HE Welfare and Support Officer/Deputy DSL

PURPOSE OF ROLE

In this role, you will be the Academy wide point of contact for general guidance on support resources and advice on mental health, personal safety, including harassment and assault, or advice on accessing relevant services. You will support students with safeguarding and/or welfare issues, to ensure that they are successful on their programmes.

Using your communication skills, you will connect and build a rapport with appropriate stakeholders and respond where necessary. Key responsibilities include supporting student learning, recruitment, retention, and success through ensuring a positive learner experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Be a point of contact within BAJ for general welfare enquiries and concerns from students and staff and will take the lead primarily on Higher Education welfare.
2. You will also work with BAJ’s Safeguarding Leads across the Academy and act as deputy designated safeguarding lead (DDSL) in their absence or when required.
3. Work with colleagues across the Academy to ensure students are fully supported, with any barriers to learning dealt with promptly and effectively.
4. Liaise with external agencies to ensure students receive the best possible support for them to achieve their maximum potential.
5. Monitor student queries and respond in a timely manner.
6. Provide students with information, advice, and support regarding a range of personal, academic, pastoral, and safeguarding concerns through scheduled sessions and drop-in, and signpost as appropriate.
7. Educate students as appropriate on issues relating to safeguarding, Prevent and welfare.
8. Develop and deliver resources (including training) for student/staff use in relation to safeguarding, Prevent and welfare, and monitor their use/completion.
9. Coordinating and keeping records of who has completed training in liaison with other teams across BAJ as necessary.
10. Work across the BAJ, to ensure the best student experience.
11. Develop and form relationships with external support agencies to benefit BAJ students.
12. Report on team progress in relation to safeguarding and Prevent to the DSL as required.
13. Monitor and maintain data to identify and action any trends in safeguarding issues at BAJ.
14. Ensure that safeguarding and welfare records are kept and maintained in accordance with auditing requirements.
15. Support the continued implementation and development of BAJ safeguarding and Prevent action plans.
16. Support the development and implementation of clear processes for the referral of students from the safeguarding team to appropriate external agencies, including ensuring that cases are followed up appropriately.
17. Keep up to date sector knowledge regarding how safeguarding, Prevent and welfare is implemented across other FE and HE providers.
18. Support the promotion of pastoral care and motivation of students to support them in their learning (ensuring appropriate signposting of students to additional specialist services where appropriate).
19. Ensure all case management is confidential and is managed in accordance with BAJ policies and procedures.
20. Liaising with parents (FE specific) and employers (of apprentices) as required, whilst maintaining required levels of confidentiality.

Performance Monitoring Review

To attend training and staff development sessions and participate in BAJ’s appraisal process.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

1. Higher level qualification in a relevant subject (counseling, advice and guidance, mental health) – Desired
2. Level 2/3 Safeguarding and Child Protection Training (with the expectation to complete further training up to Level 4 or higher if required) - Desired
3. Experience in safeguarding roles, particularly in education, social work, or youth services will be advantageous.
4. Previous experience in dealing with safeguarding incidents, referrals to external agencies (e.g., police, social services), and knowledge of safeguarding protocols - Desired
5. Knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), and other relevant legislation - Desired
6. Familiarity with Further and Higher Education Safeguarding policies - Desired
7. Mental health first aid, emotional resilience, or trauma-informed care training would be beneficial.
8. Advanced skills in Office365, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
9. Proven ability to build good working relationships across teams and departments
10. Excellent written and spoken communication skills and an ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels
11. Counseling skills including active listening and a non-judgmental approach
12. Proven analysis, planning, organisational and problem-solving skills
13. Demonstrable ability to work accurately under pressure and to meet tight deadlines
14. Experience of working within a customer-facing environment to provide high-quality support
15. Experience in delivering coaching and training sessions for students on welfare and pastoral issues where appropriate