Advertised from 26 August 2025

Role

Introduction

We are seeking a playful, adaptable, confident and organised individual for this post.

The purpose of the post is to coordinate and deliver high quality services in accordance with Play Midlothian’s objectives, enabling children to thrive through play.

Please note that appointments will always be made to the first point on the salary scale.

About Play Midlothian

Play Midlothian is a registered charity (no. SC025474) working to support children to thrive through play. We focus on play because we know how much this benefits children’s health, wellbeing and development. It is important for their lives in the here and now as well as for their future life chances. We provide services for children and families and build the capacity of communities to support play. This includes training and development opportunities for other settings, including schools. We have an office base in Dalkeith but deliver services throughout Midlothian, and at times beyond.

About the role

At appointment, the Team Leader will manage the Out2Play service and work across Play Midlothian’s range of services. The specific service coordinated is potentially subject to change over time, in response to operational need.

The Team Leader will both coordinate the day-to-day practicalities of our play services and be the senior member of staff present at sessions, carrying out playwork and supporting service users and team members. They will also share their play skills and knowledge, for example through running training, compiling information on play, and (where applicable) working with schools to introduce new approaches (such as loose parts).

The postholder will work alongside other Team Leaders, and a team of Community Playworkers and volunteers – with support from the Operations Manager. Coordination and delivery of services will be divided between the Team Leaders. The role currently involves a Tuesday to Saturday work pattern to cover the delivery of the services. However, this will not be fixed and could change over time, according to operational requirements. Therefore, it is important the postholder is adaptable, and can work their hours over up to five days, including evenings and weekends. Please note that our Out2Play sessions take place across the week during after school hrs (3.30pm-5.00pm with set up and tidy up time before and after the sessions).

Play Midlothian’s services take place in a variety of community settings. Some are indoors, though a high proportion of our current services are exclusively outdoors (all year round), therefore the role will particularly suit applicants with a fondness for the outdoors. Travelling and transportation of play resources to a several sites across Midlothian is required for successful delivery of the Out2Play service.

We work with children and young people aged 0-13 (and at times older), with their parents/carers at some of our services, and at times with specific needs (including disability and emerging mental health challenges). We work with a variety of service models, though with the focus firmly on self-directed play. The ultimate goal is always to ensure that children have access to play opportunities that enable them to thrive.

Information on our current services can be found on our website.

For the right candidate, this will be a highly rewarding and stimulating role, offering plenty of variety in their work – all the while enabling their passion for children’s play to shine though.

The role is currently being advertised as fixed term until 18th July 2026, to

Application notes

How to apply

The role requires PVG membership. The post is subject to the record accessed prior to the post commencing. Play Midlothian will meet this cost for the successful applicant.

An application pack can be downloaded from our website at https://www.playmidlothian.org.uk/jobs

The application deadline is 12.00pm (noon) on Monday 15th September 2025

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 24th September 2025

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