Safeguarding, Attendance and Family Support Lead

Forward Education Trust; Wednesbury; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading trust in educational support located in Wednesbury is seeking a Safeguarding, Attendance and Family Support Lead to make a significant difference in the lives of pupils and their families. This permanent full-time position offers a competitive salary ranging from £34,409 to £42,216, and requires strong communication and data analysis skills. The ideal candidate will have a nurturing approach, a commitment to safeguarding, and the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.

Benefits

Teacher Pension or Support Staff Local Government Pension

Paid for Health Cash Plan

Access to NHS approved Thrive App

Comprehensive induction and ongoing support

Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme

Personal & professional learning opportunities

Occupational Health Service

Staff recognition initiatives

Policies supporting positive health & well-being

Qualifications

• Must have the ability to speak fluent spoken English.
• Experience in safeguarding and supporting families.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively with external agencies and school partners.
• Work closely with families to improve student attendance.
• Analyze attendance data and maintain confidentiality.

Skills

Fluent spoken English

Effective communication

Data analysis

Confidentiality

Nurturing approach

Education

Qualifications subject to pre-employment checks

Job description

Safeguarding, Attendance and Family Support Lead – Overview

We are on the lookout for an outstanding Safeguarding, Attendance and Family Support Lead, who is extremely passionate about making a difference to pupils and their families. Our ideal candidate will be a role model to our pupils who have a barrier to their learning whilst ensuring our school systems continue to be robust in accurately recording and documenting all cases of Child Protection and Safeguarding. The successful candidate will work directly with the children in need and their families to ensure the best outcomes for all pupils. Supported by senior leaders, you will oversee attendance by regularly analysing data and working with pupils and families to improve attendance, using our inclusive attendance programme as a key tool. We have strong links with our parents, and the role is to build on this to co‑coordinate and deliver support in partnership with key services. To be efficient with IT, work as part of a team and on their own initiative, whilst having a clear understanding of confidentiality to safeguard all children. The successful candidate will maintain high quality support for our pupils.

Responsibilities & Duties

The successful candidate will:

• Communicate effectively, liaise with colleagues, external agencies, and school partners to support strategic development and share good practice.
• Co‑coordinate and deliver support in partnership with key services, building on strong links with parents.
• Analyse attendance data regularly, working with pupils and families to improve attendance using the inclusive attendance programme.
• Maintain confidentiality and safeguard all children, ensuring IT systems are used efficiently.
• Respond to the individual needs of our students, helping them build strategies to minimise barriers to learning, enabling them to prepare for adult life both educationally and emotionally.
• Work alongside the pastoral lead and support the families, employing a nurturing and enthusiastic approach to cascade the school’s mission and ethos.

Qualifications & Requirements

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role. The successful candidate will be subject to all necessary pre‑employment checks, including: enhanced DBS, Prohibition Check, Childcare Disqualification, qualifications, medical fitness, identity and right to work, and two references.

Benefits

• Teacher Pension or Support Staff Local Government Pension – Employer Contribution
• FET HUB – information all in one place, access to a range of benefits Paid for Health Cash Plan – employee and dependent children benefit – option to add partner
• Employee Questionnaire – Consultation with staff on a range of issues and ideas
• Access to the NHS approved Thrive App – to support mental health & well‑being
• Comprehensive induction and probation support and an ongoing performance management & appraisal system
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme – free, totally confidential advice, with face‑to‑face consultation
• Personal & professional learning & development – including FLICK online learning and other resources
• Occupational Health Service – accessible to support the needs of individual staff
• Staff recognition – e‑cards to celebrate success among colleagues
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Policies being developed to support positive health & well‑being: Family Friendly Working, Special Leave of Absence, Flexible Working, Menopause
• An online search will also be carried out for all shortlisted candidates.
• Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must promote this ethos.

Salary & Hours

Salary Range Grade F, Point 30-42 FTE £34,409 – £42,216. 36.5 hours per week – Permanent Full‑time, full year. Required – January 2026.

Location

High Point Academy, Friar Park Rd, Wednesbury, WS10 0JS. High Point Academy opened in September 2021 for children and young people aged 11‑16 years who all have an Education, Health and Care Plan and a diagnosis of Autism. The school is part of Forward Education Trust, who specialise in SEN provision.

Application Notes

We encourage all prospective candidates to visit the school by arrangement prior to making an application. We welcome applications from Primary and Secondary colleagues. What the school offers its staff is a comprehensive employee value proposition with a range of benefits to help staff on a personal and professional level.