Job Description

To apply, please visit: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/information/work-with-us/

RICHMOND PARK AND COVENT GARDEN

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE POST

To lead the development and delivery of Safeguarding at the School, provide professional input as part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting the physical, mental health and emotional wellbeing of students. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will take lead responsibility for all child protection/safeguarding matters arising in School and will support children, families and staff in relation to any safeguarding or child protection issues as well as taking the lead when working with the appropriate external agencies.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

The successful candidate will act as Designated Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead and oversee the day-to-day running of the mental health provision both at White Lodge and the Upper School. They are likely to be a Clinical Child Psychologist or an experienced Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, with CAMHS experience, and will be responsible for ensuring appropriate and effective mental health provision and safeguarding support in this demanding elite vocational education and training environment. The post-holder will also develop and manage appropriate policies, be responsible for compliance control within the safeguarding and mental health arenas and deliver in house training time-to-time. To be the named counsellor for students at The Upper School.

CONTRACT TERMS

Salary: c£45,000 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week, term time, INSET and six weeks Intensive Courses

Location: White Lodge, Richmond Park and Upper School, Covent Garden

Line Managed by: Assistant Principal, Pastoral & Welfare

Key contacts: Academic & Pastoral Principal, Head of Compliance & Risk, Artistic Managers, Head of Artistic Programmes & Production, Head of Healthcare, Human Resources team

SAFEGUARDING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and recognises that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to children’s safeguarding and to share this child-centered approach. This approach means that staff must consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. Additionally, the following is expected of all staff:

  • To uphold the School’s policies relating to safeguarding and child protection, behavior, health and safety and all other relevant policies
  • To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible, and come into contact with
  • To report any safeguarding concerns using the relevant channels, such as informing the Assistant Principal, Academic & Pastoral Principal and/or Chair of Governors, in a timely and appropriate manner
  • To ensure full compliance with all statutory regulations, in particular the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education, and communicating concerns to the Assistant Principal, Academic & Pastoral Principal, other relevant staff of The Royal Ballet School or local children’s services as appropriate.

MAIN DUTIES

This list should be seen as illustrative rather than prescriptive

  • To act as Designated Safeguarding Lead in line with the requirements of the Safeguarding Polices; committing resources, arranging training, supporting and directing other staff to safeguard and promote the welfare of students
  • The Mental Health Lead will be expected to coordinate and lead on the whole school approach to mental wellbeing, in line with recommendations from Promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing” (PHE, 2015) and “Mental health and behaviour in schools“ ( DfE, 2018).
  • To provide an independent and confidential counselling service to students and occasionally staff at the School through individual sessions, responding to their personal, social, emotional or educational concerns
  • To provide, in liaison with the White Lodge Counsellor, a specific support mechanism for those students and their families who are not successful at key assessment and audition points
  • To maintain confidentiality (except in those circumstances, in line with HCPC/BACP practice, where this should be breached). To uphold good practice as described by the HPCP/BACP ethical guidelines
  • To ensure that as a Counsellor they are properly and regularly supervised, as required by the HCPC/BACP
  • To work with a diverse range of issues including transition, sexuality, eating disorders and self-harm, depression, anger management, anxiety and fears
  • To be responsible for their own Continuing Professional Development and updating knowledge and awareness on a regular and appropriate basis
  • To be responsible for maintaining an overview of safeguarding within the School, to maintain open channels of communication with local statutory agencies and to monitor the effectiveness of policies and procedures in place
  • Be the Digital Safety Officer and be responsible for policies surrounding online-safety
  • To be responsible keeping detailed, accurate, secure records of concerns, allegations and referrals for any Child Protection issues
  • To liaise with the School Counsellors to ensure that students are well supported and that relevant information is shared to keep all students safe
  • To take lead responsibility for identifying thresholds of risk, develop support plans and record a rational for decision making
  • To communicate regularly with the Board of Governors, (and any other relevant sub-committees), to discuss any cases or themes for concern, with a termly formal review of Safeguarding
  • To lead and be responsible for annual Safeguarding Audits and relevant reviews
  • To be the School’s lead for preventing radicalisation and coordinating Prevent Duty procedures
  • To attend SLT (Senior Leadership Team) meetings and any other relevant Leadership Group meetings to discuss Safeguarding practice in School
  • To keep the Assistant Principal Pastoral & Welfare and the Academic & Pastoral Principal informed of all concerns and allegations relating to Safeguarding and Child Protection, (where appropriate)
  • To lead, manage and coordinate promotional campaigns surrounding Safeguarding and Child Protection
  • To be responsible for referring to the Children’s Services Designated Safeguarding Officer (LADO), all child protection concerns, which involve a member of staff and liaise with the Assistant Principal (Pastoral & Welfare) and Academic & Pastoral Principal, where appropriate, to ensure relevant procedures are followed where any member of staff is the subject of an allegation
  • To be responsible, with the Assistant Principal (Pastoral & Welfare) and Academic & Pastoral Principal, where appropriate, in making prompt referrals to the police where a crime may have been committed which involves a student and any police investigations which may involve the School
  • To act as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when to make a referral by liaising with the relevant agencies
  • To manage policies, policy development and compliance control
  • Assist in ensuring that students who are the subject of abuse or neglect, are supported appropriately and sensitively and to offer continuing support to those students on the Child Protection register or with Child in Need Plans
  • To develop and lead training for all new and visiting members of staff and ensure they receive appropriate Induction, in relation to the School’s Safeguading and Child Protection policies and procedures
  • To be responsible for arranging and leading the whole School staff training in Child Protection on at least a bi-annual basis and maintaining a record of staff Safeguarding and Child Protection training
  • To be responsible for regular whole-school INSET safeguarding updates and to produce a monthly safeguarding newsletter
  • To develop a workshop programme for the school students and staff to support their emotional wellbeing in liaison with the overall tutoring and PSHRE programme
  • To promote a caring and supportive environment where such concerns may be explored, thereby promoting the mental and emotional health at RBS
  • Provide staff and Governors with regular updates on Safeguarding and Child Protection as appropriate
  • Oversee information provide for staff, parents and pupils relating to online safety and ensure timely clarification and resolution on any students “suspicious search” alerts
  • To liaise regularly with school GPs, pastoral and health teams and other relevant School staff or external professionals to ensure the effective operation of the service
  • To produce termly safeguarding newsletters for parents
  • Any other duties as may reasonably be required and that fall within the scope and range of the job.

PERSON SPECIFIATION

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

  • Professional experience working with students aged 11 to 19 years
  • Level 3 Safeguarding Qualification
  • A well-qualified Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist or a Clinical Child Psychologist
  • CAMHS (or equivalent) experience
  • Registered with the HCPC (and/or BACP)
  • A thorough understanding of the Safeguarding platforms MYCONCERN and Confide, or similar
  • Proactive and flexible approach to work, willing to be involved in all areas of the school’s approach to safeguarding and child development
  • Excellent communication and listening skills, able to build effective relationships with students, parents, staff and the wider dance community
  • Able to establish a strong rapport with students, assert authority when needed and maintain appropriate boundaries
  • Motivated, stress resilient, working with utmost integrity at all times
  • As an ambassador for the school respectfully promote all aspects of the School and its teams externally at all times
  • Highly organised and able to problem-solve
  • Willingness to work in a team
  • Experience of line managing staff
  • Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Ability to work independently, manage own caseload and use initiative
  • Confident and strong IT skills
  • Committed to theirs and their team’s personal and professional development.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

  • Previous experience of working in a school / educational environment
  • Professional line-management experience
  • Experience of policy development
  • An empathy with the aims and ethos of the School.

We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. At The Royal Ballet School we are committed to creating an environment where every one of our employees feels part of our team and can flourish, regardless of their background.

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