Family Liaison Officer
Sherwood Foundation School, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7NP39 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
4 September 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
27 July 2026
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: Permanent, Full time, Term Time (38 weeks) plus 3 weeks
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £27,388 - £30,733
What skills and experience we're looking for
Qualifications & Training Desirable / Essential
Level 2 Qualifications in English and Mathematics E
Relevant childcare, education, social care or health qualification to at least NVQ Level 3 or equivalent and/or considerable experience E
Up to date Designated Safeguarding Lead Training or willingness to complete this E
Training in a specialist area of parental support e.g. sleep training or a willingness to complete this E
Training in as a mental health first aider or a willingness to complete this E
Nationally recognized qualification in education D
Experience
Experience of handling complex Child Protection E
Experience of working with families of children with SEND E
Ability to deal with difficult situations E
Working with families and delivering effective support for families E
Evidence of experience of direct work with children and parents within a variety of settings and from a range of ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds including those who may not have previously accessed services, ideally those with learning difficulties or special needs E
Able to set up and deliver programs of family support work including group work, community activities and training as appropriate to need D
Knowledge
Safeguarding and child protection knowledge with up to date current practice through updates and refresher training E
Training in community work, counselling skills, or similar E
Training in facilitating parenting groups or experience of successful signposting E
Thorough knowledge of statutory services and relevant children’s legislation especially child protection and safeguarding E
An understanding of the complexities and issues the families of children with complex SEND, including those with learning disabilities and neurodivergence E
Knowledge of the education system and school attendance process D
Understanding of child psychology and barriers to learning D
Experience
Ability to work with children and families in a variety of settings within school, at home or in the community E
Ability to work flexibly and supportively with parents and carers E
Ability to work in close partnership with teachers and other professionals as well as external agencies, voluntary groups and service providers E
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with children and adults, individually and in groups E
Be tactful, diplomatic and sensitive with a good sense of humour E
Ability to take responsibility and work on initiative within set boundaries E
Excellent organisational and time management skills E
Excellent oral and written communication skills including a sensitive approach to children and adults E
Ability to keep clear, accurate records E
Ability to maintain confidentiality E
Be a confident and skilled user of ICT – able to use it with children and parents E
Be reliable and trustworthy, able to use judgement in receiving and dealing with sensitive information E
The resilience to deal with challenging situations involving parents under stress and Child Protection issues E
Involvement in TAF/TAC / CIN / CP meetings E
Able and willing to speak confidently to a range of audiences D
Personal Qualities
Positive view of children and young people with disabilities E
Flexible approach to supporting children and families E
Ability to maintain a professional manner in challenging situations E
Confidence to challenge behaviour that is outside of our policies and procedures E
Confidence to challenge other professionals E
Commitment to self-development and willingness to undertake further training E
Special Requirements
No adverse criminal record and full enhanced DSB clearance E
Visiting families in their homes is an essential requirement of this post E
Flexibility in work patterns may be required sometimes E
Able and willing to work flexibly as part of a team E
Full driving licence D
Car owner or access to transport D
What the school offers its staff
- Enrolment in Local Government Pension Scheme
- Competitive Salary
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme via Vita Health Care Group
- Benenden Health - health care cash plan
- On-site staff parking (at two campuses)
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities
- Opportunities for career progression across three campuses
- Flexible working policies
- On site staff swimming sessions
- Access to school dinners
- Commitment to staff health & wellbeing
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Sherwood Foundation School
- Organisation type
- Special school, ages 2 to 19
- Size
- 204 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- recruitment@sherwoodpark.org.uk
Sherwood Foundation School is a Foundation Special School located in the London Borough of Sutton and made up of three campuses:
Sherwood Hill Campus
Sherwood Hill Campus is a specialist school for autistic learners aged 3–19 years who have multiple and complex barriers to learning, requiring high levels of support to access education and learning around their peers. Many of our learners may also have severe learning difficulties and/or struggle to maintain a regulated state for learning.
Sherwood Park Campus
Sherwood Park Campus is a specialist school for learners aged 3–19 years who have severe, multiple and complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This includes learners who have highly complex access needs resulting from their physical and/or health conditions. All learners require high levels of adult support to access learning.
Sherwood Manor Campus
Sherwood Manor Campus is a specialist school primarily for autistic learners aged 11–19 years who have moderate to severe barriers to learning. Most of our pupils can access a highly adapted formal learning environment with high levels of adult support. Some of our learners struggle to deal with the demands of an adult-led learning environment so may need a highly individualised learning offer to meet their academic potential.
School location
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