Education Support Practitioner- New River College

Islington Council; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in London seeks an Education Support Practitioner to support families and young people at New River College. The role involves direct engagement with families, addressing educational and emotional needs, and maintaining detailed records of progress. The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong communication and problem-solving skills, and possess relevant educational qualifications. This position offers a competitive salary and various employee benefits, including flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Up to 31 days leave per year

Flexible working arrangements

Learning and development opportunities

Local government pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted gym memberships

Qualifications

• Experience working with families and children in a supportive role.
• Ability to engage with diverse communities and respond to their needs.
• Experience in record keeping and demonstrating outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to families to improve outcomes for children.
• Develop strong relationships with schools and community organizations.
• Work both face-to-face and online with families.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Problem-solving

Record keeping

Teamwork

Education

Relevant educational qualifications

Job description

Overview

Education Support Practitioner- New River College (PRU)

You will be part of the Bright Futures service providing a rapid and enabling response supporting families and young people within New River College Pupil Referral Unit and/or Islington’s Alternative Provision providers.

If you believe in the importance and value of reaching out to help families to overcome disadvantage and reduce inequalities in our communities, then this is an exciting opportunity for you. Be a part of a service that Ofsted rated outstanding in 2024 and where we are always looking for creative ways to further improve our services to children and families. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates to ensure we have a diverse workforce which is representative of the local community.

Bright Futures offers help to families with children aged five to nineteen years old. Early intervention and prevention is at the heart of our work. This role will be co-located in the Bright Futures (South) locality and New River College. You will be part of a diverse and friendly team which delivers flexible help to families whose children attend NRC by giving advice or support, provides a rapid response to families, and wraps around universal/existing services to help with emerging needs as early as possible. The teams also offer longer term support when needed to assist families with multiple complex needs to cope with stress and build resilience.

The post holder will support families reach their full potential and to support children and young people improve outcomes, particularly in relation to attainment, attendance and reducing school exclusions.

Day to day, you will provide support through a range of means including direct work with families and indirect support by building strong relationships with schools, health practitioners and community organisations. You will be working face to face with families at NRC and online doing one to one work and facilitating group work. You will help families feel confident and resourceful whether in relation to practical problems to do with housing, employment, health or education, or the emotional aspects of family life like relationships and parenting skills.

You will be a meticulous record keeper so that we can demonstrate the great outcomes you will achieve. You will be a great communicator, taking a relationship based approach and delivering support that improves family resilience.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion: We are committed to ensuring that our communities are represented across our workforce and at all levels. We are taking concerted, meaningful and intentional action to create an inclusive culture because we believe this is at the heart of enabling diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking, to thrive in our organisation. We are aware of systemic oppression and its impact on individuals and communities in terms of unequal access to services and opportunities. As such, we are taking positive action to challenge all forms of discrimination and injustice to make Islington a fairer and equitable place to live and work.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check with children barred list, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues. We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace. Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.