At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable students and families to improve attendance and wellbeing in a specialist school.
- Company: Join a compassionate SEMH school dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, health plan, discounts, and excellent pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on young lives while developing your career in education.
- Qualifications: Experience in safeguarding or pastoral roles and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 20866 - 22987 € per year.
We are seeking to appoint a dedicated, organised, and compassionate Admin of Attendance and Safeguarding officer to join our specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school. This is a vital role supporting vulnerable young people and their families to improve attendance, wellbeing, and engagement with education. The successful candidate will play a key role in promoting high levels of attendance, supporting safeguarding procedures, and working closely with students, families, staff, and external agencies to ensure pupils are safe, supported, and able to achieve their full potential.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor, track, and promote student attendance and punctuality
- Follow up daily absences and work proactively with families to improve attendance
- Maintain accurate attendance and safeguarding records
- Support the school’s safeguarding systems and procedures in line with statutory guidance
- Liaise with external agencies, local authorities, and parents/carers
- Provide pastoral support to students and families where appropriate
- Work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and wider pastoral team
- Contribute to safeguarding meetings, referrals, and documentation
Ideal Candidate
- Have experience working in attendance, safeguarding, pastoral, or welfare roles within education or children’s services
- Have a good understanding of safeguarding legislation and attendance procedures
- Be able to build positive and professional relationships with students and families
- Demonstrate strong communication, organisational, and record-keeping skills
- Be calm, resilient, and able to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment
- Have experience supporting vulnerable or hard‑to‑reach young people, ideally within an SEMH setting
Benefits
- An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)
- Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’ service including Bank Holidays)
- Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to support your well‑being.
- Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands.
- Free Eye Tests
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to our Institute of Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and flourish in your role and in the Trust.
Salary and Working Hours
Actual Salary: £20,866-£22,987
Working hours: 32.5 hours per week
Attendance & Safeguarding Officer employer: Portland School
Join our dedicated team at a specialist SEMH school where your role as an Attendance & Safeguarding Officer will make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable young people and their families. We offer a supportive work culture, generous holiday entitlement, and access to health and wellbeing resources, ensuring you thrive both personally and professionally. With opportunities for growth through our Institute of Education, you will be part of a community committed to fostering engagement and safeguarding in education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Attendance & Safeguarding Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the education sector, especially those who work with attendance and safeguarding. You never know who might have a lead on a job or can give you insider info about the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the school’s values and recent initiatives. Show us that you’re not just interested in the role, but also in how you can contribute to their mission of supporting vulnerable young people.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions related to safeguarding and attendance. We want to hear how you would handle specific scenarios, so think of examples from your past experience that highlight your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and making a difference.
We think you need these skills to ace Attendance & Safeguarding Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in attendance and safeguarding. We want to see how your skills align with our mission to support vulnerable young people and their families.
Showcase Your Compassion:In your written application, let us know about your experiences working with students and families, especially those who are hard-to-reach. We value compassion and understanding, so share any relevant stories that demonstrate these qualities.
Be Clear and Organised:Keep your application clear and well-structured. Use headings and bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read. Remember, strong organisational skills are key in this role!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Portland School
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of safeguarding legislation and attendance procedures. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced by vulnerable young people, especially in SEMH settings. This will show that you're not just interested in the role, but that you understand its importance.
✨Show Your Compassion
During the interview, highlight your experience working with students and families, especially those who are hard to reach. Share specific examples of how you've built positive relationships and provided support. This will demonstrate your ability to connect with the community you'll be serving.
✨Be Organised
Bring along any relevant documentation or records that showcase your organisational skills. Discuss how you track attendance and manage records effectively. This will reassure the interviewers that you can handle the administrative side of the role with ease.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the school's approach to attendance and safeguarding. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute to their mission. Plus, it gives you a chance to assess if the school is the right fit for you!
