Description
Harmeny Education Trust is a charitable organisation providing therapeutic care and education to children who have experienced early years trauma through abuse, neglect and family disruption, referred from all over Scotland. We currently work with children and young people aged 5-18, both on a day and all-year-round residential basis.
We are seeking a Duty Manager (School Support) to provide leadership, operational management and behaviour support for six classes across Harmeny’s school community.
The Duty Manager (School Support) will work alongside colleagues in both Education and Care to help to support challenging behaviour and distressed emotions, to ensure that our learners are able to be “Safe, Ready and Respectful” and that attendance in school is treated as a priority.
The postholder will provide assistance and support to Education Management Team (EMT) and be an additional source of support and direction for the Education team. The postholder will ensure the smooth operational running of the school day, demonstrating consistently high standards of care of the children and leadership of the education team.
The successful candidate will work 35 hours per week, working term-time.
The pro-rata salary for the post is £35,337 per annum (calculated on the basis of a full-time equivalent salary of £39,946 per annum).
Harmeny is situated in a beautiful 35-acre woodland estate, which includes residential and education accommodation, community garden, orchard, wildlife habitats and children’s play areas. Harmeny is located in Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh, at the foot of the Pentland Hills; we are easily accessible by bus and there is on-site parking available.
We offer benefits and opportunities that promote wellbeing, work-life balance, staff development and security. Benefits include:
· On-site wellbeing spaces and free massage therapy
· Free gym membership and cycle to work scheme
· Access to a wellbeing app and counselling
· Access to discounts on shopping and events.
All staff receive a comprehensive induction package, and access to a range of learning and development opportunities throughout their career with us.
More information on the benefits of working at Harmeny, plus a fuller job description and person specification can be found at. Harmeny is a values-led organisation and a good fit with our ethos is as important to us as having relevant experience.
If you would like to find out more about this rewarding opportunity, please contact Mandy Shiel, Head of Education, on 0131 449 3938.
To apply, please complete the application form via our recruitment section at or by telephone on 0131 4493938.
Closing date: 25 April 2025
Interview date: 5 May 2025
Key Responsibilities
1. Promote a positive ethos in the school consistent with Harmeny’s vision, purpose and core values.
2. Support the School Day Co-ordinator with the implementation of management decisions, consistent with Harmeny and school plans, policies and procedures.
3. Be an integral part of the Education staff team.
4. Adhere to the requirements of the GTCS/SSSC Codes of Practice.
5. Help to develop and implement care plans that address the needs of the child during the school day.
6. Be involved in the development and implementation of risk assessment planning for children.
7. Be responsible for the care and welfare of children and staff, reporting any safeguarding or health and safety issues immediately, in line with relevant policies and procedures. This includes adhering to risk assessments for children and staff and relevant protocols within the role. This will also require the postholder to undertake the role of Fire Warden and First Aider.
8. Assist with staff recruitment and deployment of education staff, ensuring that effective cover arrangements are in place when necessary.
9. Be involved in the development and implementation of the school improvement plan.
10. Be able to understand children’s behaviour and support them to manage their behaviour themselves.
11. Where required, as a last resort, be capable of implementing physical intervention techniques.
12. Support children’s learning during the school day and promote attendance in school.
13. Support children to regulate their emotions through the use of Calm Theory techniques and pulling from the our methods listed in the Harmeny Way.
14. Attend regular staff and children’s meetings as required.
15. Ensure that all children’s case notes are up to date, reflective of the school day and therapeutically written by staff.
16. Be able to be flexible within the timetable and working patterns at the discretion of the Head of Education.
17. Work in accordance with all Harmeny policies and procedures.
18. Attend supervision, training and other meetings, as required.
19. Ensure effective systems of line management and leadership, professional support, supervision, and development of staff.
20. Contribute to the delivery of learning and development, as appropriate.
21. Participate in in-service training and recognised education training.
22. Participate in residential trips and holidays when required.
23. Carry out any other duties consistent with the nature of the post at the discretion of the Harmeny’s management team.
Additional Responsibilities
1. Take responsibility as delegated by the Head Of Education for managing resources of staff and finance to meet the needs of the children and the effective running of the school day.
2. Ensure a high level of security around the site, the primary school and Learning Hub, effectively actioning and reporting concerns.
3. Ensure that the highest levels of professional practice are maintained within the overall operation of the education learning environments.
4. Assist in the provision of professional support and direction for education staff.
5. Ensure that all recording and reporting systems are maintained and updated and to bring to the attention of the Head of Education or member of management in their absence, any issues of concern at the earliest opportunity.
6. To carry out the duties of the School Day Co-ordinator in their absence.
Skills, Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience
Essential
1. A qualification in line with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) or Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) requirements for residential child care workers, and an ability to work towards the SSSC requirements for residential child care workers with supervisory responsibilities. For more information, please visit www.sssc.uk.com.
2. An ability to drive fleet vehicles.
3. Experience in working within an education setting, including working with children with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs and who have experienced early years trauma.
4. Knowledge and understanding of children who are care experienced.
5. Knowledge and understanding of child development, childcare legislation, good practice guidance, policy and procedures and a commitment to children’s rights.
6. Knowledge and understanding of the Independent Care Review, “The Promise”.
7. Understanding of the duty of care to children and colleagues.
8. Understanding of the practice issues of physical intervention (PI), the ability to undertake PI when required, and ideally experience of undertaking PI.
9. Knowledge and experience of organising and delivering children’s activities.
10. Good communication skills, both written and oral.
11. Experience of mentoring and supporting new staff and students.
12. Good organisational and administrative skills and computer literacy.
Personal characteristics
1. Committed to high standards of education.
2. Able to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload within a highly pressurised working environment.
3. Accountable for the performance of their team and own performance.
4. Proactive and takes the initiative to gain the information needed for the role, with a flexible and ‘can do’ attitude.
Desirable
1. A qualification in line with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) requirements for residential child care workers with supervisory responsibilities. For more information, please visit www.sssc.uk.com.
Benefits
* A salary of £35,337 per annum (calculated on the basis of a full-time equivalent salary of £39,946 per annum).
* School holidays off, plus a payment that represents a seven-week holiday entitlement (incorporated into the salary)
* Pension scheme
* Life assurance scheme (three times salary)
* Policies and practices that promote health and wellbeing, including massage therapy and access to wellbeing spaces
* We are highly committed to the professional development of all our staff and the post-holder will have access to comprehensive training and development.
Harmeny Education Trust is a charity that provides care and education to remarkable children from all over Scotland who’ve had a challenging start in life. Our therapeutic services enable children to discover the wonders of childhood, and develop the skills and resilience to lead happy and fulfilling lives.