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Family Support Officer
Harry Watts Academy, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 5JA18 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
23 February 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
4 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- N7 SCP 25-29 FTE: £36,363 - £39, 862 £31, 223 - £34, 228 actual salary pro-rata (£18.85 - £20.66 hourly rate)
What skills and experience we're looking for
The successful candidate will:
- Have a clear understanding of the Family Support Officer’s role and the complexities of family dynamics
- Support families to develop parenting skills and promote pupil’s wellbeing, emotional and social development.
- Have the ability to manage conflict situations with tact and diplomacy
- Work effectively with inclusion and a wide range of stakeholders (agencies and parents)
- Identify barriers to learning and attendance across all pupil groups
- Have an unders
What the school offers its staff
The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:
- A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
- Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
- Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates.
- Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
- Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
- Bike 2 Work scheme
Further information about the job
Are you looking for an exciting new role to support pupils and families?
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and highly motivated Family Support Officer to join our dynamic team at Harry Watts Academy. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking school committed to the holistic well-being and academic success of pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). The successful candidate will work closely with pupils, families, and staff to foster positive engagement and ensure all children thrive within our supportive environment.
The successful candidate will:
- Have a clear understanding of the Family Support Officer’s role and the complexities of family dynamics
- Support families to develop parenting skills and promote pupil’s wellbeing, emotional and social development.
- Have the ability to manage conflict situations with tact and diplomacy
- Work effectively with inclusion and a wide range of stakeholders (agencies and parents)
- Identify barriers to learning and attendance across all pupil groups
- Have an understanding of assessment, recording and reporting processes
Does this sound like the role for you?
Harry Watts Academy is a specialist free school in Sunderland opened in September 2020 for autistic pupils aged between five and sixteen years. We pride ourselves on having a shared belief that all children have a right to the best education that can be provided and a learning and working environment where all are respected, valued and achievements celebrated.
Harry Watts Academy is a split site school, with locations in both Sunderland (Redhouse) and Washington (Harraton). Currently, our Engage and Explore pathways are based at Redhouse and our Discover pathway is based at Harraton. You will therefore be willing to support the teaching and learning of pupils on any of our three pathways on either of our sites.
To learn more aboutHarry Watts AcademyandProsper Learning Trust, pleasevisit our websites.
Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds.Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness.We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.
The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region:
- Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years)
- Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years)
- Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years)
- Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years)
- Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years)
Prosper Learning Trust was also recently named as the lead partner in the opening of a new Free School in Jarrow, South Tyneside. This school will be a Special School academy for pupils with SEMH (4-11 years).
The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Harry Watts Academy but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.
Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust
The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:
- A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
- Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
- Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates.
- Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
- Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
- Bike 2 Work scheme
For more information on why we think you should work for us see ourTrust website, where you will also findvideosof what our current staff think.
The successful candidate will be welcomed into the Trust, so if this sounds like the job for you please don't hesitate to apply.
Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.
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
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)About Harry Watts Academy
- School type
- Free School, ages 5 to 16
- School size
- 175 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Harry Watts Academy website
- Email address
- admin@harrywattsacademy.co.uk
We aim to support all of our pupils to achieve and develop in all aspects of their life through our exciting and challenging whole school curriculum. Our ethos is to promote Support and Success Together and we firmly believe that knowing each pupil as an individual is a vital element in supporting their growth and development, within a carefully personalised programme of learning. We could not do this without the ongoing excellent support and joint working with families, professionals and all stakeholders associated with Harry Watts Academy.
Harry Watts Academy is a specialist academy for pupils aged 5 to 16 years. All of our pupils have a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and complex learning difficulties and a respective Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Essential to their growth is our ASC specific environment and our dedicated multi disciplinary staff team, who are highly skilled and trained in ASC specific strategies and delivery.
Our school is a community where everyone feels safe and secure, valued and respected and where we have a shared commitment to providing the very best learning opportunities possible. We have the highest expectations and aspirations for all of our learners and continually seek to develop and grow, in order to ensure that their goals, dreams and potential are realised.
School location
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