Lead Outdoor Instructor - Somerset
Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre
Location: Simonsbath, Exmoor, Somerset
Salary: £24,570 – £25,480
Lead Outdoor Instructor at Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre
Start Date: March 2025
22 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus lieu days for Bank Holidays worked, holiday to be taken in line with business needs.
Full time Based on a 35-hour week (annualised) – weekly hours will vary. This post involves a flexible working pattern, which will include evenings and some weekends. Time off in lieu will be given for additional hours worked.
Salary £24,570 – £25,480pa (£13.50ph - £14ph) dependent upon experience and qualifications
Centre Purpose
Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre, set in 4 acres of grounds, provides a wide range of activities for schools to adult groups. You will be expected to regularly lead and assist with learning opportunities for young people mainly in the 7 – 13yrs age range and adult walking and special interest groups. Each programme is tailored to meet group requirements and the individual needs and abilities within the group.
Activities for school groups include: Bushcraft skills (including shelter building, woodland survival games, using fire steels and cooking on an open fire), river study, guided walks and environmental activities, mountain biking, climbing wall, tree climb, gladiator challenge, zipline, crate stack, assault course, archery, group development through problem solving, mountain boarding, grass sledging, map work, compass and orienteering, stream scramble, circus workshop & slack line, climbing traverse & boulder wall, up and over team challenge wall.
Job Purpose
To lead on delivering safe, engaging educational residential and day visit activity programmes. Activity delivery and development, and equipment management. Being a role model and mentor for junior staff and developing knowledge of industry best practice. Undertake site maintenance, cleaning and domestic tasks where necessary.
In addition to school residential programmes this role will also assist other parts of the business including leading adult walking groups and assisting in other areas of the business where required.
Main Responsibilities and Duties
- To work as part of the Simonsbath House Team to set up and deliver Outdoor and Environmental courses and activities to all visiting groups.
- To take lead on activity delivery, demonstrating high levels of safety, group management and outdoor education principles.
- To assist in planning and leading adult walking groups on Exmoor.
- To deliver and develop Day Visit and residential Bushcraft Courses.
To deliver the community programme of activities for local children and those on holiday in the area.
- To take lead on equipment management and ensure all equipment and facilities are stored, inspected and maintained correctly.
- To undertake maintenance, grounds work tasks.
- Conduct dynamic risk assessments on the activities, location and environment around these activities, within the guidelines laid down by the centre.
- Provide alternative activities should the arranged programme need to be varied.
- To assist with the community programme of activities for local children and those on holiday in the area.
- To assist with the day to day running of the business, setting up and putting away of equipment and supervision of the groups.
- To undertake domestic duties such as setting up for drinks breaks, meal service, washing up and the clean down of accommodation.
- Ensure facilities are fit for purpose, safe, clean, tidy and take the appropriate action when any problems are identified.
- To carry out the legal responsibility of being in loco parentis when working with course participants if required.
Additional information
- Negotiate alternative options to the planned programme in light of poor weather conditions.
- Coach and encourage children and adults reluctant to try new activities and those with additional needs.
- Decide if an activity is no longer safe or suitable for an individual or group e.g. In bad weather conditions.
- Contact a senior member of staff when a situation may require more experienced support.
- In emergencies take action to ensure the safety and well-being of all visitors, participants and staff.
Working conditions
- Work an extended day when required typically leading or assisting with 5 sessions a day (1 ¼ - 1 ½ hrs each).
- Leading or assisting with 2 evening sessions a week.
- Many activities require physical exertion e.g. Off-site hill walking, mountain biking.
- The post holder must have a commitment to outdoor education and be prepared to operate a flexible working arrangement, which requires some unsocial hours.
- The post holder will be entitled to 22 days holiday pro rata plus Bank Holidays which maybe required to take at an alternative time.
- Accommodation can be provided on site and the post holder will be entitled to meals whilst working with the visiting groups (a staff kitchen is available for other meal preparation).
Knowledge, Experience and Training
- You will be expected to be punctual, well organised, smart and customer focused at all times.
- You must have a keen interest in working with young people in the 7 – 18yrs age range to deliver outdoor and environmental education.
- It is essential to hold National Governing Body (NGBs) qualifications for some of the activities listed above.
- It would be desirable to hold NGBs in areas such as Climbing Wall award, Archery GB and BC Mountain Bike Leader Level 2 (or equivalent).
- Willingness to undertake appropriate training and keep clear records of work undertake.
- Work place experience is essential.
- An understanding of development needs of young people.
- Relevant First Aid qualification for working in outdoor group settings.
- A professional manner when working with groups and dealing with queries and problems that arise on site.
- You must have knowledge of the outdoor industry and be relevant in working within industry best practice.
Training to be provided
Work based training will be provided either in house or where NGB awards are available through those schemes.
Simonsbath House operates a qualifications credit scheme, by which for each month of full service the post holder will be entitled to £20 worth of training budget. The post holder must demonstrate a personal interest in their desired area of training and keep a log of the personal experience before approaching management with a desire to enlist upon a course.
Important Other Information
An essential part of working in the outdoor and active leisure industries is taking your own skills development seriously. This means that successful candidates are usually those who can show a clear commitment to improving their personal skill in activities and working towards coaching awards.
Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre is one of the businesses owned by Solomon Business Solutions and occupies the same site as Simonsbath House Hotel and Self-catering cottages.
Supplementary Questions
Do you have your own transport to get to and from the centre?
Are you prepared to work evenings and weekends if required?
Are you available to start work from March 2025?
Successful applicants should note we are required to undertake a check into the criminal background of any persons to posts having substantial access to children.
Applications by C.V. with covering letter detailing experience and why you would like to work at Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre. An appointment will be made as soon as we find the right candidate.
Contact
Mrs Louise Flagg, Centre Manager, Simonsbath House Outdoor Centre, Simonsbath, Exmoor, Somerset TA24 7SH.
Tel: 01643 831382 email: [email protected] web site:www.shoc.info