and part time play leaders and
play workers with building support. They will
be supported by sessional workers from our
Children, Youth and Families care bank.
A One Team Approach
The staffing structure will be based upon a one team approach for all workers in
supporting children with and without disabilities.
Rotas:
Well planned and effectively managed staff rotas will operate to ensure that all
members of the team know what their specific responsibility is at any one time.
There will be regular rotation of all workers onto different ratios so that all members
of the team gain experience with all the children and the different roles that they are
required to fulfil.
Pay
All staff are paid on 28th of each month via BACS (a direct transfer in to your bank)
ID cards and Uniforms
All staff will be issued with ID cards, badges, t-shirts and sweatshirts which will be
worn at all times.

What our
staff say
“There are very good training opportunities and you get to work in a friendly and very supportive
atmosphere. Also, the pay’s not half bad!”
Lizzie, Learning Support Assistant
“Working at Rainbow has been a great opportunity and it is really nice to experience such a wide
range of roles and responsibilities. There’s always a friendly and welcoming experience!”
Seema, Early Years Practitioner
“I thoroughly enjoy the play schemes with The Westminster Society. There is a good team
atmosphere amongst the workers who all want to make it a positive and fun time for the kids. I
have learnt many new skills and feel more confident and capable having worked with the Society
on the play schemes. The coordinators organise varied activities and events to stimulate the
variety of needs the children have, making it a real success.
Peter, Play Worker
“I am proud to be part of such dedicated, caring and professional individuals which contribute
and deliver top class services to the local community and to the society as a whole.”
Fina, Family Worker
“It is very good to work for The Westminster Society; My work is very interesting; I have fun,
good experiences and opportunities to learn new things”
Alla, Rainbow Family Centre Administrator

Useful Contacts
Caroline Brealey
Acting Play & Youth Service Manager
Caroline’s role is the line management and daily operational
responsibility for high quality inclusive play services, which includes
Lisson Green Play Centre.
Email: cbrealey@wspld.org
Fran Smith
Head of Children, Youth & Family Services
Fran has responsibility for line managing the Play & Youth Service
Manager and the Early Years Manager. She also supports the Director of
Children, Youth & Family Services.
Email: fsmith@wspld.org
Carol Foyle
Director of Children, Youth & Family Services
Carol’s role is to provide effective line management, leadership and
strategic direction for the Society’s Children, Youth & Family Services.
Carol works in collaboration with children, young people and their
families, the society, local authority, primary care trust commissioners
and other providers to ensure that children, young people and family
services are delivered to a high standard and meet the needs and
wishes of the people with learning disabilities and their families.
Email: cfoyle@wspld.org
Caroline, Fran and Carol can all be contacted at
Rainbow Family Centre,
11 Bravington Road, London, W9 3AB
Phone: 020 8968 2690
The Westminster Society Head Office:
16a Croxley Road, London, W9 3HL
Phone: 020 8968 7376 Website: www.wspld.org.uk
Main point of contact: Gabby Machell, Chief Executive
Registered as The Westminster Society for people with learning disabilities. Charity Nuber 801081.
A Company Limited by Guarantee No. 2325273. Affiliated to Royal MENCAP Society