Family Support Practitioner

Dysart School, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6HL

19 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  to be confirmed

• Closing date

  23 June 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  4 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
  • Other support roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: 36 hours a week, term time only. Across school with home liaison
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: OHCAT Outer London Business Support, Grade: E, SP – 25, Actual Salary: £26,678.00 - £29,099.61 (FTE £31,155.00 - £33,983.00) (Negotiated on appointment, depending on experience and qualifications)

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking a Family Support Practitioner to join our school, within the Connections Team. The Team works alongside pupils, class teams and families to provide proactive, preventative and relational support, building capacity and consistency across school and home, promoting inclusive, joined-up working that reduces stress and supports positive outcomes.

Dysart takes a person-centred, relational approach grounded in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Practice across the school focuses on understanding behaviour as communication and creating environments that support engagement, participation, relationships and quality of life, rather than relying on reactive or compliance-based approaches. A core part of this work is the Connections Team

The role aims to:

• build and strengthen relationships between home and school, reducing some of the pressures and stressors for parents and carers, knowing that this in turn positively impacts the pupils’ wellbeing, engagement and quality of life.
• ensure a smooth and welcoming transition into Dysart School, and again, out of Dysart when students move on from the school onto possible college placements.
• work with external agencies surrounding the pupils to promote inclusive, joined up working.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advocate for parents in meetings and support preparation and follow-up.
• Support inclusive communication and access to information through relational drop-ins: supporting and reassuring, offering guidance, and signposting families to appropriate services.
• Recognise safeguarding concerns and escalate appropriately.
• Assisting the SLT and class team in welcoming new families to the school through open mornings and transition meetings, ensuring a smooth transition into Dysart School.
• Class visits, including lunch duties, to see students within their learning environments to inform conversations with families and further understand and experience the school environment.

Key Requirements:

• GCSE grade 9–4 (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics and good literacy skills
• Commitment to working alongside families with dignity and respect, understanding that reducing family stress supports positive outcomes for pupils
• Proven experience working effectively with children and young people
• Confident use of digital systems, online forms, and digital tools for communication and engagement
• Confident in communicating with a range of individuals and professionals, achieving successful lines of communication regardless of possible language barriers and additional needs
• Understanding of safeguarding, equal opportunities and relevant legislation, aligned with PBS values of dignity and respect and ability to recognise safeguarding concerns and follow escalation processes

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits:

Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.

Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)

Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme

Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)

Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Dysart School is committed to the protection of children and an enhanced DBS check will be required for these positions.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Family Support Practitioner PS JD.pdf - 220 KB (opens in new tab)

About Dysart School

• School type: Academies, Does not apply, ages 4 to 19
• School size: 173 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Dysart School website
• Email address: KCollier@dysartschool.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/dysart-school

Dysart School is an Outstanding special school for 150 pupils aged 4 to 19 who have a range of severe and complex learning difficulties. The school has high expectations for its pupils and believe there is no limit to their potential.

Our main site, located in Surbiton, is bright and well equipped to support the development of its pupils including Early Years classrooms with outdoor learning spaces, a dedicated post-16 hub, accessible swimming pool, sensory room, soft play and adventure play areas and generous grounds equipped for play and outdoor learning. Dysart has also recently opened two satellite sites next to mainstream schools in the local area.

Dysart School is a progressive and innovative place to work and staff are offered opportunities through regular training and support to develop their own practice. To find out more about us visit www.dysartschool.org

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