JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB DETAILS Job Title: Service Manager (Education Support) Reports to: Head of Education Department: Education Location: Harmeny School Campus, Balerno Reporting to postholder: Social Educators, Education Support Workers and School Day Coordinator 2. CONTEXT / OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB Harmeny Education Trust Limited (HETL) is a charitable organisation providing therapeutic care and education to children with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs, referred from all over Scotland. As a Grant Aided Special School, we work with children of primary up to early secondary age, both on a day and all year round residential basis. In addition, our Workforce Development Centre offers qualifications and training to care, education and health professionals throughout Scotland. Our core service, Harmeny School, comprises: An education service, which includes an outdoor learning team A care service, with residential and day cottages Support Services, made up of finance, estate, IT, HR, admin and workforce development teams. HETL is committed to achieving the highest possible standards of care and education. Our therapeutic practices are supported and enhanced by the contributions of two therapists and carefully selected developments such as systemic practice, an effective approach to working with families and carers. The Trust has reached a point where there is real opportunity for growth, including the development of community-based services, in partnership with local authorities and the third sector. Working closely with the Deputy Head of Education, the Manager (Education Support) will be responsible for managing a team of education support staff to ensure the highest quality learning experiences and outcomes for children placed at Harmeny, which is based on a highly relational and experiential model of learning. The postholder will manage and lead staff in ensuring the maintenance of a nurturing and supportive environment, in order to provide the secure base children require to engage in their learning. They will also play a key role in supporting those aspects of the 24 hour curriculum which assist children in developing their social skills, as vital components of life long learning. With the supervision and guidance of the Head of Education, the Service Manager (Education Support) will be responsible alongside the Deputy Head of Education, Service Managers (Residential), Service Manager (Assessment & Planning), Service Manager (Learning & Development), Harmeny Outdoors Manager and Day Service Manager for the effective leadership, management and development of our 1
core service, Harmeny School. These managers constitute the Harmeny School Management Team (HSMT), which is jointly chaired by the Head of Care and Head of Education. The postholder will play a role in the strategic direction and growth of the organisation, working closely with the other members of HSMT and the Senior Management Team (SMT), to maintain Harmeny's sector leading provision and develop new services. 3. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY AREAS OF JOB Organisational / Trust-wide: 1. To promote and support a positive ethos consistent with HETL s Vision, Purpose and Core Values, with a particular emphasis on the learning and developmental needs of children. 2. To play a key role, alongside senior management colleagues, including active participation in Trust and community events, in encouraging the ongoing development and implementation of a therapeutic community approach, designed to ensure the wellbeing, equality and inclusion of each child and member of staff. 3. To implement SMT and HSMT decisions, consistent with the HETL Strategic Plan and regularly report progress to the Head of Education. 4. To lead on specific strategic developments as directed by the Senior Management Team 5. To deputise for the Head of Education in their absence, as directed by the Chief Executive. 6. To provide management cover, where necessary. 7. To promote and implement effective links between the care and education teams. 8. To share responsibility for the day-to-day running and ongoing development of the school, alongside Harmeny School Management Team (HSMT). Work With Children and Families: 9. To create and maintain a highly nurturing environment for children, taking responsibility as delegated by the Head of Education, or other members of SMT, for managing resources of staff and finance to meet the educational, emotional and social needs of children. 10. To be responsible for the care and welfare of children and staff, reporting any safeguarding or health and safety issue immediately, in line with relevant HETL policies and procedures, national care and education standards and child protection guidelines. 11. To oversee approaches which encourage positive behaviours from children, including the use of diversion and de-escalation, and where required, as a last resort, to be capable of implementing physical intervention techniques in line with CALM training. 12. To oversee the coordination of assessments, plans and interventions which meet the individual care, educational and therapeutic needs of children, in line with national policies such as GIRFEC and CfE. 13. To ensure that regular effective contact and consultation is maintained with parents, carers and professionals involved with the children. 2
14. To assist the Head of Education and Head of Care Care with referral, admission and transition processes for children and liaise with all relevant external professionals regarding these. 15. To ensure children have a voice regarding all aspects of their care and education. 16. To ensure that the highest possible standards of professional practice are maintained. People Management: 17. To provide highly effective and supportive leadership and management for staff, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to working with children and their families. 18. To initiate professional discussion, as appropriate, relating to theories, practice and research information on therapeutic approaches and their impact on the child s care and learning. 19. To support the Senior Management Team with staff recruitment and deployment of staff ensuring effective cover arrangements are in place when necessary. 20. To ensure effective systems of line management, professional supervision and development of staff for whom they are responsible. 21. To arrange regular team meetings with staff and ensure effective systems of communication. 22. To ensure, along with HSMT and SMT, that expectations in terms of policy and practice are clearly communicated to staff and to seek feedback from staff. 23. To manage a budget and prepare regular reports on the budget, as required, including reporting on staff costs. Quality Assurance, Out of Hours and Other Duties: 24. To adhere to the requirements of the SSSC Codes of Practice, GTCS Standards, or other professional equivalent. 