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- Tasks: Support families and students to improve engagement and attendance in school.
- Company: The Valley Leadership Academy, a supportive educational environment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full-time hours, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and impactful outreach.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives and strengthen community ties.
- Qualifications: Experience in family support or education preferred, strong communication skills essential.
The predicted salary is between 22274 - 24796 £ per year.
Reports to: Family support supervisor
Line Location: The Valley Leadership Academy, Bacup, Lancashire (Secondary school)
Salary: GBP 22,274 - GBP 24,796 per annum depending on experience
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full time, 35 hrs per week Monday to Friday Term time only + inset days
Closing date: 19/05/2026
1st Stage interview: Online interview 16th April 2026
2nd Stage interview: In person at the school setting 10/06/2026
Work Context: Based at The Valley Leadership Academy, the SHS Practitioner will work from a child-centred approach and be primarily concerned with developing and maintaining good working relationships with parents/carers, children and young people, teachers, head teachers and various educational support staff and other agencies. The workload is varied and negotiated with the schools prior to appointment.
Level of contact with children and young people: The responsibilities of the post require the holder to have substantial, unsupervised and daily contact with children, young people and their families, and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. SHS will organise and pay for this certificate.
Work with families: Work with parents/carers in a school context, supporting them and building their engagement with their child's learning and improving school attendance. Work alongside severely absent students with multiple barriers to attendance, supporting them to improve their school attendance and engagement in learning. Design and/or facilitate a flexible range of programmes of intervention to support parents/carers of children identified as vulnerable. Undertake outreach work which may include home visits, to offer a flexible support service in accordance with the SHS lone worker policy, in order to improve parental engagement with the school and with the child's learning. Act as advocate, mediator and negotiator in confrontational situations, maintaining communication with young people, parents/carers, schools and other agencies. This includes initiating and participating in meetings to discuss and develop ways of resolving problems. Provide targeted support on a one-to-one basis or for small groups with parents/carers, children and young people through either self-referral or school staff referral. Advise and inform parents/carers about relevant local services and where appropriate make referrals to other agencies.
Additional Requirements Depending on the Needs of the School: Provide transition support between secondary school and feeder primary schools and between infant school and junior school, including mid-term admissions. Plan, prepare and run high quality, outcome-focused informal and formal parenting groups, workshops and courses, in line with the project objectives and local authority Parenting Strategy. Monitor and track attendance and punctuality of children and young people and work with families and School attendance staff to gain improvements through identifying and tackling underlying issues.
Other Organisational Responsibilities: Attend out of hours meetings, for example parent evenings and school events. Regularly attend local area meetings and conferences and other meetings or working groups for exchange of information and best practice. Take ownership and develop a learning plan and review this with the SHS line manager to ensure reflection and development of own practice. Ensure that good practice and equal opportunity principles are complied with and promoted in accordance with SHS values and Diversity/Equal Opportunities Policy. Conform to health and safety legal requirements as laid down by the school and SHS. Ensure that a high level of confidentiality is maintained in all aspects of working with parents, staff and children.
School:Home Support Practitioner employer: TipTopJob
Contact Detail:
TipTopJob Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land School:Home Support Practitioner
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school culture! Before your interview, do a bit of research on The Valley Leadership Academy. Check out their website and social media to understand their values and approach. This will help you connect with the interviewers and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Set up mock interviews with friends or family. Focus on common questions for support roles, like how you’d handle difficult situations with parents or students. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform in the real deal!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your soft skills! As a Home Support Practitioner, your ability to communicate and build relationships is key. During your interviews, share specific examples of how you've successfully engaged with families or resolved conflicts in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interviews, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a nice touch that can set you apart from other candidates and keep you fresh in their minds.
We think you need these skills to ace School:Home Support Practitioner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match the School: Home Support Practitioner role. Highlight your experience working with families and children, as this is key for us at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since you'll be working closely with parents, teachers, and students, it's essential to demonstrate your strong communication skills in your written application. Use clear and concise language to show us you can engage effectively with diverse audiences.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application! We want to see the real you, so don’t hesitate to share your passion for supporting families and improving children's education. Authenticity goes a long way in making a connection.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and keep track of your application. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at TipTopJob
✨Know Your Role
Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities of a School:Home Support Practitioner. Understand how to build relationships with parents, children, and educational staff. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you would use to engage families and improve attendance.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to support vulnerable children and their families. Highlight any experience with outreach work or facilitating parenting groups, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Practice Active Listening
During the interview, practice active listening. This means not just hearing but understanding what the interviewer is saying. Respond thoughtfully to questions, showing that you value communication and collaboration, which are crucial in this role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions where you might need to mediate a conflict or support a family facing challenges. Think through potential situations and how you would handle them, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and child-centred approach.