Welfare & Early Help Support Worker

Willow Vale School are seeking to appoint two Welfare & Early Help Support Workers -Grade 12 actual annual gross salary £28,263 - £31,686

Hours of work: 37 hours per week with a finish time of 5 pm (precise working pattern to be discussed at interview); term time plus INSETs plus 4 weeks holiday working*.

*The additional 4 weeks per year is paid to recognise that the role will involve working outside of term time and contracted hours as determined by the needs of the service, to include welfare visits to homes in the holidays. You will also be required to check the Safeguarding email address on a rota basis during school holiday periods, and check/update My Concern.

Willow Vale School is a newly established and forward‑thinking provision created from the former Bridge School Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane Partnership College. Spread across 6 specialist sites in the Bridgwater and Taunton areas, we provide flexible, personalised education for children and young people with a wide range of needs.

Our work is guided by three core values that shape everything we do: Be Safe, Be Kind, Belong

These values underpin our culture and ensure every learner feels supported, respected and part of a community where they can thrive.

Students join Willow Vale through several pathways. Our main remit is to work with and support young people who are not able to access mainstream schools, for a variety of reasons. Whatever the route, our aim is to provide high‑quality, highly personalised programmes that rebuild confidence, re‑engage learners and prepare them for their next steps.

We are looking for two Welfare & Early Help Support Workers to work across the Willow Vale School area. This role is key in being the link between home and school for children who struggle to engage in their programme of education, and in building positive relationships with families to support engagement and progress of children. You will work under the direction of the Welfare & Attendance Lead to ensure all children are seen and heard. You will be a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (training will be provided if you are not currently within a safeguarding team). You will support the work of the safeguarding team, build relationships with families and respond to and action a school response to safeguarding concerns for children, and work closely with the wider Willow Vale safeguarding team under the direction of the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

You will be expected to demonstrate:

• A thorough awareness of safeguarding young people (although full training will be provided)
• An ability to respond calmly in challenging situations
• An ability to build positive relationships with students, staff, families and multi-agency teams
• Good literacy, numeracy and ICT skills

In return we can offer ongoing CPD opportunities, promotional opportunities and a very supportive and skilled team. Willow Vale works as a part of a wider team within a formal partnership with both Polden Bower and Avalon Schools.

If you feel you have what it takes to work with us to achieve the very best for our students, we would very much like to hear from you.

Enquiries and visits are welcomed please call Jo Stamford, Assistant HR Manager, on 01278 496386 or email HR@Poldenbower.org.uk.

Willow Vale School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts require a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure, medical clearance proof of the right to work in the UK and satisfactory references.

Following the acceptance of your interview, an online check will be carried out as detailed in the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines.