EXPIRED

Family Worker and Deputy DSL

The Vale Academy, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4QP

This job expired on 26 February 2024 – see similar jobs

• Start date details

  asap or following notice period

• Closing date

  26 February 2024 at 8am

• Date listed

  9 February 2024

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £27,803.00 - £30,296.00 Annually (FTE) NJC L5 15 – 20 £27,803 - £30,296 FTE (Pro Rata £25,434 - £27,714) 37hours per week Term-time, 5 INSET days plus two weeks

Family Worker and Deputy DSL job summary

Job Description

Post Family Worker and Deputy Safeguarding Lead

Salary scale NJC L5 15 – 20 £27,803 - £30,296 FTE (Pro Rata £25,434 - £27,714)

Working pattern Full-time 37hrs, Term-time, 5 INSET days plus two weeks. Mon-Thurs 8:30am-4:30pm, Friday 8:30am-4:00pm

Main purpose

The Family Worker and Deputy DSL will support the DSL in relation to safeguarding and child protection across the school. They will support the DSL in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings and contribute to the assessment of children.

They will advise and support other members of staff on child welfare and child protection matters and liaise with relevant agencies such as the local authority and police.

The Family Worker and Deputy DSL will be crucial in maintaining the high standards of safeguarding within the academy, ensuring that all stakeholders are aware of safeguarding issues and promoting a strong safeguarding culture.

Duties and responsibilities

Managing referrals

• Refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care
• Support staff who make referrals to local authority children’s social care
• Refer cases to the Counter Terrorism Policing programme where there is a radicalisation concern
• Support staff who make referrals to the Channel programme
• Refer cases to the Disclosure and Barring Service where a person is dismissed or left due to risk or harm to a child
• Refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the police
• Keep detailed, accurate and secure written records of concerns and referrals

Working with staff and other agencies

• Ensure staff can access and understand the school’s child protection and safeguarding policy and procedures (including new and part time staff)
• Inform the Principal and DSL of safeguarding issues, especially ongoing enquiries into whether a child is at risk of harm, and police investigations
• Liaise with the case manager and the local authority’s designated officer for child protection concerns in all cases where a member of school staff is involved
• Liaise with staff on matters of safety, safeguarding, and when deciding whether to make a referral
• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for staff
• Understand the assessment process for providing early help and intervention
• Develop a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference
• Attend and contribute to child protection case conferences effectively when required to do so

Training

• Undergo training to develop and maintain the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role
• Undergo Prevent training and be able to:
• Support the school or college in meeting the requirements of the Prevent duty
• Provide advice and support to staff on protecting children from the risk of radicalisation
• Undergo training on female genital mutilation (FGM) and be able to:
• Provide advice and support to staff on protecting and identifying children at risk of FGM
• Report known cases of FGM to the police, and help others to do so
• Refresh knowledge and skills at least annually so remain up to date with any developments relevant to the role
• Obtain access to relevant resources

Raise awareness

• Ensure the school’s child protection policies are known, understood and used appropriately
• Ensure that the academy’s child protection policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly
• Ensure the safeguarding policy is available and easily accessible to everyone in the school community
• Ensure that parents have read the safeguarding policy, and are aware that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made, and the role of the school in this
• Link with the local safeguarding children board (LSCB) to make sure staff are aware of training opportunities and the latest local policies on safeguarding
• Be alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers
• Encourage a culture of listening to children among all staff, ensuring that children’s feelings are heard where the school puts measures in place to protect them

Other areas of responsibility

• Where children leave the school, securely transfer their child protection file to their new school as soon as possible, separately from the main pupil file
• Undertake safer recruitment training and support the school to follow best practice
• Monitor the single central record and ensure it complies with all relevant legislation
• Provide safeguarding reports to the governing board
• Model best practice and uphold the principles of confidentiality and data protection at all times

The DSL will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, and follow school policies and the staff code of conduct.

During term time, the Family worker and Deputy DSL should always be available during school hours for staff in the school to discuss any safeguarding concerns. Ideally this will be in person, but can also be via phone or video calling in exceptional circumstances.

Please note that this list of duties is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the employee will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role. This is a ‘In the Moment’ role which requires the post holder to work both strategically and reactively to situations that may occur.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service’

The Shared Learning Trust – Staff Benefits

We offer a fantastic range of benefits across our trust, supporting our staff in a variety of ways. From an extensive Wellbeing package to an onsite car wash, you can be reassured that we have your best interests at heart.

Perkbox and Perkbox Medical

NPQ’s Teacher Development Trust and training courses with The National College

Staff social events, including 5 a-side football and BBQs

Reduced gym membership rates

Staff recognition with reward shopping vouchers

On-site Indian head or shoulder massage

Online delivery drop off service, including Amazon

Free eye test vouchers

Support for all staff with an experienced licensed counsellor

Free tea and coffee plus a reusable bamboo coffee cup for new starters

Free onsite car parking at all academies

Cycle to work scheme

Enhanced pension employers’ contribution and death in service payment

Refer a friend £500 bonus scheme

Safeguarding

We believe in the safeguarding and welfare of children and expect all staff to share this view’.

The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities employer. The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the deadline date.

The Department for Education (DfE) has set out statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ for schools and colleges on safeguarding.

Safeguarding is defined in paragraph 4 as:

“Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.”

The definition of 'children' includes everyone under the age of 18.

Commitment to safeguarding

Advantage Schools is committed to safeguarding and child protection at every stage of the recruitment process.

This job post has expired.

About The Vale Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary
• School size: 624 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: The Vale Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-vale-academy

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