SENCO and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Main Purpose

The SENCO and Designated Safeguarding Lead, under the direction of the CEO and Principal, will:

SENCO

• Determine the strategic development of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) policy and provision at the College
• Be responsible for day-to-day operation of the SEND policy and coordination of specific provision to support individual learners with SEN or a disability
• Provide professional guidance/advice to colleagues, working closely with staff, parents, local authorities and other agencies

Designated Safeguarding Lead

• Responsible for the safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and child protection (including online safety) ensuring that the College is meeting its legal statutory requirements as laid out in Keeping Children Safe in Education
• Responsible for liaising with local statutory children/adult services and agencies and with the key local Safeguarding partners
• Participate in discussions and inter agency meetings to contribute to the assessment of children/vulnerable adults
• Manage internal and external referrals
• Provide support, advice and guidance to staff on child/vulnerable adult welfare, safeguarding and child/vulnerable adult protection matters

SENCO: Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Development of SEND Policy and Provision

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the national and local initiatives which may impact the College’s policy and practice
• Have a strategic overview of the provision for SEND learners across the College, monitoring and reviewing the quality of provision (i.e. meeting EHCP needs, outcomes etc.)
• Create a system to monitor the quality of support for SEND learners (in collaboration with the Curriculum Manager) by establishing systems to identify and meet the needs of learners, whilst ensuring that the systems are coordinated, evaluated and regularly reviewed
• Contribute to the College self-evaluation process, particularly with respect to provision for SEND learners
• Ensure the SEND policy is put into practice across the College, and that the objectives of the policy are reflected in the College Improvement Plan

Operation of the SEND Policy and Coordination of Provision

• Maintain an accurate SEND register and support plan per learner
• Provide guidance/advice to colleagues on teaching SEND learners to ensure learners’ needs are being met to ensure education and training targets are achieved termly
• Be aware of the provision in the local offer
• Work closely with other education institutions (secondary schools, colleges etc.), training providers, educational psychologists, health and social care professionals, and other external agencies
• Analyse assessment data for SEND learners

Support for SEND Learners

• Review curriculum and coordinate provision (working closely with the Curriculum Manager) to ensure SEND learners’ needs are being met, and monitor its effectiveness
• Support the identification of, and disseminate, the most effective teaching approaches for SEND learners to teachers/instructors and teaching assistants
• Secure relevant services for the learner
• Monitor the achievements, welfare and behaviour of pupils, and to follow up on the progress reviews, liaising with staff and parents, as appropriate
• Review targets and support plans with the Curriculum Manager, teachers/instructors, teaching assistants, parents/carers etc. agreeing and communicating new targets termly as required by the EHCP
• Ensure records are maintained and kept up-to-date
• Plan, coordinate and review the education, health and care plans with learners, parents/carers
• Ensure ONELAB College carries out its statutory responsibilities for SEND, EHCPs and Annual Reviews
• Lead the Annual Review meeting process, bringing together all required stakeholders (i.e. parents/carers, local authority, employability advisors, mental health professionals etc.)
• Liaise with staff, parents and external agencies to ensure learners needs are being supported to ensure continued progress against targets
• Organise and lead Parents’ Coffee Mornings once per month
• Communicate regularly with parents, carers, local authorities and other stakeholders
• Work with teachers/instructors and teaching assistants to ensure ambitious expectations of behaviour and achievement are set for SEND learners
• Ensure that when a learner transfers to another provision, all relevant information is transferred securely, coordinate and support a smooth transition for the learner and family
• Promote learners’ inclusion in the College community and access the curriculum, facilities and extra-curricular activities

Leadership and Management

• Work with the CEO/Principal, Board of Directors/Governors to ensure the College meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 in terms of reasonable adjustments and access arrangements
• Contribute to the College Improvement Plan and whole College Policy
• Encourage all staff to recognise and fulfil their statutory responsibilities
• Collaborate with Human Resources to identify training needs for staff and how to meet these needs
• Lead INSET for staff related to expanding skills and knowledge base related to SEND and Safeguarding
• Share procedural information, such as the College’s SEND Policy
• Promote an ethos and culture that supports the College’s SEND Policy and promotes outstanding outcomes for SEND learners
• Lead and manage performance reviews of teachers/instructors
• Work collaboratively with Human Resources to create appropriate CPD plans for teachers/instructors based on job role and responsibilities

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Duties and Responsibilities

Managing Referrals

• Responsible for referring cases of suspected abuse and neglect to local authorities, as required
• Refer cases to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern, as required
• Refer cases where a person is dismissed or has left due to risk/harm to a child/vulnerable adult to the Disclosure and Barring service, as required
• Refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the Police, as required

Working with Others

• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for staff
• Act as a point of contact with the safeguarding partners
• Liaise with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to inform them of issues, especially ongoing enquiries and police investigations
• Liaise with staff members on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies
• Promote supportive engagement with parents/carers in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/vulnerable adults, including where families may be facing challenging circumstances
• Work collaboratively with the Curriculum Manager to promote educational outcomes by knowing the welfare, safeguarding and child/vulnerable adults protection issues that children/vulnerable adults in need are experiencing, or have experienced, and identifying the impact that these issues might be having on children/vulnerable adults’ attendance, engagement and achievement at College

Information Sharing and Managing the Child Protection File

• Ensure that child/vulnerable adults protection files are kept up to date (information should be kept confidential and stored securely)
• Keep detailed, accurate and secure written records of concerns and referrals on CPOMS

Raise Awareness

• Ensure that all staff have access to, understand and use appropriately the College’s child/vulnerable adults protection policies
• Ensure the College’s child/vulnerable adult protection policies are reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with the Board regarding this
• Ensure the College’s child/vulnerable adult protection policies are available publicly and parents know referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the College in this

Training, Knowledge and Skills

• Undergo training to ensure knowledge and skills required to carry out the role is relevant and up-to-date. This training should be updated at least every two years and certificates provided to Human Resources as evidence
• Keep knowledge and skills up-to-date at regular intervals
• Understand the assessment process for providing early help and statutory intervention, including local criteria for action and local authorities’ social care referral arrangements
• Understand the lasting impact that adversity and trauma can have, including on young people’s behaviour, mental health and wellbeing, and what is needed in responding to this in promoting educational outcomes
• Have a working knowledge of how the local authority conduct a child/vulnerable adult protection case conference and a child/vulnerable adult review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so
• Understand and support the College with regards to the requirements of the Prevent Duty and can provide advice and support to staff on protecting young people from the risk of radicalisation
• Recognise the additional risks that SEND learners face online, for example, from online bullying, grooming and radicalisation and are confident to support SEND learners to stay safe online
• Encourage a culture of listening to SEND learners and taking account of their wishes and feelings, amongst all staff, in any measures the College may put in place to protect them

Please note: This position is part-time. Renumeration is on a pro-rata basis.

The deadline for applications for this position is close of business on Friday 28th June 2024.