Lead Practitioner - Running Deer School Full Time: 5 days per week (term time only) Salary: Band 2: £25,500 actual based on a 37.5 hour week, term time only About Running Deer Running Deer is a not for profit organisation based in Dartmoor National Park, which supports adults and children with learning and mental health difficulties, disabilities, and those not in education, employment or training. We provide access to education, training, volunteering, life skills opportunities, and work experience through a variety of outdoors-oriented projects. These projects include the provision of a registered independent school and intervention programme. About Running Deer School Running Deer School provides small, specialist, high-support education provision for local education authorities. Firmly grounded in outdoor education and rural skills, and with a strong focus on core academic achievement, we work with children and young people between 8 and 16 with a range of special educational needs. Running Deer School is a Trauma Informed School. Job Description This is a term time only position. Leadership training as required. Learning and Wellbeing Practitioners make up the core team of Running Deer School and our Intervention Programme. Working alongside other Learning and Wellbeing Practitioners and our teachers you will work 1:1 with our users delivering therapeutic activities and supporting them with their learning. The majority of your time will be outdoors in our woodland and surrounding areas working on projects and activities that will stimulate our users, enabling them to grow both emotionally and academically. Learning and Wellbeing Practitioners deliver project-based learning as part of our students’ individualised educational learning plan deliver therapeutic activities and learning based around traditional, rural, and bushcraft skills, deliver therapeutic activities involving animals, help to develop our user’s individualised learning plans, deliver learning activities which fit in with the national curriculum and other award bodies such as ASDAN, report daily on our user’s individualised learning plans, guide the personal development of our students, understand their role in safeguarding our students and staff and work with one another, our safeguarding officers, and external agencies to safeguard children and young people, act as a key worker for one or more of our users, and collate information from other Learning and Wellbeing Practitioners work cooperatively with other staff and senior leaders. Additional duties as Lead Practitioner include: line managing Practitioners in regard to professional practice. directing personnel issues to the correct personnel manager. to support and develop the practice of the Practitioners to be the formal point of contact between Practitioners and the senior team. Person Specification You will: have experience of managing teams and individuals have experience of delivering improvements in standards work alongside the senior team to implement change and ensure effective communications between the senior team and the Learning and Wellbeing Practitioners ensure that the changes are as effective as possible and in the best interest of the school have experience in youth work or working within a school environment be able to enthuse and stimulate children and young people with additional physical, emotional, developmental or mental health needs to enable them to reach their full potential, be adaptable, display initiative, and be able to work independently; we value creativity and unique thinking, demonstrate your ability to work and plan cooperatively, demonstrate your ability to develop and deliver project-based learning as part of an individualised education plan, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be committed to continuing professional development, be comfortable working with children and young people with additional physical, emotional, developmental, or mental health needs, be able to approach your role empathetically and without prejudice while maintaining professional distance and neutrality. be comfortable working outdoors in inclement weather. be able to commute to our site just outside Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor Requirements Essential skills and qualifications: - Experience in youth work, education, or community development in a sector with a focus on children and young people with special educational needs. - Excellent core skills (Maths and English) - Level 3 or higher qualifications (A-level or equivalent). - A demonstrable understanding of information technology, including online reporting systems - Leadership skills, experience and training Desirable skills and qualifications: - Experience working in an outdoor environment. - De-escalation and restraint training (e.g., TeamTeach) - Emergency First Aid at Work qualification. Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, which will include a check against the Children’s Barred List. References will always be taken up. Things to consider: Some of the young people we work with can display aggressive or non-compliant behaviour and you must be able to deal with this in a sensitive but firm way, while at all times ensuring that they are kept safe and well. The majority of the work associated with this role will be outdoors, and you will work in inclement weather. This role can be physically demanding and includes walking and hiking on inclined and slippery ground, heavy lifting and carrying, and the use of hand told. Please click Apply Now for further information and how to apply. Deadline is Friday 19th July 2024. Interview Date: Will be held before before the end of July 2024