Senior Teacher - ETA Specialist Group - Belfast TOPS

Primary Location: Westcourt Centre, Belfast.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Responsible to: Head of Service for Exceptional Teaching Arrangements (ETA)

Responsible for: ETA/EOTAS offers and requires a truly multi-disciplinary approach across professionals working with young people. Specialist ETA Groups have been established throughout the Education Authority to meet the needs of young people who, as a result of their mental health and/or illness, are unable to maintain a full-time placement in mainstream education. The team consists of teachers, support staff and wider agencies to enhance the learning process for pupils and provide an exciting curriculum based on the individual needs of pupils.

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic, self-driven, flexible senior teacher to manage the ETA/EOTAS TOPS provision. You must be able to manage teaching staff who deliver a bespoke curriculum to young people who have a range of abilities, monitor and assess progress to ensure the best possible outcomes for individuals, and offer support to pupils through their learning. You will have a commitment to developing outstanding practice and a passion for making a difference to the education and lives of our young people by building positive, supportive and nurturing relationships. Successful applications will be expected to play a full part in supporting and shaping the ETA EOTAS provision.

This role includes:

• Leading a staff team and ensuring a consistent, cohesive and comprehensive approach to the education of young people who are unable to attend mainstream schools;
• Securing student commitment and regular attendance at the support programmes offered;
• Supporting the educational, social and personal development of students.

Information about ETA/EOTAS TOPS

ETA/EOTAS TOPS forms part of the EA’s Exceptional Teaching Arrangements service to schools for pupils with social, behavioural, emotional and well-being difficulties (SBEW) at KS4. Pupils accessing TOPS are referred via Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Pupils that take up a placement within any of the ETA EOTAS programmes also remain on the register of their mainstream school. The support offered will include centre-based curriculum. Multidisciplinary work is an essential part of the work in each programme. Collaborative working with schools is an essential element of the work within the ETA EOTAS programmes.

Hours of work will be teacher terms and conditions but because of the nature of the work there is a need for flexibility to enable the senior teacher to perform all the necessary duties in connection with ETA/EOTAS.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Key Responsibility Areas

• Day-to-day management of the designated ETA staff and provision;
• Delivery of training; advice and support to students and staff of the Service within the designated area;
• Completion of PRSD/Annual Appraisal with identified staff;
• Liaison with senior management of ETA and other professionals as appropriate;
• Liaison with parents/carers;
• Maintenance of appropriate records in respect of students and staff;
• Collaboration with a range of providers from a multi-agency perspective;
• Development of self in order to enhance performance.

1. Key Tasks

• Support the academic and pastoral development of students;
• Work with teaching staff, parents/carers and other parties to negotiate appropriate individualised programmes of support for each student;
• Secure regular attendance/commitment and track the educational achievement and accreditation of students;
• Organise and facilitate pupils/parent-carer/school review meetings;
• Establish and monitor work experience opportunities and vocational links for Key Stage 4 students;
• Work with staff to develop a range of diversionary programmes to support students’ engagement in the process;
• Maintain effective and efficient records of pupils’ attendance, attainment and progress;
• Report as required to the Head of Service and participate in management meetings as required;
• Participate in continuing professional development activities, including PRSD;
• Carry out PRSD review/staff appraisals with identified staff, within designated timescales;
• Manage time budgets;
• Manage EA Oracle systems – staff attendance/timesheets/procurement etc.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

NB The above is an exemplar of the major tasks and activities of the post. It is not intended as an exhaustive list of every one of the post holder’s duties. The full professional duties of the post are as set out in Schedule 3 of the Teachers’ (Terms and Conditions of Employment) regulations (NI) 1987.

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.
2. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
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 on 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.

• Applicants must hold a teaching qualification as approved by the Department of Education (NI);
• Have a minimum of 5 years post primary teaching experience within the last 10 years in a post-primary setting;
• Have experience of managing a team and/or a curriculum area with teaching allowances;
• Have experience of teaching pupils on the Code of Practice, including those with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

Other

The successful candidate will be required to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.

The successful applicant must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland upon taking up employment.

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

• Knowledge of the curriculum in general and specifically within the area of social, behavioural and emotional wellbeing needs (SBEW).
• Knowledge of current educational developments within the area of SEN.
• Knowledge of school/service development planning including implementation and review.
• Knowledge of the evaluation of teaching and learning through monitoring activities including: Scrutiny of planning, Analysis of results and assessment data, Attending planning meetings, Leading staff training.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Teams and other software systems.
• Knowledge of the PRSD scheme including Review.

Skills/ Abilities

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of:

• Have the ability to lead and work effectively with an inter-agency team.
• Be a highly motivated team player with a pro-active and flexible approach with the ability to work on own initiative.
• Possess good presentation, written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to organise and lead regular team meetings with teachers.
• Ability to organise requisition and team resources and liaise with the examinations officer.
• Ability to ensure adequate provision for the continuation of learning in the event of a unplanned/planned teacher absence, and to meet service need.
• Assist in the induction of beginning teachers, teachers following EPD as and when necessary.

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values.

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.

• Training and experience in the invigilation, internal verification and assessing of OCN or other vocational qualifications.

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

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.