Behaviour Support Officer

Whickham School is a high-performing and over-subscribed 11-18 school in Gateshead. Staff and students enjoy working and learning at our school and have created a culture that facilitates high levels of attainment and progress. Student progress is significantly above regional and national averages. The school has built an excellent reputation for the quality of provision provided to students. The school has made significant progress in becoming a place where students fulfil their potential. We want to recruit a colleague who demonstrates the ambition, drive and commitment to play a significant role in continuing this journey.

The school is seeking to recruit a Behaviour Support Officer who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people. The role of a Behaviour Support Officer is a an important position within Whickham School where the successful applicant will have the opportunity to:

• Demonstrate core beliefs and values that are aligned with restorative approaches, being able to mediate and resolve conflicts among students and between students and staff.
• Lead intervention for pupils with regard to behaviour and emotional and social development.
• Be responsible for the behaviour, attendance and pastoral care of a cohort of students through our Behaviour and Inclusion Support provision.
• Ensures that pupils understand the importance of engagement with education by building relationships with pupils and their families.
• Model school values and beliefs and challenge pupils positively and consistently when they are not upheld.
• Be a member of a Pastoral Team that ensures the quality of pastoral care is consistently strong.
• Coach and mentor colleagues to ensure they are excellent practitioners

This role is aimed at colleagues who are passionate about making a difference for young people and feel they can do this through leading a cohort of students. This role is pivotal to the success of the young people at Whickham School as we believe that if we can positively influence pupils regarding their behaviour and expectations of themselves, we can help them secure better outcomes for their future.

The successful applicant will be responsible for maintaining our very high standards. This will involve a range of skills from tackling persistent poor behaviour and working with some particularly vulnerable pupils, to nurturing and supporting pupils who may be going through difficulties which have impacted their attendance at school. Our aim is to ensure every young person is the best they can be and, whilst we have already achieved much in achieving our goal, we recognise that there is so much more we can do. We are proud of our good reputation within the region and the positive feedback we receive from students, parents, staff and external organisations such as Ofsted. 

Specific details regarding the role, skills and qualities that the successful candidate will need to demonstrate, are in the attached job description and person specification.

We welcome visits by prospective applicants to the school. Please contact Lucy Saint (HR) via email: lsaint@whickhamschool.org if you wish to arrange a time to see the school. 

• Whickham School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  
• We have a robust Safeguarding Policy and all staff will receive training relevant to their role at induction and throughout employment with the school. 
• All applications are via TES 

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records check for work with children.