School and Family Worker

Pelton Primary School & Beamish Primary School

Grade 4 - £27192 - £30,007 actual salary based on working term time plus 2 weeks

37 Hours per week

Pelton and Beamish Primary Schools are seeking an exceptional School and Family Worker with a strong and demonstrable safeguarding background gained within a school environment. The successful candidate must have significant experience working directly in safeguarding, child protection or pastoral roles in an educational setting, and must be able to evidence a secure working knowledge of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and how this statutory guidance is applied in daily practice.

In this role, the School and Family Worker will support the Headteacher and  Safeguarding Leads in implementing safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures, ensuring all concerns involving children and young people are responded to promptly, appropriately and in line with statutory expectations. The postholder will act as an initial point of contact for safeguarding queries and provide clear advice to colleagues, supporting pupils who disclose information and contributing to safeguarding investigations where required. 

A key aspect of this role involves liaising confidently and professionally with external agencies including police, social care, health services, early help and the local authority on matters relating to child safety and welfare, including online and digital concerns. The postholder will promote constructive and supportive engagement with families, including those facing challenging circumstances, and will ensure that all child protection information is recorded accurately, held confidentially and stored securely in line with statutory requirements.

The School and Family Worker will be responsible for receiving, recording and responding to safeguarding information shared by staff, pupils, parents or external partners. This includes clarifying information, making referrals to statutory services when appropriate, informing relevant senior staff, and following all safeguarding procedures of the Trust. The role requires the effective use of CPOMS across both schools, including reviewing incidents, coordinating actions and supporting staff with accurate and timely reporting. The postholder will also monitor staff safeguarding training compliance and highlight when refresher training is required.

They will take proactive steps to maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, inter‑agency child protection procedures and national guidance, attending safeguarding training and sharing updates with staff as appropriate. This role also includes supporting pupils pastorally throughout the school day, liaising with nurseries and primary schools to gather safeguarding information during transitions, preparing reports for safeguarding meetings such as TAF, CIN, Strategy and Child Protection meetings, and acting as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the Prevent Duty. The postholder may be required to transport children and families and conduct home visits, and will maintain strong professional relationships with colleagues, external agencies and families.

Applicants must have 5 GCSEs including English and Maths and an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a relevant area. The most important requirement is substantial safeguarding experience within a school and a strong, applied understanding of KCSIE and child protection procedures. Candidates must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong behaviour‑management abilities, good IT skills and the ability to work with sensitivity, resilience and professionalism while managing complex and sometimes distressing situations. A full clean driving licence or suitable mobility support is also required.

Pelton and Beamish Primary Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and all safer‑recruitment procedures.

To arrange a visit to the schools or for any further information in regards to this role please contact Karen Telfer, Executive Headteacher on 0191 370  0260.

Interviews for this role are scheduled to take place on Tuesday 24th March

Please note the Trust operates a standard 6 month probationary period for all new starter's