Behaviour Support Co-ordinator

No two days are the same here at Meadowcroft, so if you want to be part of a great team that works at pace to turn “can’t do” in to “want to” and are flexible to meet the challenges of working with children with complex needs then we have the role for you!

We are an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 5 – 19 catering for children with a wide range of needs across two sites, Bar Lane and the newly opened Gallery located in the heart of Wakefield Town Centre.

Main Responsibilities

The post holder will manage and work as part of a team supporting the learning and behaviour of students. The post holder will provide practical support for individual students and work with the whole school to promote positive behaviour management.

Support to Students:

• To provide individual support or activities for students in danger of becoming disaffected or disengaged, in lessons, during break times, lunch times and on educational visits as appropriate.
• To work with individual students to raise awareness of appropriate behaviour and responses in the classroom and around school, providing them with feedback as to their progress.
• To manage challenging and extreme behaviour of individual students.
• To calm and diffuse difficult situations involving students.
• To promote positive behaviour management by modelling and suggesting effective strategies with students in class and around school, including at break and lunch times.
• To provide within class support for targeted students or groups of students on a short term basis or in particular lessons where there are barriers to learning for those students.
• To maintain contact with and provide support for parents and carers as appropriate.

Support to Staff:

• To provide positive role models for other support staff.
• To maintain dialogues with key people around individual children’s needs (for example: Community Leader, Pastoral Leader, form tutor, Class Teacher, Youth Service and Education Welfare)
• To provide other adults in school additional support in behaviour management through observation, shared planning and working alongside colleagues.
• To prepare materials and resources where necessary.
• To work with the AHTs in developing positive approaches with disaffected students as individuals or groups, in or outside of the classroom.
• To monitor and evaluate responses and progress against action plans through observation and planned recording, feeding back to appropriate staff.
• To participate in the comprehensive assessment of students to determine those in need of particular help.
• To assist in the taking of statements for any student involved in an incident that requires further investigation.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues with the training of other staff on issues relating to behaviour.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues to support Consequences in line with the relevant policies.
• To support the reduction of fixed term exclusions, internal exclusions and the raising of attendance.

The right candidate will be/have:

• Educated to Level 3 (A level or equivalent)
• Evidence of continuous professional development in behaviour management.
• Experience of working with families and young people who have challenging behaviours in a variety of settings including secondary education.
• An awareness of the current issues affecting young people.
• Experience of managing in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working with outside agencies
• Trained in counselling/behaviour management and child protection
• Knowledge of basic Microsoft packages: Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint – supported by achievement of ECDL or similar
• The ability to deliver a parenting programme or similar (desirable)
• Be First Aid Qualified (desirable)

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Effective behaviour management skills
• Good oral and written communication with students and adults
• Strong problem solving skills
• Ability to respond to challenging circumstances in a positive manner
• Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• Ability to manage a caseload under supervision
• Ability to prioritise own workload, meet deadlines and to work independently
• Able to work in a calm, efficient and safe manner
• Good ICT skills

Acorn Care and Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young people in our care. Successful applicants will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.