School / South Cumbria Pupil Referral Service
Job Title / Engagement Officer
Salary Scale / PCD8ii
Base Grade: 8 £23,398
Final Grade: 10 £27,668 (90 JWC’s)
Date / October 2017 / www.southcumbriaap.org.uk
Main purpose of the post
To provide advice, support, guidance and information on personal, predominantly welfare-related issues to students and their families whilst at the PRU: pre-entry, on-programme and exit.
To provide advice, guidance and information to staff, other agencies and referring schools on supporting students to overcome personal barriers to learning.
Main tasks and responsibilities
1. To provide information, guidance and advice related to student welfare and pastoral care
2. To offer support to students who are experiencing emotional or practical difficulties that are affecting their learning. This includes effective referral to other support agents both inside and outside the PRU.
3. To take appropriate action to safeguard children including the logging and recording of safeguarding concerns.
4. To monitor pupil attendance, including liaising with parents / carers to establish reasons for pupil absence; recording pupil absence; working with pupils, their families and external agencies to improve individual pupil attendance; liaising with the LA to resolve cases of persistent absence.
5. To support a case load of learners on a weekly basis, reviewing support needs and logging student outcomes to include communicating with key teachers and other services
6. To provide informed and impartial pre-entry and exit guidance to assist students and schools in planning for future education.
7. To work with students as individuals or in groups on issues related to or affecting their studies.
8. To provide an emergency service for students in immediate distress.
9. When necessary, to act as an advocate for students.
10. To liaise with the rest of the PRU team on special issues related to individual students who may have learning difficulties or disabilities.
11. To perform break and lunch duties and support students within these times
12. To liaise with other staff to initiate and develop programmes which will support the academic role in addressing students’ personal issues.
13. To assist other staff in monitoring causes behind poor performance and in informing and implementing strategies to promote retention.
14. To contribute to the PRU induction programme.
15. To contribute to the planning and production of PRU’s literature and publications.
16. To develop and provide documentation and evidence to support quality assurance requirements and to be an active participant in PRU’s annual self-assessment.
17. To ensure the collection and collation of accurate data as required by the Head teacher with regard to medical/ special needs of students and their families.
18. To produce statistical records and termly and annual reports, as required.
19. To represent the PRU at internal and external meetings, as required by the Head teacher
20. To establish networks with a range of local advisory bodies, support agencies, Careers Service and training providers and raise awareness of these and their functions with students and their families.
21. To offer family support sessions on a wide range of topics, including those with an academic focus or a focus around family life.
General
The post holder will undertake assigned responsibilities effectively and efficiently, and within regulatory and legislative requirements; achieve individual and whole centre targets within the PRU’s annual planning and staff performance review processes and budgetary constraints in order to create and maintain high performance of learners and:
1. Actively promote the values of South Cumbria Pupil Referral Unit: To support and develop pupils so they can re-engage and reintegrate back into mainstream education and be a valuable part of society.
2. Actively promote equality and diversity, recognising and actively challenging stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, ensuring that these principles permeate all working practices, creating an inclusive learning environment and workplace for students and staff respectively.
3. Ensure effective quality control and continuous improvement in all aspects of this post.
4. Be committed to professional development, through participation in a continuing professional development programme.
5. Develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and partners as appropriate to the role
6. Comply with and promote the PRU’s Safeguarding, Data Protection and Health and Safety policies and procedures and to undertake recommended training as and when necessary.
7. Identify and manage risk effectively.
8. Undertake such other duties as required, commensurate with the grade of the post, as may be reasonably required at the initial place of work or at other locations in the PRU.
9. Support the PRU in events when required.
10. Adhere to and ensure compliance with all PRU Procedures and as detailed in the Staff Handbook.
11. At all times seek to serve the best interests of the PRU.
12. To provide cover for colleagues during periods of holiday or sickness absence.
NB: This job description outlines a range of main duties. It is not exhaustive and can be varied in consultation with the post holder in order to reflect changes in the job or the organisation.
Job Working Circumstances (JWC)The JWC for this post group are assessed using the JWC guidance document for Schools and School services
Emotional demands
The post holder will regularly deal with seriously disadvantaged and / or distressed individuals.
Physical demands
The post holder will occasionally have to apply a very high physical effort.
Adverse people behaviour
The post holder will regularly be exposed to abusive behaviour where there is some potential for violence.
This post attracts Local Car User status.
Personal Specification /School / South Cumbria Pupil Referral Service
Job Title / Engagement Officer
Salary Scale / PCD8ii
Date / October 2017 / www.southcumbriaap.org.uk
Essential / Desirable
Qualifications / · NVQ3 in relevant area / · Pastoral care qualification
· NVQ4 or equivalent area
Knowledge / · An understanding of personal issues which may affect students through the learning process
Relevant Experience / · Experience in delivery of advice and/or guidance within an educational context.
· Experience of working with a diverse range of students and families.
· Experience of making appropriate decisions and/or referrals relevant to student issues.
· Excellent organisational & time management skills and an ability to work to deadlines. / · Experience of keeping accurate records for statistical purposes.
Skills / · Excellent interpersonal skills at a variety of levels.
· Ability to work supportively with colleagues as a member of a team.
· Excellent oral and written communication skills.
· Ability to work within an environment where emotions are often highly-charged.
· Ability to work on own initiative.
Other / · An understanding of equal opportunities issues within an educational context.
· An understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to creating a safe learning environment.
· Able to work across Furness and South Lakes.
· Able to work outside of school hours as required. / · Full, clean driving license