25. To take responsibility for on going post qualifying training and learning, in line with professional registration requirements. 26. To work alongside other management colleagues in the development and delivery of appropriate continuous professional development. 27. To engage fully in HETL s approach to supervision and appraisal, including undertaking individual supervision and an annual programme of continuing professional development, as agreed with the Head of Education. 28. To provide daytime, evening and weekend leadership for the school, including involvement in the Standby / On-call rota and Sleep-in duties, as directed. 29. To ensure effective stewardship of Harmeny resources. 30. To take part, along with HSMT and SMT colleagues, in Harmeny s quality assurance processes. 31. To ensure that all recording systems and procedures are kept up to date. To bring to the attention of the Head of Education or relevant SMT member, any issues of concern at the earliest opportunity. 3
32. To oversee the preparation of reports including pre-placement, Children s Hearing, LAC Review, Resilience and transition reports, ensuring they are produced by the agreed dates, are of a professionally acceptable standard and that an appropriate contribution is made by children. 33. To undertake any other duties delegated by the Head of Education or other Senior Management team member, which are consistent with the role of Manager (Education Support). 4. SPECIFIC AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 1. To support the Head of Education and Deputy Head of Education with the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan and Standards & Qualities Report, fully involving each member of the education team and, thereby supporting continuous improvement. 2. To support the planning, monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum, learning and teaching and assessment, all specifically designed to meet the individual educational, care and therapeutic needs of children, in line with national policies such as CfE and GIRFEC. 3. Working with the Education Management Team, to oversee the operation of the school day, week, term and year, in order to ensure these run smoothly, with flexibility built in, thus achieving continuity of learning for children. 4. Working closely with and supervising colleagues, to support and develop the practice of the education support team, with a particular emphasis on children s social and emotional development and self-regulatory skills within a learning environment. 5. Support the Deputy Head of Education with the development and maintenance of a school timetable which takes account of the full breadth and depth of the curriculum and review it on a termly basis. 6. To work alongside the Education Management Team to ensure the ongoing development and compliance of quality assurance / self-assessment systems, including How Good is Our School? 4, supported by the maintenance of robust and relevant policies and procedures. 7. To take a lead education management role in liaising with the Day Service Manager, regarding the needs of children attending Harmeny on a daily basis. 8. To take a lead role in identified projects, in line with Harmeny s Strategic Plan, and as identified by the Head of Education. 9. Take primary responsibility for the Harmeny Pupil Council. PERSON SPECIFICATION 5. QUALIFICATIONS Essential: 1. A practice qualification enabling registration with the SSSC, GTCS, or other professional equivalent 2. A relevant management qualification or capability of achieving this. 4
3. A commitment to continuing professional development. Desirable: 4. Certificate in Child Welfare and Protection (SCQF Level 10). 5. SVQ work place assessor or verifier awards. 6. Evidence of further training in therapeutic work with children and young people. 6. EXPERIENCE Essential: 1. Management / promoted professional experience within a care and / or education setting, with a comprehensive knowledge of children who are Looked After and Accommodated and have social, emotional and behavioural needs. 2. Commitment to raising the standards of attainment and achievement for children with complex Additional Support Needs 3. Have a working knowledge of Curriculum for Excellence. 4. Experience of supervising, supporting and developing staff. 5. Ability to lead, motivate and inspire a staff group. 6. Commitment to high standards of care and education child care practice. 7. Knowledge of child development, child care legislation, relevant policies and procedures. 8. Knowledge and understanding of children who are Looked After and Accommodated and children with complex Additional Support Needs. 9. Experience, skill and commitment to working within a multi-disciplinary setting. 10. Commitment to Children s Rights and participation of children and their families. 11. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. 12. Good organisational and administrative skills and computer literate. 13. Ability to travel to Harmeny School within a reasonable timescale, in order to fulfill Standby / On-call duties. 14. A full driving licence and the ability to drive fleet vehicles and transport children as required. Desirable: 1. An understanding of national and local childcare developments. 2. An in depth understanding of resilience theory. 5
3. Knowledge of residential child care. 4. Experience of monitoring and managing budgets. 5. Experience of developing and delivering training. 6. Experience of preparing and delivering reports to a Senior Management Team, Board, or equivalent. 7. Service development and project management skills. 7. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS / COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL 1. A commitment to the needs of children who are Looked After and Accommodated and have complex additional support needs. 2. Able to appropriately communicate, negotiate with, and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders. 3. The ability and flexibility to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload within a highly pressurised working environment. 4. Ability to work autonomously and also within the SMT & HSMT reporting requirements. 5. Demonstrates emotional intelligence, understands the needs of others, and a commitment to reflective practice. 6. Accountable for the performance of the organisation, their team and their own performance. 7. Proactive and takes the initiative to gain the information needed for the role, with a flexible and can do attitude. 8. Commitment to continuous improvement within / for HETL. 8. REVIEW This document will be reviewed: on an annual basis at the time of the Annual Performance Appraisal; or within six months of appointment; or as a result of a change in strategic direction; or as a result of a team / operational requirement. 6