Designated Lead for Looked After Children

Teaching Vacancies; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A London-based secondary school is looking for an experienced practitioner to support Looked After Children. You'll work closely with LAC students and their carers, advocating for their needs and expectations in a school setting. The role includes managing interventions to aid these students academically. Southfields Academy prides itself on its commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, ensuring a supportive environment for both students and staff.

Qualifications

• Experience working with Looked After Children and external agencies.
• Knowledge of pastoral care operational activities.
• Ability to coordinate and manage interventions for LAC students.

Responsibilities

• Support Looked After Children in achieving academic success.
• Advocate for LAC students within the school.
• Collaborate with carers and external agencies.

Skills

Experience in school setting

Understanding of academic expectations

Knowledge of safeguarding systems

Ability to advocate for children

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for an experienced practitioner who has worked in a school setting supporting Looked After Children, in particular, children who have arrived in the UK from abroad, potentially as refugees.

You will need to have an understanding of the academic expectations on students in school, an understanding of pastoral care operational activities in school and a working knowledge of safeguarding systems.

In this role you will be required to work with the LAC students, their carers and all the external agencies involved with each child.

You will champion these children and advocate for them within the school setting as well as setting high expectations of them. You will also be responsible for both coordinating and managing interventions that will be aimed at supporting LAC students.

What the school offers its staff

Who we are

Southfields Academy is a thriving non-selective secondary academy located in south west London. It has recently undergone complete redevelopment and benefits from cutting-edge sporting facilities, art, design & vocational technology facilities, spacious and bright communal areas and classrooms. All of which are equipped with the latest technology and designed by our staff and students to ensure their fitness for purpose to educate the children of today and future-proofed for the children of tomorrow.

Please note that Southfields Academy will only accept applications directly from candidates themselves. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a sufficient number of applications be received. With this in mind, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible in order to avoid any disappointment. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Please be aware that Southfields Academy is unfortunately unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Southfields Academy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and recognises the importance of an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates.

Southfields Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, along with other relevant pre‑employment checks. In line with the recommendations listed in KCSiE 2025, these include basic online checks of shortlisted candidates' social media presence and other internet‑based public forums.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification; Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS); medical online and social media prohibition from teaching; right to work; satisfactory references; suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.