Student & Family Support Officer

Harris Academy Merton is currently looking to appoint a dedicated and experienced individual to support, assist and enable children to meet their academic and social targets. This includes improving standards of achievement by the early removal of barriers to learning for children/young people and families within our Academy.

About Us

At Harris Academy Merton we promote the ethos ‘'Achievement is Success'' and believe every student has the right to the highest standard of education so that they can accomplish their aspirations. Our aim is to give every student an educational experience that is enjoyable and holistic so that they develop into responsible, articulate and successful young people.

We combine the traditional values of strong discipline, good manners, respect and pride in appearance with contemporary best practice in teaching and technology. With these core values embedded, we develop our students into confident and capable individuals that have a desire to excel academically and personally now and in the future.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Raising standards of student attainment and achievement and to monitor and support student progress and attainment, with particular regard to SEND, LAC and EAL students.
• Assisting in the development of appropriate emotional and behavioural intervention strategies
• Implementing a full well-being and behaviour support and intervention service to students to support the Behaviour and Mental Health Policy
• Leading workshops and support sessions and monitoring and supporting the overall progress and development of students who require Early Help support
• Facilitating a support/intervention experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential
• Overseeing the Peer Mentoring Programme, to initiate, train and monitor peer mentors
• Being a strategic and operational member of the Academy's safeguarding team under the direction of the DSL
• Effectively using the CPOMS system and updating the safeguarding intervention tracker
• Supporting the academy safeguarding priorities and delivering appropriate training
• Leading the student and staff mental health and wellbeing strategy under the direction of the Mental Health Lead
• Liaising with safeguarding external agencies to plan and implement intervention and support programmes
• Meeting with students and providing support and advice as appropriate (including bereavement)
• Making contact with parents/carers as and when required
• Attending multi-agency meetings and leading TAC and TAF meetings
• Supervising workshops run by outside providers and facilitating in house workshops
• Keeping up to date with the needs of young people and the problems they face through national and local agendas
• Helping students set appropriate targets and understand how they can make improvements to their performance
• Carrying out home visits to parent/carers of students who are unable/unwilling to attend the academy, and setting up and implementing appropriate support
• Working closely with the Attendance Lead and DSL to strategically lead on support for students who are CME are absent from education
• Leading on preventive work for students with poor attendance and provide support and guidance for children and families so that they do not become CME

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to GCSE Level or equivalent (including BTEC) in Maths and English Grade C or Level 4
• Competency in the use of Microsoft Office packages
• Proficiency in the use of computers and databases
• Basic skills in English language and grammar
• Previous experience in administration capacity
• Experience of working within customer service role involving liaison with colleagues, stakeholders or clients
• Experience of supporting children and young people with a variety of needs
• Experience of working in a dynamic working environment where adaptability and flexibility are key features

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.