Family Liaison Officer

Full Job Description

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).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job Title:            Family Liaison Officer 

Location:           Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD

Salary:                Up to £28,000.00 per annum depending on experience

Hours:                 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract:           Permanent, Term Time Only

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 to join our close-knit team at Dibden Park School, part of Acorn Education.

Purpose of the Role

As a Family Liaison Officer, you will provide a range of support to our students and their families. You will work directly with parents in a non-judgmental way, empowering them and their families to get the most out of the educational opportunities we provide.

You will have the ability to offer calm, appropriate and supportive advice to ensure the highest level of support for our pupils and families in line with the expectations and ethos of our school.

You will work as part of the safeguarding, pastoral and behaviour team and support families with parenting, attendance, safeguarding and school issues.

Qualifications: GCSE Maths and English at C/5 or above.

Responsibilities:

• Act as a point of contact for families/individuals needing support, and establish and foster good, trusting relationships with parents.
• To be available throughout the day by phone, Teams, email or text message and respond to all enquiries with an initial response within one working day.
• Where necessary or appropriate, schedule a return call from the relevant member of the school staff and keep parents/carers updated until the matter is satisfactorily resolved.
• Hold weekly virtual drop-in sessions via Teams.
• To provide practical advice and information about Autism and family support [advice] to parents in order for them to support their pupil.
• Research and share knowledge on local services relating to well-being, safeguarding and pastoral needs e.g., voluntary groups, health, support groups etc.

For a full list of Duties and Responsibilities, please see the Job Description

About Us

Dibden Park School is a brand-new school based in Southampton. Dibden Park School will place 60 students and will cater to students with social and emotional mental health and other complex needs. This is an exciting opportunity to grow and develop with a new staff team in a newly established independent special school.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. 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 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. 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. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit

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