Job description
We are looking for a dedicated and experienced individual to join Harris Academy Riverside, overseeing welfare-related duties and attendance data across our student body.
About Us
Harris Academy Riverside is a very popular non-selective and highly oversubscribed academy which opened as part of the Harris Federation and the regeneration of the Purfleet on Thames area in 2017. We serve our local community of Purfleet on Thames and West Thurrock and have 900 on roll in the secondary academy and around 200 students in the 6th form.
Vision
Harris Academy Riverside seeks to develop students who are successful, confident and happy, who inspire their community and who act with kindness and compassion towards others.
Ethos
In our procedures and daily routines, our broad and varied curriculum, our pedagogical model and through our commitment to providing experience of the wider world we aim to promote a strong sense of community and belonging, to provide a blend of high challenge and high support and to encourage the development of
- Outstanding habits of behaviour such as self-awareness, kindness, appreciation, humility, politeness, confident self-expression and self-presentation and
- Outstanding habits of learning such as determination, resilience, organisation, reading, studying and practice
Main Areas of Responsibility
The responsibilities of your role will include:
- Overseeing Educational Welfare across the academy
- Managing a caseload of ‘at risk’ students, where attendance falls below 85%, and implement strategies to improve attendance
- Monitoring the attendance of most vulnerable students at the academy
- Managing the process of addressing poor attendance across the academy
- Representing the academy at external meetings e.g. Social Services Case Conferences, Child in Need Meetings, LAC Reviews
- Line management of the Attendance Officer
- Liaising with Academy Leadership Group to address any attendance or welfare concerns
- Assist with the smooth running of the student information centre (SIC)
- Communicating effectively with all external agencies including possible alternative providers
- Ensuring effective communication/consultation as appropriate with parents and carers through phone, letter and home visits as relevant, ensuring student contracts are agreed and monitored
- Liaising with the local authority when cases of poor attendance reach the level of legal intervention, managing the process of evidence sharing and representing the relevant academy at court where necessary
- Maintaining the confidential records of support for all students referred
- Preparing of reports and maintaining records relating to student referrals and subsequent counselling or support
Qualifications & Experience
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Qualifications to undergraduate degree level, or equivalent
- Knowledge of the Academy behaviour for learning policy
- Knowledge of the range of barriers to learning that students face
- Training in child protection and safeguarding procedures
- Basic knowledge of first aid; e.g. emergency first aid course
- Three years’ experience of working in an inner city school or educational establishment in a pastoral capacity
- Experience of dealing successfully with a range of issues influencing poor attendance
- Experience of working with staff to ensure excellent standards of attendance and punctuality are maintained
- Experience of working with families
- Experience of working with challenging students and parents, and finding ways in which we can meet their needs more successfully
Next Steps
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.
Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.
Professional Development & Benefits
Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
Job Reference: HF03649-HARI