Head of Alternative Education

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Head of Alternative Education

Odyssey Education Services are seeking a creative and enthusiastic leader to join them in developing a new strand to our education offering. We are looking for a Head of our Alternative Education. This includes our home learning offer and our soon to be available vocational offer.

This would suit a senior leader who is passionate about delivering an outstanding education to all students, whilst supporting their individual needs and learning styles.

If you would like the opportunity to join a rapidly growing team who are passionate about engaging our young people, contact us for more information or apply directly.

Duties and responsibilities

Service Provision:

1. Develop a strategic plan for all alternative provision across the group in line with the wider vision strategy for OES
2. Ensure robust processes are in place to develop the curriculum offer for all learners across the provisions
3. Support the Senior Leadership Team across the group in successfully fulfilling their vision for students
4. Oversee the effective management of all the alternative education pathways in daily workshop, classroom and outdoor activities for all students
5. Ensure OES safeguarding policies and all other policies are understood by all operational team members and adhered to
6. Hold overall responsibility that appropriate assessments take place for young people with a range of support and educational needs
7. Design, implement and continuously improve a wide range of creative and vocational programs, ensuring they align with our education vision
8. Develop and implement effective transition strategies to support learners moving between educational settings or into employment, ensuring continuity of care and education
9. Build strong relationships with local authorities, schools, parents, and external agencies to ensure the provision meets the needs of diverse learners
10. Prepare the provision for inspection process with the DofE, Ofsted and ISI
11. Lead OES NCFE offer (and any additional vocational exams offered) and ensure that assessments and evidence are submitted in a timely manner to ensure learners achieve their qualifications
12. Lead and oversee the outdoor programme and ensure all facilities are available
13. Oversee all risks associated with the vocational sites and outdoor activity, ensuring risk assessments have been generated for all activities
14. Ensure all H&S checks of alternative education pathways are complete in line with legal requirements including fire testing and legionella testing
15. Attend strategic level meetings with commissioners as required
16. Manage the Alternative Education budget to ensure a nil bottom line variance and that best value for money has been considered
17. Apply trauma-informed practice to ensure that learners with complex emotional and social needs are provided with the right support and guidance
18. Monitor and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of programs, using data and feedback to inform continuous improvement

Leadership

1. Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team taking a key role in specific organisational actions and lead the AP framework development with local authorities
2. Prepare the organisation for Ofsted, ISI, LA and DofE inspections linked to the AP
3. Ensure staff are recruited, inducted, supported and developed and that performance is managed promptly and effectively to ensure high standards of service at all times
4. Ensure that staff are adequately trained and empowered to work effectively and creatively with young people to enable them to achieve the best possible outcomes
5. Ensure that staff use safe working practices at all times, understand and are able to put into practice, de-escalation techniques and understand how to keep themselves safe
6. Create a positive, assets-based, supportive culture, where staff have a good understanding of professional boundaries and best practice and role model the behaviours expected of staff
7. Ensure that supervision, team meetings, reflective practice and team days are prioritised and take place in accordance with agreed standards
8. Oversee the performance and development of a multi-disciplinary team of staff, including teachers, mentors and support workers

Partnership

1. Develop and maintain effective and productive working relationships with organisations that have a direct link to the service and other services which add, or have the potential to add, value to the core, commissioned service
2. Attend relevant multi-disciplinary meetings, ensure close working links with relevant agencies, operate a partnership approach to working with individuals and maintain positive and close working relationships with a wide range of partners
3. Represent the organisation, including presentations, panel discussions, workshops, etc. at relevant local and regional events to help promote OES’ approach and build knowledge about the group
4. Work with the CEO, other SLT members and other organisations to create a service specification to deliver and develop new sites

General

1. At all times comply with OES policies and procedures (including Safeguarding, Data Protection and Equality and Diversity) and abide by the Code of Conduct
2. Any other duties as reasonably requested by the CEO/Business Director
3. Promote inclusion and diversity
4. Ensure confidentiality and safe storage of information and GDPR
5. Lead by example

What we can offer you

At Odyssey we pride ourselves on developing a creative and supportive environment. In addition to offering a competitive salary, our offer to you includes:

1. Newly renovated schools, refurbished to a high standard including air conditioning and staff wellbeing areas based in beautiful surroundings
2. Cycle to Work scheme
3. Supportive CPD offers
4. Onsite Parking (Wokingham site)

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and require all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the person specification and will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks which will, where applicable, include a health check, an enhanced DBS check, the Children’s Barred List check and satisfactory references.

It is an offence for an individual who has been disqualified from working with children to knowingly apply for, offer to do, accept, or do any work in a ‘regulated activity’. The post is advertised is a ‘regulated activity’.

Odyssey will undertake a basic online check for all shortlisted candidates.

1. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
2. Further evidence of study in a relevant field
3. Proven experience in leading alternative education, SEN, or similar settings
4. Significant experience of collaborative and partnership working with a wide range of services including education settings, health, local authority, parents/carers, children and young people
5. Experience and understanding of trauma-informed practice, with the ability to provide compassionate support for students with complex emotional and social needs
6. Experience in managing and developing staff teams
7. A track record of implementing innovative educational programmes (desirable)
8. Experience in working with learners with diverse and complex needs
9. Strong understanding of the SEN Code of Practice
10. Extensive knowledge of current national developments in terms of SEND and wider educational issues which will impact Local Authorities in our geographical area
11. Strong understanding of effective transition strategies to support learners through changes in their education and care
12. Strong understanding of holistic approaches to learning and well-being (desirable)
13. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels
14. Safeguarding of children and young people
15. Strong organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
16. A passion for creating inclusive, respectful and nurturing learning environments
17. Patient and calm
18. Desire to provide the best possible opportunities for all pupils
19. Organisation, time management, proactive and self-motivated

Apply

You will need to fill out the application form before applying. Please click here to download it.

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