Family Liaison Officer

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job title:        Family Liaison Officer

Location:      Acorn Park School, Banham, Norwich

Salary:       £25,089.02 per annum 

Hours:           37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm

Contract:        Permanent, Term Time only (plus 4 weeks)

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

We now have a fantastic opportunity for a Family Liaison Officer to join our close-knit team at Acorn Park School located in Norwich.

About the role

As a Family Liaison Officer, you will provide a range of support to our students and their families. You will work directly with parents in a non-judgmental way, empowering them and their families to get the most out of the educational opportunities Acorn Park School provides. 

 You will have the ability to offer calm, appropriate and supportive advice to ensure the highest level of support for our pupils and families in line with the expectations and ethos of our school.

You will work as part of the safeguarding, pastoral and behaviour team and support families with parenting, attendance, safeguarding and school issues.

Qualifications: GCSE Maths and English at C/5 or above.

Responsibilities:

• Act as a point of contact for families/individuals needing support, and establish and foster good, trusting relationships with parents.
• To be available throughout the day by phone, Teams, email or text message and respond to all enquiries with an initial response within one working day. 
• Where necessary or appropriate, schedule a return call from the relevant member of the school staff and keep parents/carers updated until the matter is satisfactorily resolved. 
• Hold weekly virtual drop-in sessions via Teams.
• To provide practical advice and information about Autism and family support [advice] to parents in order for them to support their pupil.
• Research and share knowledge on local services relating to well-being, safeguarding and pastoral needs e.g., voluntary groups, health, support groups etc.

About us

Acorn Park is a school for 98 pupils, who all have a primary diagnosis of Autism. We run two curriculum pathways – Formal and Semi-formal. Our Complex needs pupils are on the Semi-Formal Pathway which is highly personalised from their EHCP. We have a mixture of Day and Residential pupils as we have 8 co-located pupil’s homes on our 30 Acre site in rural Norfolk. On site, we also have a large Forest School and Animal Care Farm along with play facilities, a sports hall and sensory rooms.

Teachers can expect to be given a Laptop, have lunch provided daily with the pupils and have a range of benefits from Teachers Pension to Bupa Medical care and a number of salary sacrifice schemes too.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to a fully enhanced DBS and social media check.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 

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