Pastoral Support Worker

Pastoral Support Worker

Grade 4 Salary - £24,294 - £25,979 (FTE)

Pro-rata - £21,504.26 to £22,995.77

West Gate School is an over-subscribed special setting for over 200 4 to 19 year olds. We cater for children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities. Most of our pupils have severe learning difficulties, speech language and communication difficulties and autism.

This is an important and exciting opportunity for someone to support and engage with our pupils and their families. The successful applicant will be able to form strong, positive relationships with our pupils and community, have a desire to improve outcomes for learners with SEND and be tenacious in pursuing the best opportunities for our pupils, sometimes dealing with sensitive matters with empathy and understanding.

 The successful candidate will join our dedicated and lively Welfare Team, who play a crucial role in both the day to day and strategic operations of school life. We would like our Pastoral Support Worker to undertake training appropriate to the role, such as training to be a Designated Senior Leader (deputy) for Safeguarding. Therefore, experience is less important than a positive attitude and willingness to learn!

Role and responsibilities will include:

• To act as a deputy Designated Senior Leader (DSL) for safeguarding, liaising with early help and DAS as needed
• To Support staff in all pupil welfare, medical and care related needs in school
• First point of contact for families during teaching time
• First point of contact for professional organising times and dates of visits liaising with colleagues to ensure its appropriate
• Ensure accurate records are kept of all incidents, input, and interventions
• Breakfast club and grants – own car and willing to have business insurance is essential as food needs to be bought for breakfast club
• First aider
• Regular phone calls home to parents covering sensitive/upsetting topics
• Transport – supporting new applications, undertaking staff call outs for arrival and dismissal
• Managing the family room/medical room in conjunction with Parent Link Worker
• Parent support, sign posting, coffee mornings and newsletters
• Support transitions into school with families
• Home visits
• Home tuition support for pupils who are temporarily unable to attend school
• Supporting parent with training offered by school e.g. PES/Communication and sign posting them on to external agency e.g. LCI team
• Attending appointments with families on occasion transporting them
• Organisation and delivery of summer school – 1 week per summer holiday
• Social media and online safety support for pupils and families in conjunction with Parent Link Worker
• Mental health first aider (pupils)
• Completing applications for DLA/PIPs, MARFs, family fund and housing support
• Making referrals to the school nurse and organising the dates for them to attend school
• 1:1 support for struggling pupils
• Phone calls to vulnerable/struggling families during closure time
• Team Teach trained and willing to support in stressful/crisis situations for pupils
• Willing to occasionally work out of usual hours

Hours: 37 hours per week (40 weeks per year)

Closing Date: 7th May 2024

Start Date: Monday 17th June 2024

West Gate School is committed to safeguarding children and young people and promoting their welfare. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Should you be successful you will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Application forms should be fully completed and submitted with a covering letter. Please outline in your covering letter of application, the skills and attributes you will bring to the post.

If you have not had any contact from the school within a fortnight after the closing date please assume that, on this occasion, your application has been unsuccessful.