Director of Early Help and Family Support
Woodlands School, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 5PJ15 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
9 October 2026 at 9am
Date listed
24 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 hours per week – options include term time only, term time plus weeks or 52 weeks per year
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- Grade 10 (£38,510 - £40,444) – pro rata
Pay scale
- Grade 10
What skills and experience we're looking for
To be successful, you will demonstrate;
- Significant experience in a leadership role within an educational or welfare setting.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families within family support, early help, social care, education welfare or a related setting would be advantageous but is not essential.
- An understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable children and families and the ability to work collaboratively to secure positive outcomes.
- Knowledge of multi-agency working and experience of coordinating support with external professionals would be desirable.
- Experience of leading or coordinating Early Help assessments and plans.
- Experience of chairing or contributing to multi-agency meetings.
- Understanding of attendance, persistent absence and contextual safeguarding.
- Ability to coach and develop staff in safeguarding, pastoral and family support practice.
- Experience of working with families affected by SEMH needs, trauma or adversity.
- Proven track record as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or in a similar capacity.
- Experience of managing pastoral care systems and implementing strategies to support learner well-being.
- The ability to work effectively with external agencies and stakeholders to support learners.
- Experience of leading and managing staff teams, with a focus on welfare and pastoral care.
- Comprehensive understanding of statutory requirements related to safeguarding and child protection.
- An understanding of SEND, specifically but not exclusively SEMH, and the annual review process as set out in the SEND Code of Practice.
- Strong knowledge of mental health issues affecting young people and strategies to support them.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with learners, staff, parents, and external partners.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure
- Ability to analyse data and use it to inform decision-making and drive improvements.
- Have the patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
- Be flexible and open to change.
What the school offers its staff
- Excellent professional learning and support at every stage in your career, with opportunity for continued personal development through our Talent Pathway
- Career development opportunities including funded NPQs
- Excellent resources and facilities
- Significant leadership time on your timetable.
- A core belief in staff wellbeing and work life balance for all, evidenced in policy and practice
- Benefits including funded counselling, physiotherapy and GP and other medical support
- As a school in the Marches Academy Trust teachers have opportunities to engage with staff across the Trust to support and collaborate with peers and colleagues in sharing the expertise across our family of 14 schools.
Further information about the job
Director of Early Help and Family Support
Are you ready to inspire and change lives?
At Woodlands School, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of the challenges they have faced in their educational journey. Recently recognised by Ofsted as"a place where pupils are understood as individuals and supported to re-engage with education", we are proud of the nurturing, ambitious and highly personalised environment we provide for our learners with social, emotional and mental health needs.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly skilled Director of Early Help and Family Support to join our dedicated Learning for Life team. This is a unique opportunity to help young people build confidence, resilience and independence, while developing positive relationships and a renewed love of learning. At Woodlands, success is measured not only in qualifications, but in the life-changing milestones our pupils achieve every day, from improved attendance and wellbeing to growing aspirations for the future. The successful candidate will play a key role in strengthening partnerships between school, home and external agencies. You will support families to overcome barriers to education, promote attendance, wellbeing and engagement, and ensure that early help interventions contribute to improved outcomes for children and young people. Experience within family support, early help or social care environments would be beneficial, although applicants from other educational, safeguarding or pastoral leadership backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Joining Woodlands means becoming part of a team where relationships matter, wellbeing is prioritised and every member of staff plays a vital role in helping young people feel safe, valued and successful. Ofsted recognised the strength of our pastoral support, personal development provision and the dedication of staff who help pupils overcome barriers and achieve things they may never have thought possible.
No SEMH experience is necessary, but a desire to learn and develop is essential.
Commitment to safeguarding
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Woodlands School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 9 to 16
- Size
- 67 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 9 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Woodlands School website
- Email address
- lisa.dugmore@wdl.mmat.co.uk
- Phone number
- 01939 232372
Woodlands is a special school for pupils who have social, emotional and mental health needs. We are part of the Marches Academy Trust, based in the beautiful county of Shropshire
Arranging a visit to Woodlands School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email lisa.dugmore@wdl.mmat.co.uk.
School location
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