Supervisory Assistant

Education Authority; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional education organization is seeking a Supervisory Assistant responsible for supervising children during mid-day breaks, ensuring safety and discipline. Responsibilities include assisting children in different areas, managing dining arrangements, and reporting incidents. Ideal candidates should have experience with children and knowledge of child protection policies. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are vital. This role provides an opportunity to contribute positively to children's well-being in a school environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in a formal environment (school, nursery or playgroup).
• Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding relevant to the role.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations relevant to the role.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children during mid-day break ensuring health and safety.
• Liaise with the principal on mid-day supervision matters.
• Deal with minor problems and report serious incidents.

Skills

Team working

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Flexibility in work

Planning and organizing

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Supervisory Assistant

Reports to: Principal/Senior Supervisory Assistant

Purpose

Responsible individually or as a member of a team for the supervision of children and the maintenance of discipline for the children remaining on the school premises throughout the mid‑day break (the interval between the close of morning school and the re‑opening of school in the afternoon).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in the supervision of children in all areas of the school and grounds to ensure health and safety regulations are observed and school discipline is enforced.
• Liaise with the principal/senior supervisory assistant on all matters relating to mid‑day supervision.
• Deal with minor problems, accidents, sickness and report any serious incident to the principal/senior supervisory assistant immediately.
• Supervise children consuming meals and packed lunches, including:
  • (a) the movement of children between classrooms and dining areas where necessary, including dining areas outside the school premises.
  • (b) the supervision of queues, seating arrangements, and the circulation of pupils to and from service points.
  • (c) the supervision of the conduct of diners.
  • (d) collection of dinner tickets where appropriate.
  • (e) the distribution of meals within the dining area as appropriate.
  • (f) ancillary associated duties (e.g., cleaning up spillages, ensuring tables are cleared and cleaned, removal of litter from all areas used for the consumption of food including packed lunches, etc.).
  • (g) assisting children where necessary.
• Duties as delegated in connection with cash cafeterias.
• Carry out all duties to comply with:
  • (a) the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978;
  • (b) Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements;
  • (c) Codes of Practice.
• Carry out all duties in the working conditions normally inherent in the particular job.
• Complete all necessary paperwork.
• Carry out duties for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided such duties are within the competence of the employee.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post‑holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.

The post will be subject to enhanced disclosure of criminal background for regulated activity as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA – SECTION 1

Essential criteria will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage.

Factor Experience

Evidence of experience of working with, or supervising children in a formal environment (school, nursery or playgroup).

Shortlisting by Application Form.

Factor Knowledge

Evidence of knowledge of the following areas:

• The requirements of a Supervisory Assistant.
• Child Protection and Safeguarding, as relevant to the role.
• Health and Safety regulations, as relevant to the role.

Shortlisting by Application Form.

Factor Other

• Willingness to undertake job related training as and when required.

Shortlisting by Application Form.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA – SECTION 2

Additional essential criteria will be measured during the interview/selection stage.

Factor Skills / Abilities

Evidence of an ability to work flexibly to help ensure safe and supportive child‑centred supervision.

Evidence of effective interpersonal and communication skills.

Proven effective team working skills.

Evidence of good planning and organising skills to ensure work is completed on time to the required standard.

Interview.

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect the School values/ethos. You will find information about our values here.

Interview.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA – SECTION 3

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed.

Factor Experience

A minimum of six months’ experience of working with, or supervising children in a formal environment (school, nursery or playgroup).

Shortlisting by Application Form.

DISCLSOURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre‑employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.