Family Support officer - DDSL

Location: Effingham, Surrey

Actual salary: £28,249 - £31,465 dependant on qualifications Plus £2000 Welcome bonus For a candidate with SEN Experience* 

Hourly rate: £16.14 - £17.61 per hour

Hours: 40 hours per week - Term Time only - Start time 8.15am - Finish time Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 4.45pm. Thursday 5pm and Friday 4pm    

Aurora Poppyfield School

Join our dedicated team at Poppyfield School, where we support students aged 11–16 with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) through a nurturing and inclusive approach. We empower our young people to access the national curriculum in a way that works for them and to achieve meaningful vocational qualifications by the time they leave school.

Due to internal promotion we're looking to recruit a Family Support Officer.  You will work with our DSL/Pastoral lead, together with the therapy team in supporting families of our students. 

Why Apply?

• You want to make a real difference to pupils and their families.
• You enjoy working with an inspiring pupil community.
• You value collaboration within a committed multi-disciplinary team.
• You care about well-being and want an organisation that shares those values.
• You're looking for an employer that supports, develops, and invests in its staff.

Key Duties:

• Act as a role model and support the development of supportive relationships between home and school.
• To coordinate the effective implementation of the Attendance Policy.
• Monitor, track and report on pupil attendance and those where there are concerns around attendance.
• To liaise with parents/carers who are currently open to family support and early help to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Deliver relevant staff training (CPD).
• To provide therapeutic support to pupils who are struggling to engage in class based learning or school, in consultation with the therapy team and key members of the teaching team, with the aim of re-engagement in class.
• Produce attendance and family-support data for SLT and Governors.
• Ensure that all relevant monitoring, recording and reporting has been completed, to ensure compliance with relevant policies, procedures and legislation.

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

Job Description – Family Support Officer

Skills and Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English qualification minimum Grade 4 or equivalent is essential.
• 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 psychology or social care would be desirable.

How to Apply: 

For candidates that haven't worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at

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