JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Pastoral Support Officer
REPORTS TO: School Principal
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Support staff
PURPOSE
To support the School’s Pastoral Support Team to promote the social, behavioural and emotional wellbeing of pupils and to tackle any obstacles (social, emotional or behavioural) to learning.
Related services
1. Assist in the completion of UNOCINIs if required.
2. Attend case conferences and LAC reviews on behalf of and with students.
3. Undertake home visits as and when required.
4. Mobilise family, school and community-based resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in his or her educational programme.
5. Assist in developing early intervention strategies to address pupil needs including mental health, emotional literacy, self-discipline and negative peer and community influences.
6. Ensure up to date records of students and family engagement.
7. Utilise a variety of sources of evidence to demonstrate impact in the role on a termly basis via a termly review report - students/ parental/ external feedback, student voice, attendance statistics, case conference attendance statistics, behavioural record and any other source of evidence that will demonstrate impact.
8. Work closely with the Safeguarding team and meet on a regular basis.
Services to students
1. Provide crisis intervention.
2. Develop intervention strategies to support academic success.
3. Use restorative and trauma-informed approaches to address and reduce conflict and/or wrongdoing.
4. Assist the student to develop emotional literacy and positive social interaction skills.
5. Act as advocate for students in case conferences.
6. Have appropriate programmes and support in place for targeted students.
Services to parents/families
1. Develop positive working relationships with parents/carers to support student’s school progress.
2. Signpost support to families that are struggling to access school and community resources.
Services to school personnel
1. Provide staff with information to better understand factors affecting a student’s performance and behaviour.
2. Undertake assessments on pupils who may have mental health issues.
3. Develop staff in-service training programmes on factors that impinge on students’ progress at school, e.g., trauma, neglect, domestic abuse.
4. Work with teachers to strengthen and restore relationships when issues arise.
5. Provide direct support to staff when required.
School-community liaison
1. Help school maintain positive working relationships with external agencies.
2. Identify and build an inventory of local community resources and external support services.
3. Assist in making referrals to appropriate statutory, voluntary and community organisations when student and/or family support is required.
4. Advocate for new and improved community/school service to meet the needs of students and families.
5. Help the system respond effectively to each student’s needs.
6. Identify, report, and process any safeguarding issues.
7. Provide case management for students and families requiring multiple resources.
Evaluated at SEO Grade, SCP19-25 (21 March 2023)
This post is subject to an annual performance review.
This job may be altered from time to time in line with the developing needs of the College.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS
1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.
Section 1 - Essential Criteria
1. Qualifications/ Professional Membership
Five GCSE's (A*-C) to include English and Mathematics or equivalent and a minimum level 4 qualification
2. Experience
A minimum of one year's experience:
Providing pastoral support in a school or youth setting
AND/OR
Experience of supporting young people with barriers to learning
3. Knowledge
Have a working knowledge of the Irish Language (Assessed via interview held in Irish).
Demonstrable evidence of knowledge of:
An awareness of pastoral issues facing post primary pupils
Health and Safety regulations, as relevant to the role
General administrative processes and records, including use of Sims
Section 2 - Essential Criteria
1. Skills/Abilities
Proven effective planning and organisational skills and an ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
Ability to work effectively as part of a team to achieve outcomes
Evidence of sound interpersonal and communication skills
Evidence of proficiency in the use of computer packages, to include use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
2. Values Orientation
Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect the school's values/ethos. You will find information about the school's values/ethos on our school website
Section 3 - Desirable Criteria
1. Qualifications/Experience
Experience of working with children/young people on a one-to-one basis in a post primary setting
Experience of working with parents/carers in order to provide support/signpost to relevant agencies.
DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.
Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.
APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES
To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.
To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.
The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer
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