Director of Student Support Services

Students come first is the guiding philosophy at Dulwich College (Singapore). We therefore invite applications from educators who share our pioneering spirit and dedication to serve the needs of the 2,750 individuals, aged between 2 and 18, across our community. We want to develop a culture focused on wellbeing where staff and students benefit from the best quality learning possible, have agency in their work and studies, and collaborate to build a sustainable and equitable world. 

Regarded as one of the leading international schools in Singapore, the College is academically selective and provides a rigorous curriculum, complemented by a rich co-curricular programme. We build upon an enhanced version of the English National Curriculum, followed by IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme. It is a genuinely international education. Our modern campus connects us to the greenery of Singapore and features technology-rich learning spaces, world-class performing arts facilities, swimming pools, sports pitches and gymnasia. 

The Role  

As the Director of Student Support Services at Dulwich College (Singapore), you will serve as an integral part of the student journey and oversee student support programs including English as an Additional Language, Special Education Needs, Social-Emotional Counselling and you will also liaise with University and Careers Advising. This role is pivotal in providing proactive and responsive leadership to engage all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to support students in order to ensure extracurricular, academic, personal and social pathway development and entitlement for all students. The Director of Student Support Services acts as a link to all relevant departments, that are essential to ensure student success. Reporting to the Deputy Head of College, you will support and promote a culture which is focused on growth, purpose, and a sense of belonging and flourishing in all aspects of the student experience. Become part of an exciting educational organization, that encourages individual attention on the student, supporting families through transitions and staff engagement thought professional learning and interactions.

Key areas of responsibility

It is paramount that the job holder promotes the welfare and safeguarding of all children within the Dulwich network of schools through the adherence and compliance to DCI Safeguarding policy and procedure at all times. If at any time an employee identifies abuse or likelihood of abuse of any child either at school, home or within the community, any concern must be reported immediately to the school or network-wide designated Safeguarding Lead in order to refer and report in accordance to the DCI safeguarding policy. 

• Collaborate with teams for the continual development and implementation of programming within social-emotional counseling, special education needs, English as an additional language to support the student journey to include, but not limited to:
• Collecting and analyzing cognitive, academic, emotional and behavioral assessment data for prevention and intervention recommendations
• Serving on school support teams
• Recommending early intervention services
• Implementing and evaluating tiered support systems in all areas of student services
• Developing cohesive systems and processes for programming that are culturally and contextually responsive
• Work closely as part of interdisciplinary teams including safeguarding leads, pastoral and academic staff to enhance student learning, wellbeing and the development of personalized pathways. 
• Partner with school leadership to support the strategic development and implementation of effective systems of support in all areas of student support services.
• Work closely with school based PSHE leads to ensure an excellent educational provision in all revalent areas across the College.  
• Collaborate as part of a wider team to make informed decisions and to ensure the articulation and vertical alignment of services and transitions from school to school and Year to Year considering context and overall strategic goals.
• Facilitate proactive and preventative practices and initiatives that promote social, emotional and educational development and the mental health and wellbeing of all students in partnership with school communities 
• Engage with evidence-based practices and tiered approaches for preventative practices and interventions within a holistic framework appropriate to stages of child development 
• Ensure school-wide protocols and quality processes for student protection, teaching and learning for diverse learners, behavior support and critical incidents and record keeping are implemented
• Manage the legal, ethical and organizational requirements within an educational setting including privacy, documentation standards and internal/external assessment accommodation requirements
• Collaborate with professional learning leads and other staff members to identify areas and ways to support professional learning on campus in the areas of student support services
• Collaborate with relevant leadership and faculty to ensure compliance with accrediting agencies in all areas of student support services 

Skills/Experience/Qualifications

• Relevant qualification/certification in school/educational psychology, school counseling or special education with experience in a school setting preferably at a master’s level with experience working interdepartmentally.
• Relevant experience of leading school based pastoral teams at a middle or senior level an advantage. 
• Relevant experience in the administration, interpretation and reporting on psychoeducational assessments, individual learning plans and tiered systems of support
• Experience working with international students and families with a deep, working knowledge of the importance of culturally responsive practice
• Experience in the development, implementation and support of tiered systems and processes to include relevant assessment practices, documentation, data tracking and analysis
• Relevant and responsive knowledge of current practice to support leadership in response to student protection issues and crisis and risk management  
• Comfortable working with outside agencies and community members to support programming in additional support areas as needed to include occupational therapists, educational psychologists, mental health providers, and speech and language therapists 

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy or socio-economic status. We support family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational needs allow. Staff recruited locally are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

Dulwich College (Singapore) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices which are aligned to the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection.  All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks, and successful references.

CPE Registration Number: 201027137D. Period of Registration: 09 January 2020 to 08 January 2024