The Role

37 hours per week

Term time or all year round post (if TTO 39 weeks + 2 weeks)

Required from ASAP (ideally Sept start date)

Bradstow is a unique residential special school (registered as a children’s home) situated on a large site in the seaside town of Broadstairs in East Kent. The school is maintained by the London Borough of Wandsworth, for children and young people with severe intellectual disabilities who are on the autistic spectrum continuum. Many of our young people have associated communication difficulties and emotional/behavioural challenges associated with their complex disabilities and medical conditions. At Bradstow School our primary aims are to enable young people to develop their communication skills and the skills needed to manage their own behaviour, thus enabling them to access everyday opportunities in the community and to live ordinary lives. We endeavour to provide as many inclusive opportunities as possible. 

Our facilities include a library, swimming pool, parents’ house, interactive soft play and sensory rooms, interactive bicycle track, pottery, all-weather football pitch, sensory garden, extensive grounds and horticultural projects. The school has an ethos based on Gentle Teaching, and incorporates Positive Behaviour Support and Functional Communication Training into its approach. In addition Bradstow School has received international recognition from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). Bradstow School is also an Investors in People ‘Champion’.

We offer extended and individualised provision for our young people by establishing a continuum of flexible support, ranging from day placements to 38–week residential, short term breaks and 52-week residential provision to meet individual needs.

The post holder will be the first point of contact for staff and young people for all Safeguarding concerns.

The post holder will deliver impactful and supportive Safeguarding interventions working collaboratively with education and care staff working as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and reporting to the Senior Strategic Group. They will maintain our high-quality standard of Safeguarding, organisation wide via continued review and improvement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Nurturing and sustaining a Culture of Gentleness across the school community.
• Acting as the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Ensuring Child Protection policies and procedures are followed in line with legislation and guidance
• Write detailed reports on Safeguarding concerns, interventions, summaries or actions
• Refer cases of suspected abuse to the Local Authority children’s social care as required.
• To plan and deliver short-term Safeguarding interventions and professional development through 1:1 and group work for referred learners on a range of issues affecting young people
• Support staff who make referrals to Local Authority children and adult social care.

A full job description can be found on our website.

Bradstow is a Rights Respecting School (Unicef)

Working at Bradstow will be challenging and you will need to be highly committed to the needs of our young people and making a difference in the school community. In return we offer you a highly rewarding and satisfying career with a range of development opportunities.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Formal Safeguarding Qualification, i.e. Safeguarding Level 3 or Equivalent
• Experience working in a Special Educational Needs School or Residential Children’s Home
• Experience in a Safeguarding Lead Role (as either Designated Safeguarding Lead, Deputy Safeguarding Lead)
• Experience working with young people or adults with complex needs.
• Experience working with external agencies such as LADO, Police and Social Services
• In depth understanding of the statutory and regulatory frameworks for children’s services (Education and Social Care).
• Understanding the importance of good supervision
• Proven experience with multi-agency working to achieve positive outcomes

We look forward to hearing from you.

An information pack, including a Job Description and Person Specification can be downloaded below.

Alternatively, To apply, please download an application pack from our website https://www.bradstow.wandsworth.sch.uk/1358/vacancies-1

Or you can email us at personnel@bradstow.wandsworth.sch.uk  or request an application pack by calling 01843 862123.

Completed applications to be return to the school by email - personnel@bradstow.wandsworth.sch.uk

Closing date: 19th July 2021 (at 4pm)

Interviews to be held in September 2021

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Please note that we do not accept CVs

Bradstow School
Dumpton Park Drive
Broadstairs
Kent, CT10 1BY
Tel: 01843 862 123
Web: www.bradstow.wandsworth.sch.uk/

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils