Barnardo's Home-School Partnership Service enhances the lives of those they work with by delivering services that encapsulates Barnardo's core values, is trauma informed and is aligned with the Promise and the Scottish Government's attainment principles.

We are looking for a skilled and motivated candidate that is passionate about making a difference to young people's lives. That is skilled and knowledgeable in attachment-based behaviour, ACES, trauma informed practice, neurological conditions, and barriers to education and who can work creatively and flexibly to achieve the best outcomes for young people.

This post is a permanent full time post, funded via Falkirk Council's Pupil Equity funding (PEF) which is additional funding allocated to schools as part of the Scottish Governments Scottish Attainment Challenge. PEF funding is available to schools to help them provide the best possible opportunities for children's learning and where there are identified barriers to education, for example, those families who are experiencing poverty. Barnardo's want to see every child succeed and achieve their full potential regardless of their background and lived experiences which aligns with the Scottish Government PEF fund principles.

Due to a planned retirement this full-time post has become available to work within Falkirk High School, whom we have been working in partnership with for several years. Due to the positive impact the HSP role has had, FH are looking to continue the partnership as we move into a new contractual year.

This is an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to join an already established Home School Partnership Service with workers based within various primary and secondary schools across Falkirk that form part of the pastoral, nurture and inclusion provision. The aim of the service is to re-establish the home/ school relationships which includes tackling school and home-based issues, for example, emotional based avoidance attendance. Issues will be approached in a systemic/holistic, trauma informed and strength-based way which ultimately promotes social and emotional wellbeing whilst closing any educational/attainment barriers gap.

The role of the HSP worker within a school is an important and valued role by the families and school community. The post holder will be expected to embed themselves within the school community, making connections and relationships with school staff, pupils and their families. They will be based within Falkirk High School, however work flexibly within school, home and community spaces including the Barnardo's office.

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the impact and difference the PEF money is making with Barnardo's being accountable for evidencing this impact to the school via outcome assessments, worker analysis, recording and reporting.

The majority of the young people that will be referred to the HSP service will be young people and families that may have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences including trauma and as a result have complexities in terms of attachment-based behaviours. The post holder will also be expected to support those with neurological issues, for example ASD, ADHD and learning/developmental disorder and who present challenging behaviour as a symptom.

The successful candidate should therefore have:

Experience of working with vulnerable children, young people and families

Knowledge and understanding of trauma and an ability to work in a trauma informed way

Knowledge and understanding of ACES and how this impacts mental and emotional well being

Knowledge and experience of safeguarding

Knowledge and understanding of school based issues with experience of working within a school setting, desirable.

The successful candidate should be a motivated, compassionate, flexible and proactive individual who is able to work independently and as a team.

Barnardo's and Falkirk High look forward to supporting the right candidate into this role.

At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Please Click on APPLY to visit our website for further details.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is reflected in our values and our practice, and we have invested in this area of our work to ensure that we can deliver on our commitments to be an inclusive employer. EDI is a key enabler of our purpose as a charity and we want to ensure that the diversity of our teams is reflective of the communities we serve and that we continue to learn and develop our work with a focus on inclusion. We particularly encourage applications from candidates from Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic Communities, candidates who are LGBT+ and Disabled candidates.