Early Help Officer - Ellen Tinkham School

Devon County Council; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee assistance programme (incl. 


Cycle to work scheme

Wide range training & development

Supportive colleagues & inspiring stu­

Job summary

Ellen Tinkham School and College in Exeter seeks an Early Help Officer (Grade E) to join the Inclusion team on a full-time, term-time basis. The role focuses on intensive work with pupils and families, leading Early Help and coordinating TAF meetings to support multi-agency intervention.

You will need experience with SEND, safeguarding, and Rights for Children, with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities. DBS checks and safeguarding commitments are required.

Qualifications

• Experience working with young people where behaviour and attendance create barriers to learning.
• Knowledge of Early Help, SEND, Rights for Children, Team Around Family, safeguarding and child protection is desirable.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong advocacy for children and families with professional challenge when needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead on Early Help and manage/arrange meetings for a caseload of families needing support.
• Identify and assess family needs for additional interventions/specialist input.
• Complete Rights for Children assessments and home visits as part of assessments and interventions.
• Lead and coordinate Team Around Family (TAF) meetings and provide support.

Skills

Empathy

Well organised

Solution-focused

Relationship building

Multi-agency collaboration

Job description

Do you want to have a positive impact on children and young people with SEND by helping their families? We are seeking to appoint a confident, motivated, solution focussed, empathetic and well organised Early Help Officer (Grade E) to join our team on a full-time basis, term time only. The successful candidate will work across our two sites, Ellen Tinkham School and College in Exeter

As a busy, vibrant and innovative special school we are committed to our mission statement:

Everyone will be the best that they can be.

Everyone has a voice.

No one is excluded.

Working as an integral part of the Inclusion team, this role is focused on intensive work with individual pupils and their families. You will lead on Early Help, manage and arrange Early Help meetings for a caseload of families who have been identified as requiring additional support. Identify and assess family needs for additional interventions/specialist expertise. Complete Rights for Children assessments. Complete home visits as part of assessment and intervention. Lead and coordinate Team Around Family (TAF) meetings and support.

This is a key role within our Inclusion team. You need to have the ability to build supportive relationships with pupils and families. Working closely with our Designated Safeguarding Leads and external professionals, this role will contribute to the school’s multi agency approach.

You will have experience of working with young people where behaviour and attendance difficulties cause barriers to learning. Knowledge of Early Help, SEND, Rights for Children, Team Around Family, safeguarding and child protection is desirable. Flexibility and an ability to adapt to changing priorities is essential, as is an ability to adapt approaches towards different families. You must be a strong advocate for children and families and be willing to professionally challenge.

Hours of work

35 hours per week over a 5-day week, term time only.

Staff benefits including:

• Employee assistance programme (including physiotherapy, counselling, wellbeing support, and private healthcare options)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wide range training and development opportunities
• Supportive colleagues and inspiring students

Ellen Tinkham School is an “Outstanding” special school catering for pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Online searches may be done as part of pre-recruitment checks.

A current Safeguarding is in place.

Early Help Officer - Ellen Tinkham School Devon, UK