Date: 5 Nov 2024
Location: Abu Dhabi, AE
Job ID: 4012
School: NAS Abu Dhabi School
Company: Nord Anglia Education
About us
We’re Nord Anglia Education, the world’s largest premium international schools organisation. Every day, our teachers help 74,000 students at 81 schools across Asia, the Middle East, the Americas and Europe achieve more than they ever imagined possible. Our family of more than 13,000 passionate staff are experts in their academic and commercial fields and play a vital role in the world-class experience our schools provide. When you join Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi, you’ll become part of a global family of talented and creative experts working for a fast-growing premium international brand.
About the School
Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi is a UK curriculum day school enrolling students from Early Years to Year 13 in the city’s prestigious residential district Al Reem Island, next to the Sorbonne University campus. Our new school will have the capacity for 2,600 students upon completion. Its first phase of development, opened in September 2023, included the Early Years building and sports facilities, while the second phase opening in Summer 2024 will include the main Primary and Secondary classrooms.
JOB PURPOSE
The School Social Worker will apply expertise in social work, learning and behaviour to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviourally, and emotionally. To partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community.
Duties and responsibilities
Organisational role
- Collaborate with the School leadership team to develop, plan and implement strategies and priorities for student social welfare
- Support development of the School Improvement Plan and the achievement of the associated KPIs through effective social work practice
- Develop and implement school policies and procedures concerning all matters relevant to social work in school
- Promote and model collaborative, cooperative and productive working relationships throughout the school by leading by example, showing respect for peers and demonstrating good team ethics
- Ensure positive relationships with parents and community
- Promote parental engagement within the school community in collaboration with Inclusion team and Communications
- Establish networks and productive working relationships with staff in school
- Maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with ADEC, relevant department managers and any other ADEC representatives
- Abide by all ADEC and United Arab Emirates mandates in reporting sexual or physical abuse and neglect
- Actively engage with the use and leverage technology and equipment allocated to role
- Enhance staff understanding and responsiveness to diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Prepare reports and documentation as required for school records and compliance purposes.
- Maintain accurate records of student interactions, interventions, and progress.
Functional role
- Develop individualised educational plans for students with disabilities in collaboration with Inclusion team and other staff members
- Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided and behavioural data
- Serve as a resource to assist families and schools deal with crises, such as separation and loss
- Coordinate counselling services or educational programs on topics such as classroom management, teaching strategies and parental skills
- Design classes and programs to meet the needs of students
- Promote student motivation and engagement
- Provide crisis intervention services to students who are a danger to themselves or others
- Refer students and their families to appropriate community agencies for medical, vocational, and social services
- Initiate and direct efforts to foster tolerance, understanding and appreciation of diversity in school community
- Collect and analyse data to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and other services, such as behavioural management systems
- Conduct research to generate new knowledge that can be used to address learning and behaviour issues
- Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in case of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse
- Promote an understanding of child development and its relationship to learning and behaviour
- Attend workshops, seminars, and/or professional meetings in order to remain informed of new developments in school social welfare
- Assist with any other relevant duties as requested by the Head of Inclusion
Qualifications / Training
- Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Social Service, Psychology or relevant social specialist qualification - Essential
Experience / Knowledge
- Must have 2 years professional experience working with young people in School environment - Essential
- Detailed understanding of curriculum and assessment in the School - Essential
- Application of effective social welfare therapy and practice in providing effectively for the individual needs of all children (e.g. classroom organisation and learning strategies) - Essential
- Good level of IT competency - Essential
- Promoting the school’s aims positively, and use effective strategies to monitor motivation and morale of students - Essential
- Establishing and developing close relationships with parents and the community - Essential
- Developing strategies for creating community links - Essential
- Participating in multidisciplinary teams and meetings regarding child protection or mental health - Essential
- Maintaining accurate records and preparing reports for legal action - Essential
- Excellent in data collection, assessment and analysis - Essential
- Experience in dealing with academic, learning and behaviour interventions - Essential
- Understand the diversity in development and learning - Essential
- Practical knowledge in crisis preparedness, response and recovery - Essential
Ideally, candidates will already be based in the UAE.
If you would like to take this exciting role and you have the right blend of experience and ambition, then we look forward to hearing from you.
Selection Process
Applicants should apply online and submit a CV, letter of application and the details of two professional referees, one of which should be your current Line Manager.
Safeguarding
At Nord Anglia Education we are committed to providing a world-class, safe, happy environment in which children and young people are able to thrive and learn. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils irrespective of race, ability, religion, gender or culture.
All post holders having regular unsupervised contact with children are subject to appropriate national and international vetting procedures including satisfactory criminal record checks from both Country of residence/birth and any Country of residence within the last 10 years.