Core Purpose 

• To work collaboratively with the wider pastoral team to provide targeted support to vulnerable students supporting their holistic development and well-being.

• To liaise with parents and external agencies to ensure that individual student needs are assessed and that plans are built to address them.

• Act as the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Person, responsible for supporting students at risk of harm, and liaising with pastoral staff, parents and Children’s Services, in line with established procedures and regulations.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Liaise with pastoral staff to identify vulnerable students who require further support as a result of their wellbeing needs not being sufficiently met, including, persistent absentees, safeguarding concerns, and those requiring external agency support.

• Be a point of contact for external agencies such as Children’s Services, Attendance Improvement Officers, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, to name a few.

• Use attendance data to recognise high level attendance concerns, and work collaboratively with pastoral leaders to ensure that appropriate intervention plans are built for these students.

• Provide a safe space for students to raise potential safeguarding and child protection concerns.

• Follow existing school, county and national safeguarding guidance and expectation to ensure that students needs are being met, and that communication with external agencies is timely, appropriate in meeting the student’s needs, and recorded.

• Conduct home visits in collaboration with other pastoral staff for students who are failing to attend school, or require additional measures to ensure parental engagement.

• Support the development and monitoring of individualised support plans.

• Develop positive relationships with key external agencies to support the school in addressing students’ barriers to learning and wellbeing, and to ensure that resources are available to staff and parents.

• Create and maintain a catalogue of up to date resources for students which signpost to organisations that may offer them support with their wellbeing.

• Maintain accurate student records and prepare written reports and evaluations to support vulnerable students.

• Participate in the appropriate training to ensure that relevant knowledge is current.

• Line management of the Safeguarding Administrator.

Communication and Liaison 

• Attend weekly pastoral briefings, half termly Pastoral Leaders meetings, fortnightly safeguarding meetings, and inclusion panel meetings. In addition, attend the relevant whole staff training sessions. 

• Training new starters in safeguarding practices 

• Attend professional meetings with various external agencies as needed

• Respond to work related communication from parents and external agencies within the expected timeframes, paying particular attention to the expectations highlighted by Hertfordshire County Council for Child in Need and Child Protection assessments.

• Meet formally and informally with the Deputy Headteacher, and other pastoral staff to ensure that the needs of the student are met within an appropriate time frame.

General

• Maintain accurate records of interventions with students, parents, staff and external agencies.

• Ensure an up-to-date and working knowledge of the relevant School and Danes Educational Trust policies.

Our Vision

At the Danes Educational Trust we are committed to ‘Making the Difference Together’ sharing best practice and supporting each other to be the very best we can be.

Core Values

The post holder is expected to share our commitment to our core values:

• We value joy in working, teaching and learning together

• We encourage everyone within our Trust to feel optimistic about the future and how they can shape it

• We support all individuals in developing resilience to enable them to respond to change and grow as a result

• We value and support the wellbeing of all individuals who learn and work in our schools

• We provide equality of opportunity and experience for all

• We provide a safe and secure learning environment for all

Compliance

The post holder is required to be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection; health and safety; confidentiality; and data protection and report all concerns to an appropriate person.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate will be required for all posts.

Additional Information

All staff are required to participate in training and other learning activities and in appraisal and professional development as required by the Trust’s policies and practices.

This job description is a guide to the duties the post holder will be expected to undertake.  It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive and will be subject to change as working requirements dictate and to meet the organisational requirements of the Trust.

Supervision/Job Context

The post holder is managed by Deputy Headteacher.

Contacts

The post holder will work with the Deputy Headteacher, pastoral leaders, SENCO, teachers, form tutors and non-teaching staff. They will have contact with students, parents, governors,

external agencies, and may have contact with advisors and other visitors to the school.