SAFEGUARDING, CHILD PROTECTION and ATTENDANCE OFFICER

CANDIDATE INFORMATION BOOKLET

PRIDE IN BELONGING The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

Contents

Letter from the Executive Headteacher

3

Information about SGS Academy Trust

4

Information about The Forest High School

5

Advertisement

6

Job Description

7,8

Person Specification

9

Application Process

10

BE INSPIRED

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

July 2016

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for showing an interest in the position of Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer. The Trust is committed to supporting the provision of the best possible education for all learners in the primary, secondary and special sector who join the trust. South Gloucestershire and Stroud College is the largest post -16 provider in the greater Gloucestershire area and has the expertise to provide this support. There is a clear desire from the staff, students, parents and wider community for the school to continue to improve. The school is working hard to address its under-performance and has established an excellent working relationship with its school improvement partner Pate’s Grammar School. Pate’s is an outstanding school and one of the highest performing state schools in the country. Working for The Forest High School will be an exciting challenge. The SGS AT values staff professional development and you will have the opportunity, if appointed to partake in this. In particular, you will benefit from opportunities to develop and share practice alongside the Trust’s outstanding Safeguarding and Learning Support team, in addition to additional support from the Trust’s Lead Safeguarding Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead. I look forward to receiving your application. Yours sincerely

Yvonne Jones Executive Headteacher

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) sponsor The Forest High School through the SGS Academy Trust. In our recent OfSTED inspection, SGS achieved the outstanding designation for Leadership and Management, Learner Support, preparing learners for employment, Sport, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Business. Our expertise in these areas will provide many opportunities for learners within the Trust including The Forest High School who will have access to wide range of specialist resources and teachers.

SGS formed the Academy Trust in 2014 to support primary, secondary and special schools in the greater Gloucestershire area who feel that their school needs to benefit from efficiencies of scale gained by working with the College. All schools in the Trust will have access to the physical, human and intellectual support available from the College. For more information on SGS, please visit our website at www.academytrust.sgscol.ac.uk

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

The Forest High School

The Forest High School is a 11-16 rural school situated in Cinderford sitting at the heart of the local town and the wider rural community that it serves. It is at the centre of the Forest of Dean, an area of outstanding natural beauty. We are a small, safe and nurturing school which aspires to meet the needs of every single student in our care. Our student profile is fully comprehensive with 31.53% of our students receiving pupil premium, 21.92% SEN and 2.7% EAL.

Pastoral care is a strong feature at The Forest High School and a sense of belonging to the school community is generated through the House system and vertical tutoring.

We have high aspirations and expectations for all of our students’ performance. Our curriculum offers students an appropriate range of tailored academic and vocational learning pathways which are consistent with their abilities and aptitudes. Our dynamic programmes provide a vehicle for the development of personal skills and attributes, as well as helping to prepare for a wide range of opportunities beyond school. Active learning is integral to our school ethos and teachers have continuous CPD opportunities to give them the skills to foster this learning style.

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

Advertisement Job Title: School Lead Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer Salary:

£23,757—£26,394 (full time equivalent)

Contract : Permanent Hours:

37 hours per week, term time only plus INSET days

Start Date: 1 September 2016 This school role, based at the Forest High School, will be responsible for acting as the first point of contact, in conjunction with the Headteacher and other safeguarding practitioners for all safeguarding and Prevent referrals, interventions and concerns at the school, including liaising with the appropriate external agencies and stakeholders. The Post holder will act as a source of school training, support, advice and expertise to staff on all matters of Safeguarding and Prevent. The role will involve supporting the school in its commitment to safeguarding and child protection through the effective implementation of appropriate strategies, policies and procedures. This is an exciting opportunity to join the forward thinking Forest High School as part of the SGS AT. The closing date for applications is Monday 25 July 2016 at noon. Interview date is to be confirmed. If you would like more information on this role or the role of the SGS AT, please contact the trust’s Deputy CEO, Emma Jarman. [email protected]

For an application pack please visit our vacancies page on our website www.foresthigh.org.uk

SGS AT is committed to equality of opportunity. Applicants will be required to demonstrate their commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people in line with the SGS AT’s policies and procedures. A satisfactory Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for this role. References will be requested before interview.

