Student Support Officer

Shire Oak Academy; Walsall; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An established educational institution is seeking a dedicated Student Support Officer to champion the needs of vulnerable students. This role involves fostering effective partnerships with families and professionals to ensure every student can access the curriculum. You will implement behaviour management strategies, support attendance initiatives, and engage in mentoring interventions. Join a committed team that prioritizes student welfare and promotes a positive learning environment. If you are passionate about making a difference in students' lives and have the skills to support their educational journey, this opportunity is ideal for you.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the needs of vulnerable students and effective support strategies.
• Experience in implementing behaviour management systems and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Support students in overcoming barriers to learning and improving behaviour.
• Liaise with external agencies to provide necessary support for students.
• Engage with parents and carers to enhance student attendance and welfare.

Skills

Knowledge of SEND/PP/CIC/Vulnerable Students

Behaviour Management

Mentoring Skills

Communication Skills

Team Collaboration

Education

Relevant Degree or Qualification

Job description

Main purpose

The student support officer, under the direction of the Student Support Manger (in the relevant year group), will:

• Ensure that barriers to learning for students are reduced by ensuring effective partnership working with all professionals in school and forging strong relationships with students' families.
• Have an excellent knowledge of SEND/PP/CIC/Vulnerable Students in your year group and act as their champion so they can access the curriculum.
• Contribute to the aims and values of the school by implementing the pastoral timetable to ensure there is accurate support for students.
• Liaison with external professionals as required.

Duties and responsibilities

Leadership

• Support the Student Support Manager in leading on the implementation of an effective behaviour system within the year group
• Implement systems and processes (Tier Plans) to improve the behaviour within the year group
• Support Form Tutors with queries on pastoral issues
• Contribute to the overall vision, aims and ethos of the academy
• Set high expectations for all students in the year and inspire and motivate students to reach and maintain high standards
• Have a clear understanding of the needs of students within the year group and how you can play a part in removing barriers
• Support year group activities such as assemblies
• Support the systems within the year group for driving high standards and improvement

Behaviour

• Working with relevant school staff (SLT, Achievement Coordinator, SEND, Aspire Centre Manager and Attendance Team) to promote the inclusion of students within the year group, particularly the students with the greatest barriers to learning
• Share information for ‘At Risk’ meetings in school
• Provide support to students so that students can access their lessons
• Attend relevant meetings, particularly with parents and carers to improve the behaviour of students
• Support a culture of praise and reward in the year group
• Support the reduction of the number of students that are involved in repeat incidents in the year group
• Deliver effective mentoring/intervention as per the pastoral timetable
• Liaise with external agencies so that students are access the right support

Attendance

• Support the attendance team to improve the attendance of students in the year group
• Support the attendance team to reduce the number of students that are late to school
• Support students to improve the number of missed learning opportunities within the year group by reducing truancy
• Support relevant meetings with the attendance team as directed
• Support students with medical needs to fully access school

Safeguarding

• Complete relevant training to support the needs of the year group
• Support the DSL/Deputy DSL in actioning low level concerns
• Support students that have new/open concerns
• Support students with 1:1 intervention as directed

Engagement

• Ensure students engage in the interventions you deliver
• Support the Form Time as directed
• Coach, mentor and plan and deliver interventions to students as directed
• Work with the year group team to provide in class support as required
• Cover class teachers in a short-term absence as required

Other responsibilities

• Complete relevant duties as directed
• Resolve uniform issues within the year group you are assigned to
• Liaise with external agencies as required
• Complete general administration in relation to pastoral needs
• Support the detention collection rota
• Complete duties for tackling poor behaviour for example managing the Re-set Room
• Complete relevant meetings with parents and carers
• Support the running of Pastoral Detentions
• Participate in the on-call system
• Act as a first aider
• Support Educational Visits as directed

The Student Support Officer will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and follow Academy policies and the staff code of conduct.

Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Student Support Officer will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the Headteacher.

Shire Oak Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Policies can be found on our website. This position is subject to appropriate vetting procedures including a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions as part of the recruitment process.