Senior Teacher - Strategic Lead for Pastoral Intervention and Wellbeing in Lisburn

PERSON SPECIFICATION NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.

2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.

3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.

4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.

6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Qualifications/ Professional Membership: At the date of application, hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
• Experience: Have a minimum of 7 years post-qualification teaching experience in post-primary education, and/or equivalent experience in an affiliated educational body working in an area that relates to the post-primary sector, within the last 12 years. Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 3 years AND within the last 8 years have held a leadership post at a minimum level of Head of Year or Head of Department, including line management of staff. Demonstrable experience of how your leadership has led to measurable school improvement. Demonstrable evidence of continuing teacher professional learning of self, and evidence of delivering teacher professional learning to others.
• Other: Be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up post.

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage.

• Knowledge: The Northern Ireland Post Primary Curriculum and current policies and procedures; Current educational developments and the ability to evaluate and respond to new educational challenges and manage change effectively; Effective classroom pedagogy and how to ensure high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school; Effective data management; Effective organisational management, including the appropriate deployment of resources. Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection policy/practice. Knowledge of the Post-Primary Preventive Curriculum.
• Skills / Abilities: Lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others; Create an ethos and articulate vision for the future of the school; Develop good relationships at all levels and promote a collaborative and team approach among staff, pupils, parents and governors; Lead strategically and develop self and others in order to achieve outcomes; Promote, achieve, monitor and evaluate high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school; Develop effective partnerships between the school and the local community; Communicate effectively orally and in writing; Organise and prioritise workload effectively; Deal with staffing matters in accordance with EA policies and procedures; Manage time effectively.
• Personal Qualities: The successful candidate must demonstrate: Vision; A sound value system; Enthusiasm and motivation; Assertiveness and confidence; A caring child-centred approach; Integrity; Advocacy and empathy; Discretion; An ability to cope under pressure; Tact and diplomacy; Decisiveness; Adaptability.

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent, you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Qualifications and Experience: Demonstrable experience of leadership in a pastoral role, including monitoring and evaluation, resulting in measurable school improvement. Demonstrable experiences of working with external agencies in a pastoral capacity. Ability to teach subjects currently offered at Laurelhill Community College.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here. To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here. The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTS TO: Principal

Strategic Lead for Pastoral Intervention and Wellbeing

Generic Tasks and Responsibilities:

• School improvement and Quality Assurance
• Contribute to whole school leadership and management
• Contribute to School Development Planning
• Deputise for Deputy Principal when required
• Supervise and maintain high standards of behaviour throughout the school
• Line manage staff
• Liaise with Principal in the event of a critical incident
• Assist with whole school assemblies
• Plan, prepare and teach lessons
• Undertake other duties at the Principal’s discretion (to cover the duties of a post holder who is absent)

Responsibilities:

Preventative Pastoral Care:

• Create, implement, monitor and review strategy for whole school preventative pastoral care and pupil wellbeing
• Analyse PASS data to identify issues and support required for individual pupils and groups of pupils
• Liaise with external organisations to provide targeted workshops / presentations for pupils
• Liaise with EA to implement, monitor and review whole school approach to emotional health and wellbeing – Being Well Doing Well
• Oversee preventative curriculum and RSE Bullying
• Create, implement, monitor and review whole school strategy for promoting anti bullying
• Coordinate recruitment and training for anti bullying ambassadors
• Oversee and support staff in the completion of Bullying Concern Forms
• Support decision making for bullying threshold

Staff Health and Wellbeing:

• Create, implement, monitor and review whole school strategy for promoting staff Health and Wellbeing
• Coordinate training for staff health and wellbeing

Parental Engagement:

• Create, implement, monitor and review strategy for parental engagement
• Implement biannual parent survey
• Create health and wellbeing information for parents
• Chair PTFA meetings and plan termly events
• Coordinate parental support

Gender Identity Support plans:

• Create, implement, monitor and review pupil support plan

Safeguarding and Child Protection:

• Safeguarding Officer
• Attend multi agency meetings – LAC reviews / case conferences
• Complete referral forms to external agencies
• Carry out safeguarding risk assessments

Pupil Voice:

• Oversee student council and raise issues at SLT
• Coordinate pupil focus groups and raise issues at SLT

House system:

• Oversee coordination of house system

Staff responsibility:

• 2 x Counsellors
• Coordinator for Student Council and House System
• Coordinator for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Staff room committee
• BoG Committees

Pastoral Care, Safeguarding and Behaviour:

• Staff Health, Wellbeing and Attendance Policies
• Pupil Health & Well Being policy
• Staff Health and Wellbeing policy
• Anti-Bullying policy

Oversee:

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy
• RSE Policy