Cover Manager

About this Role

The Deepings School is proud to be part of Anthem, a multi-academy trust that creates ambitious and successful schools where every child thrives. Our students are amazing; they were the driving force behind establishing our values of KINDNESS, RESPECT, and AMBITION. These values are pivotal to them thriving in their educational journey, whether during lessons or extra-curricular activities.

Our staff are equally enthusiastic and ambitious for our students. Their contribution to our vision is to ensure that "EVERY STUDENT TO THRIVE AND FEEL VALUED." Staff are dedicated to ensuring students can achieve beyond their expectations in the secondary phase of their education, with a desire to be ambitious and aspirational as a result. The Deepings School is on a rapid journey of improvement, focusing on developing strong foundations to build an ambitious, thriving school for our community and beyond.

Job Purpose

The Cover Manager will manage all day-to-day short and long-term cover for teacher absence, liaising with HoDs to ensure that adequate cover work is set as appropriate for the relevant lessons. Further duties will include managing the cover budget, leading and managing the team of Cover Supervisors and supervising classes to cover absences.  

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Manage Cover

Oversee the provision and management of Cover for absent staff across the school including planned and reactive absence cover:

• Manage the day to day cover for short- and long-term teacher absence
• Manage and administer the cover system in accordance with the School’s policy
• Receive and respond to information on staff absence on a daily basis
• Ensure efficient and effective arrangements are in place for covering classes and supervising of students’ learning when the class teacher is absent
• Allocate cover effectively and efficiently on a daily basis for all teaching staff absences including contacting agencies, booking supply cover, maintaining records and paperwork and managing cover budget
• Communicate any changes to the cover list and re-rooming of lessons to relevant staff/students
• Be the main point of contact for all cover staff (agency supply staff and Cover Supervisors)
• Assign further roles to the cover team when they are not required for cover
• Observe cover supervisors in lessons to ensure they are working within the guidelines and organise support/training as appropriate
• Take lead responsibility for the induction of supply teachers and authorise timesheets
• Monitor agency supply staff for their effectiveness in the classroom and report to HoDs/supply agencies as necessary
• QA the effectiveness of cover provision through Learning Walks, lesson observation, liaison with HoDs and subject leaders, and share results to feed into whole school QA data

Line Management

• Line manage the team of Cover Supervisors, providing staff guidance, support and development as appropriate including performance management and health and safety matters.
• Participate in the recruitment process for cover staff and ensure appropriate and effective induction for new cover staff
• Ensure clear understanding within the cover team through effective team meetings and other communications
• Promote teamwork within the cover team and motivate staff to ensure effective working relationships
• Undertake formal performance management reviews of members of the cover team and ensure issues identified through performance management processes are effectively addressed for all team members, including training and development and participation in formal procedures where appropriate.
• Deliver high quality induction programmes for staff joining the cover team either as cover supervisors or through agencies.

Cover Supervision

• Responsible for supervising classes in the absence of the regular Teacher, and directing students in undertaking work/activities pre-set by the regular Teacher/Head of Department.
• Receive the class and take the register
• Maintain good order and manage behaviour constructively in accordance with the school’s classroom procedures
• Keep students on task as necessary
• Respond appropriately to questions raised by students
• Collect any completed work and return it to the appropriate teacher
• Deal with immediate problems/emergencies according to school policies
• Close the lesson and dismiss the class appropriately
• Report back to the regular Teacher and/or Head of Department on any issues arising including behaviour of students during the class

Decision Making

• To continue personal development as agreed at appraisal, actively engaging in the performance review process.
• To address the appraisal targets set by the line manager.
• To play a full part in the life of the Academy community, to support its distinctive aim and ethos and to encourage staff and students to follow this example.
• To promote actively the Academy’s corporate policies.
• To comply with the Academy’s Health and Safety policy and undertake risk assessments as appropriate.
• To show a record of excellent attendance and punctuality.
• To adhere to the Academy’s Dress Code & Staff Code of Conduct.

Responsibility

• Contribute to whole School events as and when required
• Support and contribute to the School’s commitment to ‘Every Child Matters’ to enable children to be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution; and achieve economic well-being
• Be committed to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people
• Be aware of the School’s duty of care in relation to staff, students and visitors and to comply with all health and safety policies at all times
• Be aware of and comply with the codes of conduct, regulations and policies of the School and its commitment to equal opportunities
• Comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.
• Be courteous to colleagues and provide a welcoming environment to students, visitors and telephone callers.

Other Areas of Responsibility

• Read and follow the relevant school policies
• Undertake training required to develop in the role
• Ensure all duties and responsibilities are undertaken in line with the school’s health and safety policy
• Contribute to the safety of children and young people and protect them from harm

This job description will be supported by the school improvement plan which may identify key distinct tasks and responsibilities for this role in the school year. These will be derived from ongoing school self-evaluation and other local/national priorities. The Postholder’s duties must be carried out in compliance with the school’s policies and procedures including child protection and safeguarding procedures.

These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exhaustive nor exclusive as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading of the post.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.