Head of Alternative Provision
Head of Alternative Provision
Sound Communities CIC is an award-winning not-for-profit that works to create communities of empowered, confident and resilient young people with the aspirations and skills to build a better and fairer future. We are a Community Interest Company so all profit from our work is re-invested into our young people.
Our mission is to engage and mobilise marginalised young people. We will help them to lead digital production opportunities together, to improve their well-being and facilitate expression, creativity and agency.
Details
Start date: Negotiable
Application deadline: 16th June
£35,000 to £38,000 depending on experience per annum.
Full Time – 37.5 Hours per week on site
Role Overview
If you joined the teaching profession to change lives, are dissatisfied working in a system that side-lines the most challenging students, if you believe in inclusion and that all students can be successful, then this role is for you.
We are looking for a creative, inspirational, proactive and experienced Head of AP to lead our Alternative Provision. You will be a strong, principled leader with a proven track record of working in Alternative Provision and experience of working with students with SEMH needs and those with behavioural difficulties.
You will lead on the growing and dynamic alternative provision strand within Sound Communities. This includes working with partner schools as well as our on-site provision, overseeing all aspects of the referral and reporting processes, implementing all curriculum structure, coordinating staffing and timetables, as well as being able to deliver high quality sessions to young people as and when required. You will need to be dedicated to improving the lives and outcomes of young people who face multiple challenges.
The successful candidate will be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. You will be supported by an experienced team of colleagues in this exciting opportunity involving the development of our provision.
Responsibilities
- Being responsible for safeguarding for AP
- Being responsible for AP logistics, timetabling and scheduling
- Overseeing quality of AP provision
- Managing staff
- Organising weekly, monthly and annual reporting / Monitoring students’ progress
- Liaising with parents/carers
- Liaising with partners/ commissioners
- Co-ordinating qualifications (AQA Unit Awards and RSL)
- Reporting to senior management on an on-going basis
- Effectively managing the behaviour of vulnerable students
- Chairing, attending and contributing to Inclusion meetings as appropriate
- Being aware of, and complying with, policies and procedures relating to child protection, health and safety, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns appropriately
- Communicating with other staff across the other Sound Communities strands
- Contributing to CPD
Working Schedule
37.5 hours a week from the Sound Communities office space/studios. Possibility for some remote working.
Essential Qualifications
- QTS/QTLS
- Evidence of relevant recent professional development
- Degree
Essential traits
- Staff management experience
- Excellent leadership skills
- Expert understanding of what is required to secure effective teaching and learning
- Experience of working with SEMH and SEND
- A proven track record of excellence in the classroom
- Knowledge and/or ideally training in trauma-informed approaches
- Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
- Confident with IT/data entry systems
- Highly organised
- Be a team player
- Excellent communicator with a high degree of emotional intelligence; an energiser demonstrating a positive mental attitude in all areas of their work
- Highly motivated with a flexible approach towards work and working hours
- Enjoys helping others and able to resolve any issues in a professional, calm and measured manner
- Ability to think creatively about provision, to be prepared to take risks and to innovate
- Determination to improve standards and outcomes in education in Torbay
- Excellent leaders of children and young people: commanding respect; being a positive presence around the studios; building self-esteem; and motivating the YP to do their best
- Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people
- Creation of and contribution to Risk Assessments, Behaviour Support Plans and Individual Education Plans
- Ability and willingness to contribute towards the organisation’s vision and ethos
- Good health and an excellent attendance + punctuality record
Desirable traits
- Ability to motivate and inspire staff and students
- Ability to use tact, diplomacy, sensitivity and good humour
- Ability to coach colleagues to improve their performance
- Knowledge of digital technology ideally music/radio production
- Experience of delivering AQA Unit Awards/RSL Qualifications
- Interest in playing a part, through education, in the regeneration of Paignton
- Experience of formulating alternative creative based curriculum plans
- Experience at primary and secondary level
- Ability to demonstrate personal and emotional resilience when working in a range challenging situations
- Clean driving licence
Benefits
- Opportunity to work for an award-winning organisation providing fantastic opportunities for disadvantaged young people in the Southwest
- Annual leave equivalent to 30 days (not including bank holidays)
- Newly refurbished studios located close to the sea/beach and town centre. Our workspaces are a specialist collaborative provision for students who are at risk of high levels of fixed-period or permanent exclusion, predominantly for students who need additional behavioural, social, emotional or mental health support
Applying
Please call Ellen Jones on 01803 431220, or email ellen@soundcommunities.co.uk to arrange an informal conversation with Mike Cook, Director to discuss the role in more detail.
Further details about our organisation and an application form are available on our website: https://soundcommunities.co.uk/
Please email applications to admin@soundcommunities.co.uk
Sound Communities CIC reserves the right to close advertisements early. Advertisements will therefore close at midnight either on the advertised closing date, or at the point the decision has been taken to close the advertisement early.
Commitment to safeguarding
Sound Communities is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children.
Applying for the job
Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to admin@soundcommunities.co.uk