Student Support Officer

Student Support Officer

Application Deadline: 29 October 2025

Department: Student Support

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Harborne, Birmingham, UK

Reporting To: Student Support Manager

Compensation: £24,393 - £26,312 / year

Description To support the social, emotional and personal objectives for students to assist our young people in engaging in educational achievements.

Please note: SEN experience is essential.

Hours: 37 hours per week, 08:30 to 16:30
This role is 41 weeks with 6.6 weeks paid annual leave. 
Term time only with an additional 2 weeks to be worked during outside of this. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible 

Key Responsibilities
Establish and maintain a positive and ongoing supportive relationship with a caseload of students.

· Effectively engage students and their families/ carers/ external support and develop trust-based relationships to provide an appropriate and consistent level of support.  · Work with a student cohort as directed by your line manager to develop a rapport and support the social, emotional and behavioural needs of these students. · Regularly meet with your caseload of students in both 1:1, group and classroom settings to provide advice and guidance to these students – supporting their personal development.  · To act as a role model for students, behaving appropriately, communicating effectively and being a calm and reassuring presence in college  · To have an understand and ability to deliver PSHE support to students · Work with students on a 1:1 basis to educate and develop their understanding about personal and intimate relationships.  · Offer practical guidance, support and signposting for health needs and sexual relationships.

Work holistically and collaboratively with students and others within QAC to deliver the best possible outcomes for students
  · Undertake support sessions ensuring appropriate records are maintained with appropriate agreed actions and support plans via Databridge.  · Work with Psychologists to access the Jigsaw curriculum- ensuring you are fully aware of the curriculum needs in relation to your students.  · Implement bespoke sessions with a focus on sensory/ relaxation/ personal development/ counselling etc.  · Act as an 'Urgent Responder' situations, particularly where relevant for your caseload. · Liaise with Tutors and including attending sessions where students are experiencing particular challenge if and when timetabling allows to understand barriers, students are experiencing – providing advice and guidance on ways of working in this setting.  · Communicate with staff via the delivery of training events and twilight workshops.  · Work with CAMs, Tutors and link staff to support, guide and signpost students with concerns related to their mental health and wellbeing.   Establish effective and efficient written and verbal communications for the wider college and
quality observations.

· Ensure all students within your caseload have clear and concise notes, which records of students' progress.  · Contribute to the Development of Positive Behaviour Support plans for your students. · Due to the nature of the role you have a greater likely hood of safeguarding disclosures, therefore remain confident in recording and liaising with the Safeguarding team and logging through the use of appropriate software. · Undertake a reflective approach to working practice, with a willingness to engage in 360-degree feedback and demonstrate a commitment to improving and enhancing working approaches. · Perform such other duties commensurate with the status of the post as the senior management shall from time to time decide. · Obtain access to resources and attend any refresher training courses   The above list is not exhaustive but is indicative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the work to be undertaken. The responsibilities and duties may vary from time to time without changing the nature of the post. The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible approach to enable the efficient and effective running of the College.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• GCSE's Equivalent (Inc English and Maths) at Level 4 or above 
• Ability to manage a challenging and complex workload, prioritising effectively
• Demonstrated ability to support students positively, sensitively and empathetically at all times and to be able to work in a variety of ways to meet the needs of students in a range of situations and settings.
• To have a commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion
• Ability to confidently and assertively advocate on behalf of young people utilising empathetic techniques.
• Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Have an excellent standard of written and verbal communication skills
• To have a commitment to being a role model for students and the ability to present calmly, communicate effectively and to be a positive presence in College.
• Ability to discuss sensitive topics objectively without individual moral values
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Able to work efficiently with the College IT systems including Databridge and Microsoft packages
• Demonstrated ability to work with young people with complex disabilities and additional needs.
• Ability to adapt communication styles for a range of audiences, and student responses, thinking creatively to approach new situations
• In-depth disability knowledge and awareness of the interactions with Mental Health and support needs. 
• Experience of effectively prioritising a complex caseload of students.
• Experience of working on own initiative
• Experience of detailed record keeping
• Experience of working in a SEN setting

Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham Join our team at Queen Alexandra College

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.  

The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. 

QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high. 

Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:   ·      Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals ·      Make a difference to the educational experience of young people ·      Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education ·      Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence ·      Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.

Our benefits include;
Schedule 1   Benefits (reviewed annually and/or as appropriate)
 
Academic Year 2024/25

•  Access to on site car parking
• Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)
• Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF) 
• Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff
• QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing
• BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services
• Annual Flu vaccination/voucher
•  Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers
• Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off.
  
• Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)
• Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities
• Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)
• Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)
• Reward and Recognition Policy – Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service
• Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Occupational sick pay (based on length of service)
• On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation)
• Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)
• Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager. 

 
This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.

We look forward to receiving your application and knowing more about your qualifications, skills,
personal qualities and experience that you would bring to the role and to QAC. Please take time to
review the job description above.

Please upload a CV/Resume* with details of your full employment history (since leaving school,
including education, employment and voluntary work) including reasons for any gaps in
employment. This should also include a statement of the personal qualities and experience you
believe are relevant to your suitability for the post and how this meets the job description and
person specification requirements. Your CV/Resume* will be re-produced in a standard format by
the system (without personal identifiers) to assist us in our anonymised shortlisting process.
Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from
engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are
available here

As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in 
September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may 
enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review 
online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part 
of your application we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for 
any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, 
or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you 
are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further 
information. 

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