Orchard Fields Community School Governors are looking to

appoint a Welfare Officer (Level 3 or equivalent

qualifications) Practitioner for May 2025 to cover a Maternity Leave

An Enhanced DBS Check is required for this post

Dates: Apply by Tuesday 1st April 2025 (Noon)

Location: Banbury

Contract type: Full Time/Flexible Working Hours will be considered

Contract: Fixed Term One Year Contract

Salary: Grade 6 with pay ranging from £25, 992 - £28, 163 Pro Rata depending on experience.  Actual Salary for 32.5 worked and up to 43.5 weeks, which includes holiday entitlement  will be £19, 098 - £20, 694

Hours: 8.30am – 3.30pm (Includes a 30 minutes unpaid lunch break)

Orchard Fields Community School is a large two-form entry school (2 – 11 Years) on the Bretch Hill estate. As a school, we strive to recognise and develop children’s personal strengths and talents. Our pupils are well-behaved, enthusiastic learners and our teaching team is welcoming, hardworking and supportive.

We are looking for an outstanding nurturing, caring safeguarding practitioner to work in our school; to cover our current Welfare Officer’s maternity leave. Duties will include child protection/safeguarding duties. Experience in working within a nurture/pastoral role, safeguarding and or the monitoring of attendance would be hugely advantageous.  We require someone who is empathetic and able to support pupils with their social and emotional well-being. You will need to have a fun, outgoing personality and be able to relate to and develop good relationships with the children and their parents. As part of the role, you will need to support pupils and families in improving on the children’s attendance. This will involve doing some parent contracts (training will be given) and home visits with a colleague to encourage children to attend school. Part of this role will require attending Team Around the Family, Children in Need and the occasional Child Protection meetings. Liaison with agencies such as Early Help, CAMHS, the School Nurse/Health Visitor will also be required. This is a good opportunity for a talented, caring and supportive practitioner to join our highly skilled, dedicated team to help make a real difference to children’s future outcomes.

Join us and you will receive full support and CPD opportunities from the school’s Senior Leadership Team.

The successful candidate will be:

·         An inspiring and motivated Safeguarding Practitioner who is eager to develop their skills further

·         Committed to excellence and have high expectations of all pupils, including vulnerable groups

·         Able to work within the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures with competence

·         A highly effective practitioner in terms of supporting pupils’ well-being and promoting their self-esteem

·         Be able to develop positive relationships with staff, pupils and parents and have excellent interpersonal skills

·         Rigorous in ensuring pupils make the required emotional well-being progress in order to reach age related expectations or their full potential

·         Show a commitment to extra-curricular activities and parental engagement events

Candidates are strongly advised to visit the school by prior arrangement. Please contact the School Office Manager, Mrs Julie Turner. You are most welcome to have an informal chat with the head teacher Mrs Dawn Shilston. Please arrange an appointment with Mrs Turner on 01295 263324.

Closing Date:  Tuesday 1^st April 2025 (Noon)

Short listing: Tuesday 1^st April 2025 (PM)

Interviews Thursday 3^rd April 2025

Successful candidates will be informed by telephone on the day of interviews. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being and safety of all pupils and expects staff to share this ethos. An Enhanced DBS check is required for this post.