Pastoral Practitioner

At OFG, we work smarter so you can spend more time doing what makes you happy!

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!

Job Title:      Pastoral Practitioner

Location:      New Barn School, Welford, Newbury

Salary:        £24,000 per annum **(This salary is NOT subject to pro-rata and is the full amount before tax)**

Hours:         40 hours per week; Monday - Friday 8:30-4:30 and 1x5:00pm finish 

Contract:      Permanent, Term Time only 

UK applicants only.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Pastoral Practitioner to join our close-knit team.

About the role

Our Vision - We believe that with a great education, every neurodivergent pupil can thrive and make their way in the world.

The purpose of the Pastoral Support Worker is to work alongside teaching staff, parents/ carers and pupils; providing a 1:1 mentoring and/or tutoring role to specific pupils. The underpinning value of the work is to ensure that every pupil achieves their potential through the provision of targeted support and intervention, working with the school’s Senior Leadership Team. 

Under the direction of the Senior Leadership Team, the Pastoral Support Worker will contribute to all aspects of pupils’ well-being and achievement. The role will involve a mixture of dealing with parents/ carers, intervention groups, supporting learning in addition to managing pupils’ behavioural and attendance challenges. This will involve writing Support Plans and intervening with difficulties around the school in terms of pastoral support. 

General Responsibilities as Pastoral Support. 

The post holder will:

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils and young people
• Liaise with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure pupils who are identified as being in need of support receive appropriate help. 
• Assisting and supporting pupils during learning sessions, break time and lunchtimes, this will involve; managing pupil behaviour, lunchtime activities and rewards etc. 
• Take part in any relevant meetings to assist with pupil welfare e.g. review meetings with parents/carers and external agencies. 
• Management of rewards and sanctions for pupils: suitable and consistent interventions put into place as needed. 

About us

New Barn School offers a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum to boys and girls, aged 6–19 years who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health complexities.

New Barn School takes full advantage of its beautiful settings and fosters a love for using the outdoor curriculum including forest school, farm experiences and horse riding. The school is within a commutable distance of Swindon, Oxford, Andover, Basingstoke and Reading and other surrounding towns and villages.

Our services offer a stable, secure and supportive environment, in which the pupils and young people we care for can develop the skills and confidence necessary to help them fulfil their potential.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education and residential care for vulnerable pupils and young people. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

Why join Acorn Education? 

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 

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