Key Worker

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**School Name**:Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy, Swanley

**Job Title**:Key Worker

**Reports To**:
Residential Cluster Leads/ Team Leaders for the designated

group/area

**Hours **20 hours a week, over 39 weeks a year.

Parkwood Hall is a residential and day school for pupils aged 8-19 years with moderate to severe

learning difficulties and other complex needs including autism and language difficulties. We are

passionate about creating a culture of wellbeing where all staff and pupils are valued and supported

so that we can all ‘grow, learn and flourish.’

Parkwood Hall aims to provide an outstanding and supportive learning environment which

challenges students to achieve success. The core learning values, which are at the centre of the

curriculum, focus upon developing the student’s resilience and ability to make informed life choices.

**Job purpose**
- To support and develop the waking day educational environment for students, to include extending

their curriculum skills, social skills, life and independent skills and personal development.
- To provide a safe environment, emotionally and physically, for the students within the guidelines

and procedures of Parkwood Hall School.

**Key responsibilities**
- To foster a sound multi-disciplinary approach through good communication both internally and

externally.
- To facilitate and support the students’ health and medical needs to include dietary requirements.
- To maintain a caseload and to act as a personal tutor: formulating, implementing and evaluating

residential education planning. Compiling reports and contributing to review meetings.
- To have a sound knowledge of Parkwood Hall’s safeguarding policy and procedure. To be aware

of the signs and symptoms of abuse and report any suspicions including malpractice.
- To be a good role model setting an example to the students.
- To provide a safe environment: emotionally and physically which will require the need to monitor

the behaviour of others.
- To promote those activities that meet the needs of the young people at Parkwood Hall.
- To take a full part in supervision sessions and performance management reviews.
- To facilitate and support the students’ health and medical needs to include dietary requirements.
- To work with colleagues on the development of the physical resources in the residential education

provision to provide a stimulating environment for the student.
- To be involved in rota duties, e.g. sleeping in and school visits as required by the Principal, Deputy

Principal or Assistant Principal (residential education).
- To actively encourage, support and develop students’ individual social, life and independence skills

as part of the extended curriculum at the school as set out in the residential education policy.
- To maintain effective records for the students within your care.

**General responsibilities**
- To ensure that items of concern relating to Health and Safety are reported as per the current

procedures and policies.
- To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of Parkwood Hall School. The nature of the working

environment entrusts people with confidential information. Any breach of this confidentiality will

constitute gross misconduct.
- To co-operate with all Parkwood Hall School staff in maintaining good relationships with outside

agencies and the general public in order to promote and uphold the school’s image.
- To perform any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the position as requested

by the Principal, Deputy Principal or Head of Residential Education/Assistant Principal or Residential

Cluster Leads.
- This job description reflects the current requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities

with the postholder.
- To line manage support assistants within the residential team.

**Competencies**
- To have a sound knowledge of children’s rights and to be able to advocate for the students if

necessary.
- To have an understanding of, and the ability to foster, positive relationships with children with

special needs in order to support individual students enhance their learning and social development.
- To be able to work as a member of a team and have a good understanding of the role of a Key

Worker, working under the direction of the Team Leaders and Residential Cluster Leads, displaying

flexibility, enthusiasm and a positive caring attitude.
- To work within and maintain an anti-discriminatory framework.
- To make a positive contribution to residential education practice.
- To have a knowledge and understanding of whole school policies, procedures and standards and

to be willing and able to implement them in a consistent manner.
- To demonstrate, or show an ability to develop effective communication skills in written or oral form.
- To competently carry out instructions and procedures as directed by Residential Cluster Leads and

Team Leaders.
- To have the ability to initiate