SEN/Family Support Worker

About the role

Larwood SEMH School

About the role

LARWOOD SCHOOL - PART OF LARWOOD ACADEMY TRUST

Are you looking for a new and different challenge in 2024?

SEN/Family Support Worker required from November 2024

Grade : H6/1 to H8 depending on experience

Are you someone who can embrace our school ethos - achieve, believe, expect, enjoy?

Larwood School is a dynamic and successful primary special school with an innovative and constantly evolving curriculum for boys and girls with social, emotional and mental health related difficulties.

We wish to appoint a passionate, dedicated and determined Family Support Worker for November 2024.

All of our pupils have Education Health Care Plans, but thrive in our nurturing and well structured environment. You will need to be resilient and ready for the challenges that we face with our pupils. However, you can be assured that your work will transform lives!

We were judged as ‘good’ by Ofsted in all areas during inspection in November 2022 and 'outstanding' for Behaviour. We became an academy school in Nov 2016 and are the lead school in a 2-school multi academy trust. We also provide outreach support for primary schools within Stevenage, focusing on behaviour management support strategies.

Class sizes are small, no more than 9 pupils for this classroom. We are superbly resourced. All teaching groups have a teacher and teaching assistant to work with pupils.

Our constant challenge is to review and alter our practice to ensure the very best outcomes for our pupils. We have a wide range of initiatives in place from bespoke intervention support, counselling, animal assisted therapy to an interactive thematic curriculum which engages and inspires our pupils.

All staff are trained in the use of Hertfordshire Steps as a behaviour management system.

This is a critical role within our school for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. You will be a vital link in our provision for many of our families, and your communications skills, ability to develop trusting relationships and knowledge of how to support parents for improved outcomes for children will be essential.

The actual scope of this post will be negotiated with the successful applicant. However, it is envisaged that the final job description will include the following:

• Liaising between families and school regarding a number of issues that may affect learning, behaviour and wellbeing. The FSW will provide a bridge between home, school and other agencies to ensure the highest standards of care.
• Organising, leading and producing paperwork connected to family based meetings for school and in collaboration with other professionals
• EHCP reviews experience, SEN experience and knowledge base is an essential criteria.
• DDSL – Oversee safeguarding for pupils in pathways and holidays
• Meeting with individual families to provide guidance, and sign posting for support
• Actively promoting and facilitating support for parents and children
• Completing parts of the school admission process and providing other staff with relevant information before admittance
• Providing information for parents when needed, regarding support and help available for them within their own localities, as well as statutory information and guidance
• By ensuring that communication between home/school runs as efficiently as possible, using all forms of communication to aid this.
• By attending Senior Leadership Team meetings when required
• By ensuring the highest levels of confidentiality, in all circumstances for all members of the Larwood Community
• To maintain and share accurate records of information
• To continuously promote parental engagement with school and their pupils education
• To promote the active and purposeful engagement of other professionals and other agencies to ensure quality provision and suitable care for pupils whilst at Larwood
• To consider the promotion of pupil transition, its implications and the types of programs that would support such processes.

Person Specification:

•             The following are key elements for this role:

•             Effective communication and engagement with children, and their families

•             Knowledge of issues related to children who exhibit issues connected to social and emotional behaviour

•             Experience of multi-agency working and how to promote best practice in this area

•             Supporting transitions

•             Information sharing

 We have a range of well-being initiatives and numerous opportunities for growth and development. This includes:

Financial benefits such a range of discounts with various stores and activities via Perkbox

• Direct access to a doctor at a time/place that suits you using Schools UK Insurance
• Free staff fitness session (on site) each week
• Dedicated staff attendance reward scheme
• Access to counselling and physiotherapy should you need it (subject to conditions)
• Dedicated training program
• Varied CPD opportunities
• Support for Masters degree study.

If you are up for the challenge of improving pupil progress whilst maintaining wellbeing, we would love to hear from you.

If you have experience of special needs and working with pupils like ours, this would be a distinct advantage, but training is also available and your experience in mainstream would be equally valid.

The contract would be probationary for six months before the opportunity of it becoming permanent.

Start date November 2024

Visits to the school are encouraged. Please contact Mrs Emma O'Brien on 01438 236333 to arrange an appointment with Miss Brooks, .

Larwood School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of its students and all staff are carefully vetted. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS checks.

Closing date for applications : 27th September at 5pm 2024

Interviews: w/c 7th October 2024.

Please complete the application form online as per the instructions at www.teachinherts.com