Family Liaison Officer/Deputy DSL

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!

Job Title: Family Liaison Officer/Deputy DSL

Location: Meadowcroft - The Lodge, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Salary: £25,719.98 per annum

Hours: 42.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent, Term time plus 6 weeks

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Family Liaison Officer/Deputy DSL to join our close-knit team at Meadowcroft - The Lodge School located in Wakefield.

About the role

Under guidance from the Head Teacher and the Senior Leadership Team, to engage with vulnerable families in order to formulate a package of support. To act as a point of contact in school for families in need of support. To signposting for families and refer for support when appropriate and liaise professionally with external agencies such as Housing, NSPCC, Sure Start, Social Care, Early Intervention Teams, Passenger Transport, YOS and Police.

To complete appropriate referral forms to external agencies as and when required, to attend multi-agency meetings as appropriate, carry out home visits where necessary and build effective relationships with families. To provide opportunities for families to engage with the school before their pupil begins to establish support and build relationships before the pupil starts at the school and to maintain regular contact with families of pupils receiving support to encourage positive family involvement in the pupil's learning.

To act as Deputy Designated Lead for the school and ensure all training is kept current and valid and to maintain record keeping in accordance with the policies and procedures in place in school, including case studies.

About us

Meadowcroft is an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 5 to 19, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs in 4 sites across Wakefield. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life.

We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them both academically and socially to encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build confidence in our students, so they are able to have a greater understanding of the wider community in which they live.

We have a team of fantastic multi-disciplinary specialists who work closely together to find creative tailored solutions to support the emotional development to make a positive life changing difference to our students.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education and residential care for vulnerable pupils and young people. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy.

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