Childcare Lead Practitioner

Job Description

Lead Practitioner

Location: East Renfrewshire & Glasgow
Salary: £16.00 per hour
Contract Type: Part-time, Permanent

Are you a highly skilled childcare professional with leadership experience? Are you ready to take the next step in your career and play a key role in shaping the quality of care we provide? MACS is looking for a Childcare Lead Practitioner to join our team and help us deliver exceptional care for children across East Renfrewshire and Glasgow.

About MACS:

At MACS, we are committed to providing high-quality out-of-school care services for children across 14 services in East Renfrewshire and Glasgow. Our values prioritise the wellbeing of both children and staff, with a focus on continuous improvement and professional development. We pride ourselves on creating a supportive and engaging environment where both children and staff can thrive.

Role Overview:

As a Lead Practitioner, you will lead and inspire a team of childcare professionals to deliver high-quality care and support for the children in our services. Your leadership will be key in ensuring that children receive enriching experiences that promote their development and learning of life skills. You will also collaborate closely with parents, staff, and other stakeholders to foster strong relationships and maintain a high standard of care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Development: Lead and support a team of childcare practitioners, inspiring them to deliver engaging, child-centred activities.
• Quality Care Delivery: Ensure that high-quality, age-appropriate care is consistently delivered, meeting both individual children’s needs and regulatory requirements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with parents, guardians, and external partners to ensure the best outcomes for children.
• Professional Development: Stay updated with the latest childcare regulations and best practices, and promote continuous professional development within the team.
• Quality Assurance: Implement and evaluate quality assurance strategies to ensure high standards of care, and lead efforts to reflect and improve on practice.
• Promote Inclusion: Ensure that the service is inclusive, meeting the diverse needs of children and providing opportunities for personal development and choice.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and enriching benefits.
• Pension scheme with employer contributions matched up-to 5%
• Group Life Insurance.
• Free MACS childcare—because we know how important it is.
• Bonuses – discretionary Christmas and annual, onboarding, recommendations and long service appreciation bonus
• Training & development opportunities to grow your career.
• Generous annual leave to help you recharge.
• Wellbeing support, team events, and a fun, positive environment, medical & counselling services
• Blue Light Card Discounts and special offers for carers, such as Concert for Carers
• Uniform provided

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• A BA in Childhood Practice (or equivalent) or working towards this qualification.
• A minimum of 2 years of childcare experience, including 1 year in a supervisory or management role.
• Ability to meet the criteria for SSSC registration at Lead Practitioner level.
• Successful candidates will be required to undergo a PVG check, provide evidence of their eligibility to work in the UK, and provide 3 satisfactory references prior to appointment.

Skills & Qualities:

• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Proven ability to adapt to change and implement effective solutions.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality, child-led care.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, etc.).

Work Hours:

• Breakfast Club Care: 7:45 am – 9:00 am, Monday to Friday (East Renfrewshire only).
• After-School Care: 2:45 pm – 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday (East Renfrewshire & Glasgow areas).
• Weekly Admin Hours: 5.5 to 10 hours, depending on location.

How to Apply:

If you are an experienced childcare professional with a passion for leading a team and making a difference in children’s lives, we would love to hear from you. Send us your CV and a cover letter to recruitment@macs.uk.com or alternatively you can complete our application form by following the link below:

https://mearnsafterschoolcare.formstack.com/forms/applicationform

Come join us and be part of our #MACS Family!

Job Type: Part-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person (East Renfrewshire & Glasgow)

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Referral programme

Schedule:

• No weekends

Ability to commute/relocate:

• East Renfrewshire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Bachelor’s (preferred)

Experience:

• Childcare: 2 years (preferred)
• Supervising: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person