About The Role
The Attendance Manager & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) will play a key role in supporting the Academy's Safeguarding Team in promoting the welfare, safety and attendance of all students within the Academy.
The postholder will manage and lead the Academy's attendance function, providing operational leadership to improve student attendance and maintain effective safeguarding systems, processes and practices across the Academy. The postholder will also act as one of the Academy's Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs), supporting the wider Safeguarding Team to respond to safeguarding and welfare concerns and promote the safety and wellbeing of students.
The postholder will also support the Academy's operational approach to attendance, punctuality and pupil welfare, helping to ensure attendance is monitored effectively, barriers to attendance are identified, and appropriate support and interventions are coordinated in conjunction with relevant colleagues.
The role will require close partnership working with pupils, parents/carers, Academy staff, the Local Authority and a wide range of external agencies, under the direction of the appropriate Academy leads where safeguarding matters are concerned.
The postholder will contribute to a culture in which attendance is everyone's responsibility, safeguarding is embedded in everyday practice, pupils' voices are heard, and vulnerable children and families receive appropriate support.
This job description is subject to change with the agreement of the post holder.
Key Responsibilities
Safeguarding & Child Protection
- Support the Safeguarding Team in fulfilling the Academy's safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.
- Support with the recording, monitoring and follow-up of safeguarding and welfare concerns, ensuring accurate information is maintained on the Academy's safeguarding system.
- Support with referrals and communication with MASH, EIT, Children’s Social Care, Police, Prevent/Channel and other relevant agencies, as directed by the appropriate safeguarding lead.
- Support the Safeguarding Team in monitoring vulnerable pupils, including Children in Need, students subject to Child Protection Plans, looked-after children, students with SEND and pupils at risk of exploitation or serious violence.
- Attend and contribute to Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups, TAC meetings, strategy meetings and other multi-agency meetings where requested by the DSL/DDSL or appropriate safeguarding lead.
- Ensure Academy policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, attendance, welfare and CME are implemented consistently.
Attendance & Punctuality
- Support the Academy's day-to-day approach to attendance and punctuality and contribute to promoting a culture of high attendance.
- Monitor attendance daily and identify absence, persistent absence, severe absence and emerging patterns of concern.
- Analyse attendance and welfare data to identify trends, risks and vulnerable groups and provide reports as required.
- Support the maintenance of accurate attendance registers, coding and records in line with statutory requirements.
- Work with Deans, pastoral teams and other staff to identify barriers to attendance and implement agreed interventions.
- Meet with students and parents/carers to establish reasons for absence and agree appropriate support, targets and review dates.
- Maintain accurate attendance action plans, records and attendance trackers.
- Monitor the attendance of vulnerable students and share any safeguarding concerns or emerging patterns promptly with the Safeguarding Team.
- Produce regular attendance reports and analysis for SLT, governors and other stakeholders as required.
- Support the implementation and review of the Academy's Attendance Policy.
Attendance Intervention & Family Support
- Support the escalation of persistent and severe absence cases in line with Academy and Local Authority procedures.
- Liaise with the Local Authority and other relevant services and support referrals, Penalty Notice requests or other attendance interventions where appropriate.
- Maintain accurate records of interventions, meetings, parental communication and welfare visits.
- Work positively with students and families to address welfare or attendance concerns and remove barriers to education.
- Conduct or support welfare/home visits in accordance with Academy procedures and risk assessments.
- Support Early Help and other interventions, escalating safeguarding concerns to the Safeguarding Team where identified.
- Support the Academy's Children Missing Education (CME) and student registration procedures.
- Monitor pupils who are unexpectedly absent or at risk of becoming missing from education and elevate concerns appropriately.
- Support required checks, record keeping and liaison with the Local Authority regarding student movements, dual registration and off-roll processes.
Academy Culture
- Uphold the values in the Academy Culture Pyramid
- Support the academy's values and ethos by contributing to the development and implementation of policies practices and procedures
- Help create a strong academy community, characterised by consistent, orderly behaviour and caring, respectful relationships
- To be active in issues of student welfare and support
- Support and work in collaboration with colleagues and other professional in and beyond the school and providing other support as required.
Other
- Carry out other reasonable tasks as directed by the Executive Principal and ALT
- To work collaboratively as a member of the Business Support Team
- To carry out first aid, fire marshal duties, lunch till duties, if required
- To be willing to undertake appropriate training in line with contractual duties
- To be flexible in regard to working hours
- Attend and support out of hours' academy events e.g., summer fair, parents' evenings
Benefits
- Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
- Twice as many training days as standard.
- Generous pension scheme.
- Access to Ark rewards - a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
- Interest‑free loans - up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
- Gym discounts - offering up to 40%.
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme - providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.
About Us
We are a mixed all-through school that caters for children from nursery age through to sixth form. We have the highest aspirations for all our children to ensure they are prepared for university and inspired to be leaders in their community. We offer our students a first‑class education based on high quality teaching and experiences outside of the classroom.
Our school was recognised by the Government in its Parliamentary Review as an example of good practice in education and we are ranked in the top 10% of schools nationally. All of our sixth form students received a university offer with 73% of those being a top 3rd university.
We pride ourselves on the relationships our staff have with our students, caring for them throughout their education. We also work closely with families to ensure that all our students are committed to learning and develop the character necessary to take advantage of all the opportunities we provide.
Diversity and inclusion:
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone - staff and students - can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark's diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.
Safeguarding statement:
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark's safer recruitment process, please click this link.
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