Student Support Officer

**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.

**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.
- 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 aud