Pupil Wellbeing Auxiliary (Senior Clerical Officer) in Antrim

The School seeks to appoint a Pupil Wellbeing Auxiliary (Senior Clerical Officer) who will assist the Head of Pastoral Care to promote positive wellbeing by providing support services to improve the wellbeing of all students. Support services will take place within the dedicated Wellbeing Hub at the School site, which may include coaching, signposting/referrals, group activities and enrichment activities to support positive mental health and wellbeing.

The post holder will assist the Head of Pastoral Care to implement and monitor strategies and interventions aimed at improving the wellbeing of students and will promote positive wellbeing support strategies and resilience for adult life. The postholder will assist the Head of Pastoral Care in ensuring conditions in the Wellbeing Hub are conducive to wellbeing in a safe and welcoming environment and will also carry out a number of key administrative tasks as required by the needs of the post and/or at the discretion of the Head of Pastoral Care.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Student Mentoring
  • To assist the Head of Pastoral Care to implement and deliver a range of preventative wellbeing strategies for students with mental health and behavioural difficulties e.g. anger management, anxiety, mentoring, attendance workshops or other related sessions to promote positive learning behaviour within the scope of the post.
  • Under the direction of the Head of Pastoral Care, to lead the Wellbeing Ambassador Pupil Team.
  • Under the direction of the Head of Pastoral Care, to refer pupils as necessary to appropriate external agencies.
  • To act as a first aider to support pupils when needed.
  • Under the direction of the Head of Pastoral Care, to support pupils referred to the wellbeing hub through the use of restorative behaviour techniques where appropriate.
  • Under the direction of the Head of Pastoral Care, to liaise with and refer to external agencies and to attend relevant meetings with them and/or parents as appropriate.
  • Under the direction of the Head of Pastoral Care, to contribute to pupil passports/personalised learning plans/behaviour learning plans.
  • To undertake general pupil supervision duties.
  • To support the Heads of Year and School Leadership Team in relation to Pupil Wellbeing.
  • To support the pastoral team.
  • To support the provision of work for pupils in conjunction with the Integration Co-ordinator.
• Administration
  • Operate manual and/or computerised information systems in relation to administrative tasks associated with the area of work.
  • Complete and submit all records/returns as required.
  • Maintain an inventory/records of resources.
  • Order/purchase, receive, check, store, securely and distribute resources.
  • Assist in school administration and photocopy as directed.
• Other duties
  • To assist the Head of Pastoral Care in making sure staff can:- Recognise signs and symptoms of mental health needs in students, and- Know what to do should they have a concern.
  • Support staff in contact with students with mental health needs to:- Promote positive wellbeing- Help raise awareness, and- Give all staff the confidence to work with these students.
  • Participate in any relevant training/development as required.
  • Implement all school policies and procedures.
  • To develop effective relationships with other school staff, parents, and students to ensure a coordinated approach to achieving the aims and objectives of the post.
  • Any other duties as may be assigned within the level of the post.
• Planning and Organising
  • Under the direction of the Head of Pastoral Care, the post holder is expected to plan, co-ordinate and prioritise the above activities to support the smooth and efficient running of the school and the Wellbeing Hub at all times.
• Internal and External Relationships
  • The post holder reports to the Head of Pastoral Care. The post holder is expected to develop effective relationships with other Crumlin Integrated College staff, parents and students to ensure a co-ordinated approach to achieving the wellbeing of all students.

FLEXIBLE WORKING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

• OPTION 1
  • You are required to be on duty during school term plus two additional weeks. The timing of the two additional weeks is at the discretion of the Principal of the school.
• OPTION 2
  • You are required to be on duty for the contracted weekly hours, working during periods of school closure except when on annual leave or other authorised absence. Duties will normally be provided by the school. However, where necessary, alternative work and/or training will be provided by the Authority at any other such place of employment as may be reasonably required.
• OPTION 3
  • To work as for option 2 with a further option to request periods of unpaid leave during extended school holidays or closures.

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.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

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.

You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below. 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.

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. 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
  • Qualified to NVQ 3 or equivalent in a relevant discipline e.g. Psychology or Mental Health / Wellbeing.
• Experience
  • Experience of working with young people in an educational environment.
  • Experience of and commitment to applying requirements of safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures with ability to demonstrate discretion, and confidentiality.
  • Experience working as part of a team.
• Other
  • Willingness to undertake job related training and responsibility for your professional development.
  • Able to be flexible and adjust working patterns to the demands of the role so that the quality of service is maintained.
  • Evidence of how your experience and approach demonstrate your desire to support the education and achievements of young people as well as reflecting the values and ethos of the EA/the School’s.

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

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

• Skills / Abilities
  • Evidence of knowledge of:
  • The requirements of a Wellbeing Lead.
  • National and local mental health services.
  • Both the physical and emotional health in promoting the wellbeing of an individual.
  • Forming and maintaining appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people.
  • Exceptional interpersonal and organisational skills.
  • A willingness to learn new skills and approaches and to share the experience with others.
  • Ability to listen to and communicate effectively with young people.
  • Ability to write reports, produce management information and accurately collate and analysing relevant data.
  • Ability to liaise sensitively with parents/carers recognising their role in the student’s learning both verbally and written.
  • Ability to work unsupervised and on one's initiative, to be proactive and adapt where necessary.
  • Ability to be innovative and flexible whilst developing new strategies and methods of evaluating the impact of wellbeing programmes.
  • Ability to apply a pastoral and child centred approach and belief in the value of individuals.

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 / Experience
  • Accreditation and membership with an appropriate organisation, e.g., BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).
  • Mental Health First Aid training in Higher Education or similar.
  • CYP-IAPT Qualification (such as EEBP, CWP).
  • Experience of counselling in an educational environment.
  • Experience in dealing with young people in work or home situations.

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.