Deputy Head of Education/SENDCo

Role Description

Position: Deputy Head of Education / SENCO

Location: Southlands School - Lymington, Hampshire

Hours: 40 hours per week, 40 weeks per year

Salary Details: Up to £59,883 per annum DOE

We are seeking an experienced, committed, child centred practitioner to join our dedicated team at Ofsted rated 'OUTSTANDING' Southlands School!

We are looking for someone who:

• Is able to support the continued development of the outstanding practice the school has been recognised for.
• Is an excellent classroom practitioner with a strong understanding of effective teaching and learning.
• Has a proven track record of successful leadership and school improvement beyond their own classroom.
• Has experience of working in a multi-disciplinary way with clinical professionals to ensure best outcomes for children
• Is ambitious for every child and committed to removing barriers to achievement
• Has a strong understanding of SEND, inclusion and adaptive teaching.
• Understands how curriculum, teaching and assessment work together to improve children’s outcomes.
• Has high expectations while understanding the importance of inclusion, wellbeing and positive relationships.
• Can inspire, motivate, challenge and develop others.
• Is confident in supporting and developing subject and middle leaders.
• Can build strong relationships with children, staff, parents, governors and the wider community.
• Is reflective, organised and able to make thoughtful, evidence-informed decisions.
• Is positive, resilient and solution-focused.
• Is willing to be highly visible and actively involved in the everyday life of the school
• Has the ambition and potential to continue developing as a senior leader.
• Has a good understanding and experience of safeguarding practice

Ideally, you will hold the National Award for SEN Coordination or NPQ for SENCO, or be willing to undertake the appropriate qualification where required

Why work for us:

• Competitive salary.
• Opportunity to progress in your career.
• Training opportunities either face to face or online.
• Wellbeing-  your wellbeing matters to us, and we are committed to ensuring you get all the support you need.
• You will be a part of a dedicated team of professionals who will offer you clear guidance and mentor you in to this role.
• Supportive management and senior leads.
• We offer full induction, paid for DBS, friendly family atmosphere and the opportunity to progress with one of the UK`s biggest care providers.

Southlands School

We are an Ofsted registered co-education autism specialist day and residential school with an Ofsted registered children’s home.  We provide education and care, supported by our multi-disciplinary clinical team, for children and young people aged 7-16 years who have a primary diagnosis of Autism (ASD) or whose profile of need can be successfully supported by the use of autism specialist strategies.

The majority of young people have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) with their primary special need being ASD and require support to access education, have difficulty initiating or limited social interactions and need support with organisation and problem solving, which can hamper independence. They may typically be working at or above age-related expectations or with moderate learning difficulties.

They may have a variety of additional special education needs associated with their autism spectrum challenges.

We are able to support and care for individuals with associated complex needs such as:

• language and social communication  
• social emotional
• sensory integration and processing
• co-existing difficulties associated with ASD such as ADHD
• heightened anxiety
• selective mutism
• self-harm
• dyslexia
• dyspraxia
• may have areas of significant cognitive difference (MLD/LD needs)
• Entry Level 1 upwards
• can develop adaptive behaviour skills
• commination needs: –

1. The capacity to engage in communication and develop skills
2. capacity to understand one step instructions and develop the ability to follow the instruction
3. joining words and ideas.  Convey messages, comment and describe asks who what and where questions
4. talks about here and now
5. understanding of now and next
6. uses words/symbols to communicate short phrases and sentence
7. still learning the rules of interaction so needs other pupils/adults as models and to be able to learn from their examples
8. can use objects to act out simple daily routines. Will use items/objects intentionally. May play/be social with others

• capacity to develop insight to supported self-advocacy
• personal/self-care needs can be supported to develop

Where children are completely dependent on PECS and lack other communication skills, we would not be the appropriate placement to meet needs e.g.

• Unable to understand one step instruction
• Hand over hand methods to support and access communication
• Intensive interaction challenges with identified direct sessions on their EHCP
• Not requiring highly specialist and adapted equipment in relation to self-care needs e.g. sleep suits, hoists

CareTech is committed to Safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care. All candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and reference checks. CareTech is an equal opportunities employer.

CareTech will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern