EXPIRED

Support Assistant for Safeguarding & Mental Health

Westfield Academy, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 6NS

This job expired on 24 November 2023 – see similar jobs

• Start date details

  TBC - Asap

• Closing date

  24 November 2023 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  9 November 2023

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: No, visa sponsorship not available
• Working pattern:
  • Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £21,968.00 - £23,194.00 Annually (FTE) Pro Rata for hours and weeks worked

Support Assistant for Safeguarding & Mental Health job summary

Job description

Job title:	Support Assistant for Safeguarding & Mental Health
Grade:	Grade: H4, scale point range: points 6-9 Salary range: £21,968-23,194 (FTE) (Subject to pay award)
Hours / weeks:	35 hours / week, Term Time only plus 5 INSET days
Contract type:	Permanent
Reports to:	Designated Safeguarding Lead / Designated Safeguarding Person

Job purpose

To be responsible for the Academy’s approach to mental health and wellbeing by forging effective links with NHS mental health services and providing day-to-day support to both the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Designated Safeguarding Person in order to keep all students safe.

To contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the Academy.

Academy approach

Developing and overseeing the Academy’s approach to mental health and wellbeing, including:

how its reflected in the design of behaviour policies, pastoral support and the curriculum (including PSHE);

how students and parents are supported and engaged; and

how staff are supported with their own mental wellbeing.

Student support

Know what national and local mental health services are available, and signpost these to students and parents.

Developing links with local mental health services.

Support the identification of at risk students and students exhibiting signs of mental ill health.

Establish and follow a clear process if a concern is raised about a student’s wellbeing.

Refer students to mental health services when appropriate.

Coordinate students' mental health needs within the Academy.

Oversee:

the delivery of student interventions, where these are delivered at school; and

the outcomes of these interventions on students’ education and wellbeing.

Support students by encouraging a culture of listening to them and taking account of their wishes and feelings, among all staff, in any measures the Academy may put in place to protect them.

Respond appropriately to disclosures of concerns which relate to the well-being of a student.

Maintain confidential records of reported cases and action taken.

Review early help for students.

Support DSP on CAMHS referrals and feedback.

Supporting other staff

Make sure staff can:

recognise signs and symptoms of mental health needs in students; and

know what to do should they have a concern.

Support staff in contact with students with mental health needs to:

help raise awareness; and

give all staff the confidence to work with these students.

Sharing information about students with mental health needs with other members of staff where appropriate, so that there can be support throughout the school environment.

Administration

Administration of Safeguarding meetings / Mental Health meetings.

To provide confidential, effective, efficient and flexible administrative support to the department.

To liaise with parents, students, staff and external outside agencies either by phone, email or in person.

To support relevant sections of the Academy’s website are up to date and user friendly.

Contacting the students and parents as and when required.

To deal with routine departmental administration, including letters, reports, scanning, photocopying, equipment orders, incoming and outgoing mail and input of information onto CPOMS.

To provide administrative support for CPOMS.

To book and organise rooms for external and internal meetings.

Other

To complete the required Safeguarding training.

To participate in arrangements for further training and development to initiate new ideas.

Gathering any other relevant information and evidence.

Any other activity needed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Child Protection Officer.

To ensure a safe working environment is maintained at all times.

To be aware of and comply with policies and procedures, relating to child protection, safeguarding, pastoral issues, health and safety, security, confidentiality and data protection – reporting all concerns to the appropriate person.

The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present. This role will be reviewed annually as part of the performance appraisal process and the post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary.

Westfield Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Children and Young people. To meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Person specification

Attributes	Essentia l (or expected to train / qualify to that standard)
Qualifications & training	GCSE or equivalent Proven on the job experience
Relevant experience	Experience of working with children Experience in the use of CPOMS, word and spreadsheets Administrative experience
Knowledge, skills & abilities	Ability to build relationships with parents / carers, students, and the departmental managers An interest in the well being and safeguarding of students and child protection matters Ability to deal with sensitive situations with integrity The confidence and good judgement to manage situations relating to the poor conduct / behaviour of others towards a student Ability to be resourceful and proactive when issues arise Experience of computer generation, management, manipulation and secure retention of data, particularly through the use of and wide application of spreadsheets software Flexible working and ability to multitask Attend relevant training to fulfil the role Ability to successfully prioritise
Personal qualities	Willingness to challenge opinion, where necessary, and to drive the child protection agenda Strong listening skills, confidentiality & integrity is integral Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations Problem-solving and creativity to deal with changing / conflicting deadlines and priorities

Commitment to safeguarding

Westfield Academy and it's Trust Board fully recognise that they have a duty of care to ensure arrangements are in place for safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children. We recognise that all members of the school community, including volunteers and Trustees, will at all times play a full and active part in protecting our students from harm.

This job post has expired.

About Westfield Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1319 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
• School website: Westfield Academy website (opens in new tab)
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/westfield-academy (opens in new tab)

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Westfield Academy. We are an over-subscribed, high-performing, non-selective Academy. We have been a consistently "Good" OFSTED school since 2012, with our most recent inspection being December 2019. During my time as Headteacher, our students have consistently achieved some of the best exam results in South West Herts.

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