Job Title: Family Liaison Officer
Location: Maple Grove School, Chester.
Salary: Up to £20,000 dependent on experience
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent, Term Time only
Are you committed to safeguarding and improving the lives of children and young people?
We are looking for an experienced Family Liaison Officer to join our fantastic team at Maple Grove School in Chester. As Family Liaison Officer, you will be a key member of our safeguarding team, committed to children’s safety, achievement, and ability to develop.
This is a great opportunity for a Family Liaison Officer who wants to use their safeguarding knowledge and experience to protect children with varied and complex needs. Your work will be challenging and rewarding in equal measure and you will be working in a school where we maintain a strong safeguarding culture, where pupils are listened to, respected and involved in as many decisions as possible.
When it comes to looking after our children, we never settle for second best. We are looking for a Family Liaison Officer, experienced in working as part of a safeguarding team, who shares our vision to build incredible futures by empowering vulnerable young people in the UK, to be happy and to make their way in the world. You will take a lead role in the safeguarding induction of colleagues and deal with disclosures of varying severity, acting upon these accordingly.
You will use your knowledge of safeguarding measures and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020, along with your excellent stakeholder skills and tenacity to ensure every child is safeguarded in school and at home.
Whilst previous experience of working in an SEN environment would be great, we would also love to hear from people who’ve held a similar position in an educational environment and are motivated by helping every child to reach their potential.
About us:
Maple Grove is a newly opened school providing a specialist setting for learners with autism. We are situated in Hoole, Chester, with the school set within a beautiful, historic building that has been completely refurbished and redesigned to the highest standard. At Maple Grove everything we do revolves around the individual needs of each child attending our school, with the aim that every learner is able to fulfil their potential. Along with our rich and varied curriculum, we focus on developing core life skills such as communication and social ability, sensory processing and emotional regulation; every pupil develops the essential capabilities they need to be as independent as possible when they leave school.
For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to children, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
About the Role:
In order for pupils at Maple Grove to achieve the best possible outcomes, we often need to support those who care for them when not in school, and work to remove barriers to learning that are a result of factors outside of the school day. Our family worker will work as part of the school’s Wellbeing Team to support pupils and their families, being a first point of contact for parents, and a source of advice, guidance and information. The successful applicant will be expected to take a family-centred, creative approach, seeking ways to positively engage with parents, and promote the overall development and wellbeing of our pupils.
The ideal candidate will work successfully with school leaders, therapists and class teachers to proactively support families. He or she will work alongside the Headteacher to monitor and respond to any safeguarding concerns, and ensure safeguarding training records are up to date. The successful candidate will be expected to work alongside class teams and as an individual to promote pupil wellbeing, and will be expected to be flexible and creative in finding solutions to challenges faced by parents.
Essential Criteria
- Experience of working in a school setting
- Experience of working children with Special Educational Needs
- Experience in a range of safeguarding scenarios
- Understanding of the Autism spectrum, and the implications for individuals and their families
- Working knowledge of relevant legislation and statutory processes, especially the SEN Code of Practice, and the EHCP and Annual Review processes
- History of successful inter-agency working
- Flexible, solution-focused approach to working
- Negotiation Skills, patience and resilience
- High expectations of others, both colleagues and pupils
- Driving licence
Why join us?
We offer a friendly and inclusive working environment and the chance to be part of a fantastic multidisciplinary team, who work hard and support each other to deliver personalised, bespoke education & care. Our benefits package includes free parking, shopping discounts and cashback via our ‘Rewards Hub’, and access to content on mindfulness, fitness, recipes and much more as part of our ‘Your Wellbeing Matters’ programme.
As well as opportunities for internal promotion, you will have access to high-quality Continuing Professional Development to help pursue your own personal goals. We also offer accredited training programmes including Diplomas and NVQs, supplemented by ongoing learning opportunities.
Ultimately, all of our roles give you the opportunity to enrich the lives of young people and make a positive difference.
Application process & dates
The closing date for this role is 31, January 2021.
To apply please visit our website at https://www.outcomesfirstgroup.co.uk/vacancies/
Options Autism is part of Outcomes First Group. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to fully Enhanced DBS.