Family Support Worker SEND (Maternity Cover - Fixed-Term)
Highshore School
Southwark
- £37,473 per year
- New
- Expiring soon
- Salary:
- Salary: Grade 8, SP 20 (£37,473 per annum)
- Job type:
- Full Time, Fixed Term
- Start date:
- February 2025
- Apply by:
- 17 January 2025
Job overview
Contract: 1 Year Fixed Term (February 2025 – February 2026)
Hours: Full-Time, 36 hours per week
Salary: Grade 8, SP 20 (£37,473 per annum)
About Highshore School:
Highshore is a vibrant special school providing high-quality education for pupils aged 11-19 with a range of complex needs, including Down’s syndrome, Autism, and medical conditions. Rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted (February 2023), the school prides itself on a supportive and inclusive community where every child is encouraged to reach their potential.
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced and dedicated SEND Family Support Worker to cover a maternity leave position. This role is essential in supporting our families, building strong home-school partnerships, and ensuring the well-being of our pupils through expert advice and advocacy. This role is key in ensuring and promoting the safeguarding and welfare of all the students.
You will act as a vital link between the school, families, and external agencies, addressing safeguarding concerns, offering advice on housing and welfare, and helping parents navigate processes such as DLA (Disability Living Allowance) applications and housing appeals. You will be a part of the Safeguarding Team.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide tailored advice and guidance to families on SEN support, EHCP processes, and annual reviews.
- Assist families with housing applications, appeals, and benefit documentation (e.g., DLA forms).
- Support parents in school transport applications and liaise with local authorities.
- Support safeguarding processes within the school, with the potential to undertake Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) responsibilities if appropriately trained.
- Deliver workshops, training sessions, and support groups for parents and carers.
- Represent the school at meetings with professionals and external partners.
- Maintain accurate records and ensure data confidentiality.
Candidate Profile:
We are looking for someone with:
Essential Backgrounds (One or more of the following):
- Experience working in schools, social care, or SEND advisory services.
- Background in family support roles, youth work, or housing and welfare advisory services.
- Experience in local authority services, healthcare roles, or SEND charities.
Key Skills and Qualities:
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and experience in handling child protection matters.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to engage with diverse families and professionals.
- Experience supporting parents with housing appeals, welfare applications, and transport systems.
- Ability to manage sensitive situations with discretion, professionalism, and empathy.
- Proven experience in multi-agency working and building productive partnerships.
- Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage a caseload and meet deadlines.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a dedicated and passionate team making a significant difference in the lives of children with SEND.
- Work in a collaborative and supportive environment.
- Access to professional development and training opportunities.
How to Apply:
To request an application pack, please contact:
- Nick Clark at nclark@highshore.southwark.sch.uk
For an informal conversation or to arrange a visit, please contact:
- Evelina Dimopoulou, Headteacher at headteacher@highshore.southwark.sch.uk
Closing Date for Applications: 17/01/2025
Interviews to be held on: Week Commencing 27/01/2025
Attached documents
About Highshore School
Highshore is a complex mixed needs special secondary (age range 11 – 19) school situated in Camberwell, in the London Borough of Southwark. We have 156 pupils on roll. Every pupil has an Education Health Care Plan.
At Highshore School we enable our pupils to gain the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to progress to employment, meaningful voluntary opportunities and training. Our pupils tell us that they want to make a contribution to society. We are a central London school and expect our pupils to be active citizens.
All of our pupils have severe or moderate learning disabilities (SLD/MLD) and come from a mix of Southwark Primary and Special schools. Our school is oversubscribed. In addition to our teaching staff one full time and one part-time Speech and Language therapist, one day a week Occupational therapy, Family worker and a Full-time work experience coordinator. We also have strong links with CAMHS, the School Nursing Service and with the Early Help team.
Our pupils have a range of needs, including: Complex medical needs, Downs Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language and Communication difficulties, ADHD and Physical disabilities
Key Stages 3 and 4:
In Key Stage 3 our pupils start the day with Literacy and Numeracy, usually taught by their form teacher. We teach subjects such as Social Communication and Lego therapy, which your child might not have encountered in primary school, as well as the full range of National curriculum subjects. All our Key stage 3 pupils have regular swimming in addition to their PE lessons. In Key Stage 4 pupils work towards a variety of accreditation including Entry Level and Functional Skills.
Key Stage 5
Our Sixth form programme includes one day a week college link and for many pupils one day a week work experience placement. The focus of the sixth form is allowing our pupils to gain as much independence skills as possible. Travel training forms part of our programme for those pupils who are not independent travellers. Highshore has a Specialist dyslexia team who support pupils both in and out of class.
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