Family Engagement Officer

Job advertisement
The Forest School
Comptons Lane, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5NT

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Grade 8 pt20-24 (currently £31,586.00 – £34,314.00 pro rata)
Full time term time only plus 1 week

Required from: 22 April 2025 (Summer Term)

The Forest School is a highly successful, friendly and dynamic 11-16 School, committed to achieving high standards and to developing the potential of all our students and staff. We are a school that promotes and celebrates the importance of ‘family’ and are committed to working closely with students, parents, local primary schools and other community stakeholders.

We are seeking to employ a Family Engagement Officer – a new role – to join our pastoral team, working as part of our family and, over time, with three feeder primary schools with whom we have formed a soft federation. The Family Engagement Officer will carry out duties in relation to school attendance and ensure that children and young people within our family achieve their full potential through valuable engagement with education.

In situations where lower attendance is having a negative impact on learning, our aim is to address this proactively through supportive initiatives in which all stakeholders feel helped and are provided with the tools to improve their child’s attendance.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about the inclusion of children and young people in education and society. You will need to enjoy a varied workload, be organised, creative, and have excellent people skills. The successful candidate will provide a flexible approach supporting attendance across secondary and primary age. You will be expected to have the drive, resilience, and enthusiasm necessary for this important role, with a strong background in Education Welfare, Social Care or from within the education arena.

Whilst we continue to work in line with legislation and best practice, we are ambitious about developing our attendance agenda and are looking for individuals who are able to think creatively and flexibly about delivering statutory duties, while maintaining a focus on inclusive practice and the best outcomes for the children, young people, and families that we support.

You will be joining an ambitious culture with friendly and supportive colleagues. You will have the opportunity to help shape the role of this new post and will have regular support and guidance from the pastoral team and senior leaders overseeing whole school attendance.

For an informal conversation about the role or to arrange a visit please contact: [email protected]

Please apply via the Joining The Family > Staff Vacancies page on our website: www.theforestschool.com by the closing date and time.

Closing date: Tuesday 4 March 2025 (9:00am)
Interview date: Thursday 13 March 2025

The Forest School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students so we expect all staff and volunteers, as well as those who work on the premises, to share this commitment. As part of our safeguarding commitment, appointment to any post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references, social media check and a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as well as evidence of the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.