Lead Student Support and DDSL

Job Title: Lead Student Support & DDSL

Salary: £27,500 - £33,000 per annum

Working Hours: Mon-Fri 08:30-16:30. 37.5 Hours a week.

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Cambridge

In Toto Ed Cambridge is a specialist SEND provision in which all or almost all students hold an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The Lead Student Support and DDSL takes a lead role in supporting the behaviour, emotional wellbeing and engagement of students across the provision, working from a trauma-informed and relational understanding of behaviour.

The postholder is a visible, calm and consistent adult who knows the students well. They respond to students in difficulty, plan and oversee targeted pastoral interventions, work alongside teaching staff to keep students in learning, and build honest, respectful relationships with families. They direct the day-to-day work of at least one Teaching Assistant.

No two days are the same. The role combines planned work, such as keywork sessions, intervention programmes and family contact, with responding to whatever the day brings. The postholder must be able to move between the two without losing sight of planned commitments and must be comfortable working with a high degree of professional judgement and autonomy within a clear policy framework.

This is a support staff post. The postholder does not carry responsibility for teaching, for curriculum planning, or for formal exclusion, safeguarding or SEND decisions, which rest with the relevant designated and senior staff.

Key responsibilities

Behaviour support

Act as a first response to students in dysregulation or distress, using de-escalation and relational approaches to help students return to learning safely. Work with teaching staff to understand the function of individual students' behaviour and to identify the triggers, patterns and unmet needs behind it. Contribute to the writing, review and implementation of behaviour support plans, individual risk assessments and safety plans, in conjunction with the SENCO and senior leaders. Lead restorative conversations with students and staff after incidents, supporting repair of relationships and reflection on what happened. Record incidents accurately and promptly on the provision's systems, and make sure any safeguarding element is reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead without delay. Contribute to the analysis of behaviour data, identifying trends and reporting them to the Assistant Headteacher (Safeguarding) and senior leaders. Where trained and where it is a last resort to prevent harm, use positive handling in line with the provision's policy and applicable law, and complete the required records and post-incident support for the student and staff involved. Model and promote the provision's behaviour policy consistently, coaching colleagues in relational practice.

Wellbeing and interventions

Plan, deliver and evaluate targeted pastoral and wellbeing interventions, individually and in small groups, matched to identified need. Hold a keywork caseload of students who need sustained relational support, meeting them regularly and recording progress against agreed outcomes.

Support students' emotional regulation, self-advocacy, social understanding and resilience in ways that respect their chronological age and maintain their dignity. Contribute pastoral evidence to EHCP annual reviews and to internal reviews of student progress. Support students at points of transition, including admission, reintegration after absence or exclusion, and moves between groups or settings. Signpost and, with the appropriate authorisation, contribute to referrals to external services such as early help, social care, CAMHS and youth services, and take part in multi-agency meetings.

Leading the teaching assistants

Direct the day-to-day work of at least one Teaching Assistant, allocating interventions and agreeing priorities each day. Brief, model and coach the assistant in trauma-informed and relational practice, and give clear, constructive feedback on delivery. Quality assures interventions delivered by the assistant, checking that sessions are planned, delivered and recorded to the expected standard. Identify development needs and contribute to the assistant's induction, training and appraisal, in conjunction with the Assistant Headteacher (Safeguarding). Support the wellbeing of the assistant, making sure they are debriefed after difficult incidents and know how to access support.

Families and communication

Build and maintain constructive relationships with families, keeping them informed about their child's wellbeing and engagement. Make contact with families about attendance, incidents and progress, holding difficult conversations with professionalism and care. Undertake home visits or meetings in community settings where agreed with the Assistant Headteacher (Safeguarding) and in line with lone working procedures. Gather and represent the views of students and families in planning and review processes.

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), supporting the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and wider safeguarding team in promoting a strong safeguarding culture across the provision. Receive, review and respond to safeguarding concerns in line with the provision’s safeguarding and child protection policy, escalating concerns to the DSL and/or relevant senior leader as appropriate.

Ensure safeguarding concerns, actions, decisions and outcomes are recorded accurately and promptly on the provision’s safeguarding recording system. Support the DSL with referrals to children’s social care, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), police, Prevent/Channel and other statutory or specialist agencies where relevant

General

Work within all In Toto Ed policies, including safeguarding and child protection, behaviour, health and safety, data protection, equality and diversity, and the staff code of conduct. Take part in supervision, appraisal and continuing professional development, including reflective supervision appropriate to the emotional demands of the role. Contribute to the wider life of the provision and to whole-staff training and INSET, including leading training on pastoral practice where asked. Undertake any other reasonable duties appropriate to the grade of the post, as directed by the Assistant Headteacher (Safeguarding) or a senior leader.

Safeguarding and safer recruitment

In Toto Ed is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The postholder will have regular unsupervised contact with students, and the role is therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

The appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS certificate with a children's barred list check, satisfactory references, verification of identity, right to work and qualifications, and a check of employment history and any gaps. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, an online search may be carried out on shortlisted candidates. Shortlisted candidates will be given the opportunity to discuss anything that search raises at interview.

Applicants must declare relevant information in line with the guidance on filtered cautions and convictions. A criminal record will not necessarily bar an applicant from appointment. The postholder must complete safeguarding induction and annual refresher training, know how to raise a concern, and report any concern about a student or about the conduct of an adult to the Designated Safeguarding Lead without delay.

The postholder works closely with the safeguarding team and holds sensitive information about students and families. They must apply data minimisation, share information only on a need-to-know basis, and maintain confidentiality at all times.

Pay: £27,000.00-£33,000.00 per year

Benefits

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site gym
• On-site parking
• Referral programme

Work authorisation

United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person