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

Job Description— Hours/week:

Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer

37 hours per week term time only plus INSET days

Contract: Permanent

Grade/Payment: £23,757- £26,394 (Full time equivalent) Line Manager:

Headteacher

Purpose of the Post: 

To provide a comprehensive and confidential co-leadership with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) on child protection and safeguarding (including Prevent)



To act as a source of school training, support, advice and expertise to staff on all matters of Safeguarding and Prevent



To deal with all matters relating to attendance and punctuality with the aim of improving levels of authorised and unauthorised absence.

Main Duties: SAFEGUARDING 

To act as the first point of contact, in conjunction with the Headteacher and school safeguarding staff, for all safeguarding referrals, interventions and concerns



To liaise with and make referrals to appropriate external agencies including Child and Adult Social Services; Police; MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) Internal and External Counselling services, CYPS (Children and Young Peoples Service), Family Intervention and Support Service (FISS) and the Youth Intervention and Support Service (YISS).



To ensure all safeguarding concerns (including Prevent) are dealt with promptly and appropriately and that all records relating to referrals and interventions are comprehensively maintained in terms information recorded, timelines, updated actions and confidentiality.

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To liaise with appropriate staff in regards to all safeguarding interventions and referrals

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To ensure that students whom are victims of abuse or neglect are supported appropriately and sensitively and to offer continuing support to those learners on Child Protection Plans

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To ensure referral and interventions are progressed in line with the School Safeguarding Policy.

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To sit on the cross SGS students with the aim of raising awareness of safeguarding and specific themes such as bullying, harassment and cyber bullying.



Complete local authority, LGB and Trust audits/returns/reports as required, inclusive of annual safeguarding reports.

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To act as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on all matters of Safeguarding across the school.

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To sit on Channel panels, Multi-Agency Child Protection Strategic meetings, Child in Need meetings, core groups and other meetings as and when required.

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To ensure all policies and procedures comply with relevant statutory guidance including: The Children's Act (1989) – Section 47; The Education Act (2002); The Children’s Act (2004); Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance (2016) and the Prevent Duty Guidance (2015)



Lead on school Safeguarding, Prevent and attendance initiatives as and when required.

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To undertake continuous professional development including the Level 3 Safeguarding Children and Designated Safeguarding Lead training every 2 years.

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Maintain an up-to-date relevant knowledge of key safeguarding issues including: CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation), Radicalisation and Mental Health.

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

ATTENDANCE



Ensure that registers are maintained in accordance with legal requirements and academy policy.

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Produce a list of absent students and arrange distribution to staff.

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Monitor attendance and punctuality and take necessary action, to include – contacting parents on the first day of unexplained absence, using the text messaging system or telephone, sending letters home, informing the Headteacher and appropriate staff.



Monitor patterns of attendance and refer all cases where attendance has fallen below 90% and/or where students regularly fail to attend.



To liaise with appropriate staff regarding their work with particular student absences.

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Be available to meet with appropriate staff (internal and external) each week.

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Prepare for that meeting; registers, referral forms and reports relating to attendance and an up to date attendance print-out.

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Prepare the annual attendance return as included in the census.

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To collect and file all letters from parents relating to attendance, log all telephone calls and record all reasons for absence electronically.

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After consultation with the Head and appropriate staff /or Progress Leaders, write to parents on matters of attendance and punctuality.

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Ensure that parents are aware of school’s policy relating to attendance, lateness and holidays in term-time.

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Where possible, attend regular half-termly meeting of attendance officers, and also additional training sessions as appropriate.



Prepare local authority, LGB and Trust attendance returns/reports as required.

IN GENERAL 

Contribute to the evaluation and development of services across the school as part of its ongoing self-assessment cycle.



Represent the school at internal and external events as and when required by the Head.



Undertake any other tasks as responsibly directed by Head.



Undertake any other duties and responsibilities and/or special projects commensurate with the grade of post.

OTHER DUTIES Provide Front Office cover as and when required.

All job descriptions are reviewed annually in line with the Performance Management process.

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

Person Specification – Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016

Application Process

The Forest High School is fully committed to the protection and safety of its students. Identity, DBS, Prohibition and medical checks will be required from the successful candidate.

Closing date for applications: Monday 25 July 2016 at noon

Applicants should complete the application form using the guidance provided and return the form to: E-mail— [email protected]

The Forest High School - Safeguarding, Child Protection and Attendance Officer June 2016