Wellbeing Lead (non-teaching)

Education Authority; Larne; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Job Description

Post Title: Wellbeing Lead

Location: Larne High School, Larne

Responsible to: Principal

Accountable to: Board of Governors

Contract type: Fixed Term for 1 Year with possible extension

1. JOB PURPOSE

The School seeks to appoint a Wellbeing Lead who will promote positive wellbeing by providing support services to improve the wellbeing of all students. Support services will take place within the dedicated Wellbeing Hub at the School site, which may include coaching, counselling, signposting/referrals, group activities and enrichment activities to support positive mental health and wellbeing.

The post holder will implement and monitor strategies and interventions aimed at improving the wellbeing of all students and will promote positive wellbeing support strategies and resilience for adult life.

The postholder will ensure conditions in the Wellbeing Hub are conducive to wellbeing in a safe and welcoming environment and will also carry out a number of key administrative tasks as required by the needs of the post and/or at the discretion of the Principal.

2. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Mentoring

• To work with students using a variety of appropriate interventions (individual coaching, counselling, support, group sessions, enrichment activities etc.) to identify needs and to achieve positive outcomes.
• Promoting positive wellbeing. Plan, co-ordinate and develop student interventions aimed at supporting and improving the wellbeing of all students.
• Ensuring that the Wellbeing Hub is fully utilised and impactful in raising and promoting positive wellbeing for all students.
• Promote positive wellbeing through the education of relevant topics.
• Overseeing the delivery of student interventions, where these are delivered at school, and the outcomes of these interventions on students’ education and wellbeing.
• Coordinating the mental health and wellbeing needs of students within the post-16 space.
• Providing drop-in support and mental health first aid for students who are experiencing any issues with mental health or wellbeing.
• Liaise with the Principal (or designated Lead) as applicable and take the lead for more complex cases/situations and/or for those presenting at risk.
• Monitoring and providing support for students identified as ‘at risk.’
• Working with the pastoral and safeguarding teams to establish and follow a clear process if a concern arises.
• To apply safeguarding and child protection procedures as applicable.
• Sharing information about students with mental health needs with other members of staff where appropriate, so that there can be support throughout the school environment.
• Signposting students and parents to national and local mental health services and referring students to NHS services or equivalent where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain positive links with local mental health services and other community-based services to provide the most effective service to the students.

Administration

• Provide regular reports to the Principal and yearly reports on strategic plans, outcomes, and impact.
• Provide Principal and Governors with regular reports, updates, outcomes, and analysis regarding the Wellbeing Hub taking GDPR into account.
• Provide safeguarding reports, statistics etc. as applicable.
• Attend board of governor meetings as required.
• Make oral presentations as applicable.

Other duties

• Making sure staff can:
• Recognise signs and symptoms of mental health needs in students, and
• Know what to do should they have a concern.
• Support staff in contact with students with mental health needs to:
• Promote positive wellbeing
• Help raise awareness, and
• Give all staff the confidence to work with these students.
• Participate in any relevant training/development as required.
• Implement all school policies and procedures.
• To develop effective relationships with other school staff, parents, and students to ensure a coordinated approach to achieving the aims and objectives of the post.
• Any other duties as may be assigned within the level of the post.

Planning and Organising

The post holder is expected to plan, co-ordinate and prioritise the above activities to support the smooth and efficient running of the school and the Wellbeing Hub at all times, referring to the Vice Principal and/or other staff only as required.

Internal and External Relationships

The post holder reports to the Vice Principal. The post holder is expected to develop effective relationships with other staff, parents and students to ensure a co-ordinated approach to achieving the school aims and objectives.

Evaluated at Executive Officer, SCP7-17 (29 March 2023)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications/ professional Membership

Relevant clinical or teaching qualifications in relevant discipline, e.g education/counselling/psychology/psychiatry

Qualified counsellor

Shortlisting by Application Form

Experience

Experience of working with young people in an educational environment.

Experience of and commitment to applying requirements of safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures with ability to demonstrate discretion and confidentiality.

Experience working as part of a team.

Evidence of how your experience and approach demonstrate your desire to support the education and achievements of young people as well as reflecting the values and ethos of the school.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Skills / Abilities

Evidence of engaging with disadvantaged families and young people to achieve successful outcomes.

Able to be flexible and adjust working patterns to the demands of the role so that the quality of service is maintained.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage.

Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Knowledge

Evidence of knowledge of:

o The requirements of a Wellbeing Lead

o National and local mental health services

o Both the physical and emotional health in promoting the wellbeing of an individual. Forming and maintaining appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people.

Exceptional interpersonal and organisational skills

A willingness to learn new skills and approaches and to share the experience with others

Ability to listen to and communicate effectively with young people.

Ability to write reports, produce management information and accurately collate and analyse relevant data.

Ability to liaise sensitively with parents/carers recognising their role in the student’s learning both verbally and written

Ability to work unsupervised and on one's initiative, to be proactive and adapt where necessary

Ability to be innovative and flexible whilst developing new strategies and methods of evaluating the impact of wellbeing programmes

Ability to apply a pastoral and child centred approach and belief in the value of individuals

Interview

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor Desirable Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications / Experience

Have a minimum of two years’ experience of families experiencing social and economic disadvantage.

Accreditation and membership with an appropriate organisation, e.g., BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)

Mental Health First Aid training in Higher Education or similar

CYP-IAPT Qualification (such as EEBP, CWP)

Experience of counselling in an educational environment

Experience in dealing with young people in work or home situations.

Shortlisting by Application Form

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background.

Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer