ARTZ Sportz Assistant

Join the Artz+ Sportz+ Team and Make a Difference!

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of young disabled people? Do you love sports and arts? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

At Artz+ Sportz+, we provide support to young disabled individuals across Dorset, offering them the chance to participate in a variety of exciting sports and arts activities during all school holidays and on Saturday Mornings throughout the year. Our service provides respite to parents and carers and makes a difference to young people’s lives by providing social outlets and enriching activities.

As an Artz+ Sportz+ Assistant, you'll be an integral part of our dynamic team, traveling to various sessions across Dorset in community and leisure settings. You'll work alongside a fantastic group of support staff and two team leaders, ensuring that every session is a success. Your role will involve:

• supporting individual children or groups in activities like paddle boarding, ball sports, climbing, panto visits, crafts, music, dance, sensory days with bouncy castle and sensory activities and so much more
• supporting children with SEND so they can get the most out of our activities led by local artists, instructors, and coaches in delivering engaging sessions in village halls, schools, sports centres, and other venues all over the Dorset Council area
• ensuring the safety, happiness, and safeguarding of the young people in your care
• the role may involve intimate care and moving children following in‑house training
• having a flexible approach to be able to manage behaviour that may be challenging (some training on this will be available)

• exciting activities from structured sports to creative arts, no two days are the same
• be part of a caring and enthusiastic team dedicated to making a difference to children’s lives and supporting families
• benefit from annual in‑house training, online courses, and other training opportunities including 1st aid
• help deliver on the Council’s priorities by building stronger and healthier communities

• Qualifications - Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

• Taking part in sport
• Working in a team
• Experience of working with children

• A reasonable standard of literacy and numeracy to be able to plan sessions as well as follow written plans and instructions.
• Able to help lead sports sessions to groups
• Ability to analyse situations and create solutions to problems.
• Good communication skills
• Aware of health and safety, ideally in a sports environment and when working with young children
• Understanding of health and safety
• Effective interpersonal skills

We also have a position available for a Team Leader within Artz+ Sportz+ - please take a look and submit an application if you are interested.

This is a casual part‑time post with no regular or set hours. All of the work is currently during the school holidays and Saturday mornings, and we would expect candidates to be available during these periods.

Experience working with children with SEND is desirable. Staff will be required to travel independently to sessions across the county and have own transport (car sharing is encouraged within the team). Business mileage can be claimed but only from Dorset County Hall (Dorchester) and back.

Contact Tracy Cooper [email protected] / 01202 228918, or Heather Henshaw at [email protected], or Emily Austin at [email protected] / 01305 252263.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. See our policy on the employment of ex‑offenders.

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

• provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have…