Assistant Principal Officer – Pupil Emotional Health %26 Wellbeing Service

Education Authority; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Locality-based Assistant Principal Officer to implement the Emotional Health and Wellbeing programme in schools. The role includes delivering training, providing support to school staff, and managing critical incidents. Ideal candidates will have a teaching qualification or relevant degree and experience in education services. This is a full-time position offering an opportunity to make a significant impact on children's wellbeing.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• 3 years’ experience in education related services working with children.
• Experience of advising and supporting school principals and senior managers.
• Experience of delivering training in schools.

Responsibilities

• Assist in implementing the Emotional Health and Wellbeing programme in schools.
• Provide immediate critical incident management advice for schools and youth services.
• Develop and facilitate training sessions for school staff.

Skills

Knowledge of emotional health and wellbeing strategies

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work calmly under pressure

Leadership and team working

Education

Teaching qualification for grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland or Bachelor's Degree in Youth Work or Social Work

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTS TO: Head of Service for Critical Incident Support or agreed nominee

RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Implementation of the Emotional Health and Wellbeing programme - ‘Being Well, Doing Well’ in schools
• EA Critical Incident Response Team member

JOB PURPOSE

The Education Authority’s aim is ‘to inspire, support and challenge all our young people to be the best that they can be.’

Underpinning this aim, is a strategic objective to meet the learning needs of our children and young people. The EA recognises that children learn best when all their needs are met and we aim to achieve this through the breadth of services that are offered to children, young people, their families and schools, specifically, the EA has a role to play in the promotion of emotional health and wellbeing and resilience programmes in schools. This supports the Department of Education (DE) iMatter programme and Regional Health & Wellbeing Framework and is linked to the draft Children and Young People’s Strategy 2017-2027.

Working as part of this service the Locality based Assistant Principal Officer under the direction of an Assistant Advisory Officer will be required to assist with the implementation of the Being Well, Doing Well programme for schools which fosters and supports the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people. This programme contributes to the implementation of the DE Emotional Health & Wellbeing Framework.

PUPIL EMOTIONAL HEALTH & WELLBEING/CRITICAL INCIDENTS

The Post-holder has the following Service-Specific Responsibilities

Assist with the facilitation of universal regional capacity building training for school senior managers in relation to pupil wellbeing programmes, initiatives and strategies such as Promoting Positive EH&WB, Whole School Response to Bereavement and Critical Incidents etc.

Work as part of a team to deliver locality based awareness sessions for school senior managers in relation to the Boing Well, Doing Well (BWDW) Emotional Health & Wellbeing programme;

Contribute to the facilitation of the awareness raising sessions on a locality basis for school Principals;

Provide support for the BWDW programme in a targeted number of schools, on a locality basis;

Provide school based consultation and training in relation to the development of the BWDW whole school approach model of delivery;

Under of the guidance of the AAO, implement the Emotional Health & Wellbeing whole school baseline audit and action planning tool for the BWDW programme;

Facilitate cluster group training based on identified developmental needs to encourage the sharing of good practice and networking opportunities amongst participating schools in relation to pupil wellbeing;

Facilitate school based capacity building training for school staff as required to assist them to develop the resilience and coping skills of children and young people;

Promote the sharing and dissemination of models of good practice within the Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service;

Develop and facilitate presentations as appropriate to the areas of responsibility;

Provide immediate critical incident management advice, guidance and support for schools and youth services following a critical incident within a specific locality and in some instances in other localities as required;

Contribute to the EA staff development, training and continuous professional development opportunities.

Leadership

Assist the Head of Service with design, implementation and periodic evaluation of structures within the service to ensure that management structures and practices support a culture of effective team working, continuous improvement and innovation.

As a member of the EA Critical Incident Response Team (EA CIRT) provide immediate critical incident management advice, guidance and support for schools and youth services following a critical incident;

Actively participate in the monitoring/response to calls to the EA CIRT Helpline during as required;

Apply resources effectively and proportionately across the service.

Attend working groups and team meetings as required.

Policy and Procedure Development

Contribute to the review, revision and development of existing and new policies and procedures as the need arises for the service.

Contribute to human resources and the Authority’s corporate strategy and plans on matters relating to employee relations.

Other Responsibilities

Ensure that the EA’s policy on Data Protection (in particular processing sensitive personal information) is properly complied with.

Ensure that the EA’s Equal Opportunities Policy, relevant Codes of Employment and Practice and other relevant legislation are adhered to. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

Undertake such other relevant duties as may be reasonably expected of the post-holder.

Write reports and keep up to date records;

Facilitate reporting protocols that are required by the Head of Service in compliance with EA and DE requirements;

Attend meetings as requested by the Head of Service;

Ensure effective administration of data management systems to improve performance.

Building Relationships and Working with Others

Build and maintain effective, professional, and respectful stakeholder relationships.

Develop and maintain clear lines of communication and effective working partnerships with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Contribute to the EA staff development, training and continuous professional development opportunities.

Carry out the duties of any other staff member when they are absent or as directed by the Head of Service.

Training

To provide specific training and development to school staff when required e.g., introduction of new processes, new policies or the revision of existing policies;

Contribute to the development and delivery of Emotional Health & Wellbeing initiatives and programmes such as workshops and training and development;

Promote the sharing and dissemination of models of good practice within the Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post,Click Here.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.

2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.

3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.

4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.

6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and whichmay also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications

Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland;

OR

hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification in Youth Work, Social Work or Educational Psychology

Shortlisting by Application Form
Experience

Have threeyears’ experience in education related services working with children.

Experience of advising and supporting principals and/or senior managers and staff in schools.

Experience of delivering training in schools.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge

Demonstrate knowledge of emotional health and wellbeing strategies to support children and young people.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

The successful candidate will be required:

to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion;

OR

be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.

Shortlisting by Application Form

S ection 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model .

Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Knowledge

Knowledge of strategies and programmes to meet the emotional needs of children and young people according to their age and stage of development.

Knowledge and experience of responding to critical incident incidents in a school or youth settings.

Interview

Skills/
Abilities

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of:

Ability to organise a busy workload to deliver effective results on time.

Ability to work calmly under pressure.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to use own initiative.

Be highly motivated with ability to work on own initiative.

Ability to motivate others.

Have proactive and flexible approach.

Interview

Values Orientation
Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here .

Interview

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that youWILLbe expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed on www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/accessni-criminal-record-checks or www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/about-accessni

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here .

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer