Engagement Assistant

Engagement Assistant

Location: Quidenham, Norwich, NR16 2NZ

Actual Annual Salary: £26,390 - £28,821 dependant on qualifications

Hourly rate:  £14.77 - £16.13 per hour

Hours: 40 hours per week - Term Time only – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8.30am - 4.30pm, Thursday 8.30am – 5pm, Friday 8.30am – 4pm

Closing Date: 12 noon Friday 19th September 

Interviews: Friday 26th September

Aurora White House School and Aurora Eccles School

We’re currently looking for a Engagement Assistant to join our team. You will be supporting the Engagement Lead’s and teaching staff in their work.  You will play a proactive role in positive behaviour management as well as interacting with the young people during extra-curricular times, encouraging them to participate in the social and academic life of the school. The role will also monitor, quality assure and implement behaviour strategies in order to mitigate risk for the young people and those around them.

Part of the Aurora Group, Aurora Eccles and White House Schools in Quidenham, Norwich provides day placements for students aged 6 to 16 years primarily with communication and interaction difficulties or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia.  Some may be on the autistic spectrum or have anxieties and difficulties that create barriers to learning. 

With small classes, typically 7 children and a minimum of 3 staff per class you can focus on the needs of each student. There is a full clinical team onsite to support at all times and you will have the support of an experienced and stable SLT.

To take a virtual look around our schools please click here: Eccles Virtual Tour or  White House Virtual Tour

Key Duties:

Ensure a high quality of care

• To support other team members to follow behaviour plans, though role modelling, coaching and discussion.
• Be a part of the school safeguarding team and a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), which involves being responsible for safeguarding and child protection issues, acting according to the roles and responsibilities as outlined in the Statutory Government Guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• Ensure that the medical needs of the young people are met at including the administering and recording of prescribed medication as agreed in individual plans and in accordance with company policy and establishment procedure.
• Ensure that other team members have a good understanding of the behaviour of the children and young adults and the behaviour plans that are in place.
• Promote positive behaviour for children and young people
• Promote and encourage autonomy and independence in line with agreed plans.
• Promote and encourage learning during educational and non-education activities
• Follow guidance from the Engagement Leads, Education team and other professionals to support young people during different activities.

Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes in place

• Keep records accurate and up-to-date in order to ensure information on child/young person supports and informs reviews and development plans for the individual including documentation relating to learning, behaviour and well-being outcomes.
• Respond appropriately to disclosures or concerns, which relate to the well-being of a child.
• Support the Engagement Lead to prepare graphs and reports when requested ie SLT and Governance.
• Complete observations for students on Taster Days and then report to the Admissions Team.
• When required represent the Engagement Team at school council meetings.
• Complete staff and student Debriefs when required for any use of Restricted Physical Intervention.
• Support and or deliver any safeguarding and behaviour training to the wider school.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the site when required. Please see the link below for our full job description:

Job Description - Engagement Assistant

• GCSE Maths and English Language qualification minimum Grade 4 or equivalent is essential.
• Commitment to the role, the desire to put the child/young person first and treat them as an individual
• Proven ability to solve problems quickly and decisively and able to stay calm in a crisis/emergency situation
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal (English)
• Be positive and creative in meeting young people’s needs
• Able to undertake the physical demands of the job role
• A relevant professional qualification or the ability to gain L3 in working with children and young people
• L3 in working with children and young people is highly desirable
• Qualifications in behavioural approaches or psychology would be desirable

Due to the location of the school, candidates must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.

Be part of our successful team and also benefit from a generous package that includes:

• Life assurance 
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Free lunches when working
• Free onsite parking
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease scheme
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Bike to work scheme
• Family Swim
• Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more

How to Apply: 

You can apply online by completing our online application form.  For more information on this position please contact liz.hudson@the-aurora-group.com

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.