Job Introduction
About Greenwood School
Greenwood School is a Pupil Referral Unit serving children and young people in the New Forest who require additional support to re-engage with education. We are committed to building strong, trusting relationships that enable pupils and their families to overcome barriers to learning and achieve positive outcomes.
The Role
We are seeking a compassionate, resilient, and highly relational Student and Family Engagement Worker to join our team. This is a key role within the school, focused on strengthening relationships between students, families, and staff to support engagement, attendance, wellbeing, and positive behaviour.
You will be part of our Restore team, working closely with the other team members in supporting our students to regulate and return to their lessons. You will be involved in the planning and delivery of interventions to support our students with their behaviours and actions and will use a relational approach in every interaction.
You will work closely with pupils who may have experienced trauma, exclusion, or disrupted education, and with families who may need practical and emotional support to help their child succeed.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with students and their families
- Act as a consistent, supportive link between home and school
- Support students’ engagement, attendance to lessons, and emotional wellbeing
- Work collaboratively with teaching staff, the Restore team, and external agencies
- Undertake home visits and family meetings where appropriate
- Support and develop early intervention and prevention strategies
- Maintain accurate records and contribute to individual support plans
- Undertake and maintain training as required by the role
Desirable experience
- Experience of working with students who exhibit challenging behaviour and have a wide range of needs
- Understanding of how to support children make progress in their academic and social, emotional learning
- Good level of understanding of literacy & numeracy up to KS4 and a general understanding of the secondary curriculum
- Excellent administration and communication skills both written and verbal
- Excellent I.T. skills
- Experience of working well in a team as well as being able to work independently with little supervision successfully
- Understanding of safeguarding children
- An understanding of the barriers that face students who have been or face exclusion from their school
- A current clean driving licence
Whilst experience of working in education, youth work, family support, or a similar setting is desirable, we welcome applicants with transferable skills and a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable young people
The Ideal Candidate
- Highly relational, empathetic, and able to connect with young people, families and staff
- Calm, flexible, and resilient in challenging situations
- Confident working with students who may display distressed or challenging behaviour
- An excellent communicator with strong listening skills
- Committed to inclusive practice and safeguarding
- Willing to undertake additional training
- Have a good sense of humour and a positive attitude
General
All Greenwood staff are expected to:
- Undertake other such reasonable duties as may be required from time to time,
- Work towards and support the school’s vision and the objectives,
- Support and contribute to the school’s responsibility for safeguarding students,
- Work within the School’s health and safety policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff, students and visitors,
- Work within the School’s Diversity Policy to promote equality of opportunity for all students and staff, both current and prospective,
- Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive courteous relations with students, parents and colleagues,
- Engage actively in the performance review process,
- Adhere to School policies and procedures as set out in the staff handbook or other documentation available to all staff.
This job description should be seen as enabling rather than restrictive and will be subject to regular review. Given the evolving needs of the School, flexibility among staff is very important. All staff at the School are expected to comply with any reasonable request from a leader to undertake work of a similar level and/or type that it is not specified in this job description.
Why Join Greenwood School?
- Be part of a supportive and values-driven team
- Make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people and their families in the New Forest
- Receive ongoing professional development and training
Safeguarding
Greenwood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references.
For further information or to apply, please contact: Karen Fisher on 02380 423827 or email k.fisher@greenwood.hants.sch.uk
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
