Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract Up to 12 Months.

Contract Reason: Maternity Cover

Secondment Opportunity: Permanent employees are encouraged to apply and will be supported as part of our workforce development commitment

Salary: Grade G SCP 23 £34,434 SCP 28 £39,152

Hours Per Week: 36 hours

Base Location: Greenside Early Years Centre

Assessment Date: To be arranged

The Role

As HAF Manager you will be responsible for the design, coordination, and delivery of all aspects of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme across Tameside, ensuring it meets the Department for Education’s (DfE) national standards. This will include developing, co-ordinating and commissioning arrangements with our providers and stakeholders to improve engagement and participation with children, young people and families.

The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning.

Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap. Children from low-income households are more likely to experience food insecurity and social isolation, miss out on physical activity and enriching experiences, and fall behind in development and well-being.

HAF aims to ensure all eligible children

• Receive a healthy and nutritious meals
• Maintain a healthy level of physical activity
• Be happy, having fun and meeting new friends
• Develop a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health related issues
• Take part in fun and engaging activities that support their development and well-being
• Feel safe and secure
• Get access to the right support services
• Return to school feeling engaged and ready to learn

About You

A Level 4 or equivalent, professional qualification or other evidence of considerable experience.

Experience in continuous improvement and managing projects, ideally within a public sector or children's services environment.

Experience of managing staff through supervision and motivating staff and colleagues to achieve maximum potential.

Experience of working directly with providers, children, young people and/or families, including facilitation of network events and forums.

Knowledge quality assurance frameworks and data quality reports.

Experience in developing quality assurance reports.

Analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach and the ability to identify issue and develop innovative solutions.

Communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders including service users and able to work as part of a team.

Time management skills with the flexibility to meet tight deadlines and adapt to changing workload demands.

Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to prepare and present reports and to communicate with staff/service users at all levels

About Us

Hear from Jill Colbert OBE, Director of Children’s Services

“When I first joined the council at the beginning of 2025 I was instantly charmed by the warmth, openness, and energy of my colleagues.

“The reason why I came to Tameside was because I knew we could do fantastic things for our families here.

“Whilst we’re currently a children’s service on a significant improvement journey, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together, and this is already making a difference for our children.

“I know from the feedback from our Commissioner, Ofsted and our Strategic Improvement Partner, that families are seeing and feeling the impact of the thoughtful and compassionate support delivered by our workforce.

“We know that if we keep children at the centre of our thinking and our actions, we will create meaningful change for them that lasts.

“We are also growing and investing in our future. We have a range of specialist services for children, giving social workers quick access to expert help that makes complex decisions easier and supports better outcomes. Our Social Work Academy is led by people who bring passion to learning. We are strengthening our progression pathways so that staying in Tameside is rewarded and recognised. We have invested in innovation and improvement so that we can grow services and support for families that we can sustain, from family hubs through to complex safeguarding.

“Together, we are creating a proud, inclusive, and safe environment where great practice can truly flourish. And I feel incredibly privileged to lead this journey alongside such dedicated colleagues.

“Be a part of something great, be a part of our improvement journey and join us at Team Tameside.”

Our Heart of Support Practice Approach

At Tameside, we believe in:

• Compassion understanding the lived experiences of children and families.
• Curiosity asking questions that lead to deeper insight and better outcomes for children.
• Collaboration working together across services to deliver joined-up support.
• Conversation listening and engaging meaningfully with children, families and professionals.
• Courage leading with courage, making bold and compassionate decisions that put children first.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English.

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.

Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here

For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager Emma Lewis on 0161 342 5197 or emma.lewis@tameside.gov.uk