Student Welfare Officer

GFS opened in September 2012 with an intake of 100 year 7 pupils, and will grow year on year to become an 11 – 18 school of 700 pupils by 2018. This is an opportunity to join a smaller than average school with big ambitions. As a small school this role represents an opportunity to have a real impact on the life chances of the pupils we serve. As we continue to grow a new position has emerged for a dynamic individual who thrives on the pace and excitement of London schools. 

At its heart, the role of the Student Welfare Officer is about ensuring that the welfare of every pupil is protected and that the school is addressing the needs of every individual pupil. You will work closely with the SENDCo, Heads of Year and other key members of staff to ensure that pupils are offered the pastoral support that they require. You will be well placed to identify behavioural or academic patterns in particular students that may span subjects and will use data to help fulfil this task. You will be working with students and their families one-on-one, and in small groups, to provide support to any pupils needing additional pastoral assistance. Whatever your background, you will be used to working with challenging behaviour and building strong, trust-based relationships with individual young people.

As one of our SWOs, you will liaise closely with the Heads of Year, to ensure that there is effective communication between teaching staff, parents and pupils about the academic, welfare and behavioural interventions being implemented for pupils in the school, and that discipline is proactive, through early intervention and incident-response. 

You will work closely with the Deputy Head (DSP) with regard to matters of Child Protection and Safeguarding. You will be responsible for taking the lead on working with other local agencies, such as social workers, housing and health agencies, organising “Team Around the Child” meetings and playing the role of Lead Professional. 

You will work closely with contacts in the local borough and other external agencies such as the school nurse to ensure that pupils are receiving high quality multi-agency support where necessary. 

There are two core strands to the role of SWO that will ensure your outstanding pastoral leadership supports the ethos and vision of the school whilst providing a platform for all pupils to achieve outstanding outcomes in both their academic achievement and their personal development and wellbeing:

1. Discipline:

• As a SWO, you will be jointly responsible for successfully implementing the school’s behaviour management policy, which reinforces the school ethos of ‘high expectations; no excuses; no shortcuts,’ and to systematically and proactively tackle pupil academic and non-academic indiscipline. This includes a zero-tolerance approach to uniform, any behaviour that prevents learning, and all forms of bullying and harassment, thus ensuring pupils are flourishing in a safe environment.

2. Inclusion:

• As a SWO, you will work in conjunction with the rest of the Pastoral Team to ensure that pupils      requiring support with any aspect of their academic, emotional or personal development and wellbeing, are given bespoke and robust intervention,whilst not compromising on the ‘high expectations; no excuses; no shortcuts’ ethos of GFS.
• You will assist with our on-site inclusion unit that will educate challenging pupils who have to be temporarily removed from a mainstream classroom setting.
• You will perform the role of Lead Professional in “Team Around the Child” meetings. 

Greenwich Free School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

References:

Details of two referees must be provided on the application form including a full postal address and an email address.  Referees must know you in a professional capacity and should be well placed to comment on your suitability for the position for which you are applying. One should be your current or most recent employer. We also reserve the right to approach any previous employer listed on your application form.  We will ask previous employers to provide information on any disciplinary offences, allegations and investigations, including expired offences.

To apply please send in a completed application form along with a supporting statement no longer that 2 sides of A4 which details why you feel you are right for this post by 0900 Friday 5th May 2017  vhemmings@greenwichfreeschool.co.uk. Interviews will take place during w/c Monday 8th May.

CVs alone will not be accepted.

We value diversity and are committed to safeguarding and promoting child welfare. The successful candidate will be subject to enhanced DBS and any other relevant employment checks.