Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead & Looked After Children Coordinator, ACM, Guildford

The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM)

About ACM

ACM is a specialist music education provider based in Birmingham, Guildford and London, with students on a range of FE and HE programmes in Music Performance, Production and Business. Our creative and dynamic environment blends academic excellence and professionalism alongside leading-edge industry thinking and business innovation.

ACM’s Vision:

ACM will incubate potential and talent, supporting the personalised development needs of our students to facilitate a structured path from education to employment.

We provide a safe and supported space where creative talent and imagination can flourish in a caring environment. Barriers to learning are identified through a holistic and person-centred approach to unlock the potential of the individual, enabling personal growth through professional and academic development. Our core aim is for our students to enjoy lifelong sustainable careers underpinned by applied learning and a specialist, cutting-edge curriculum.

Therefore, our vision is to not only be the leader in applied, industry-connected, creative arts education but to also be the leader in care and support for mental health and other traditional barriers to learning, thereby driving up the standards expected within higher and further education.

ACM’s Mission:

To provide an immersive student experience, with a curriculum which is connected to the industry in real-time, based on a learning by doing ethos. Our core aim is to build confidence and self-awareness, providing students with the skills necessary to recognise and take opportunities.

Ultimately our mission is to enable students to fulfil their potential and enjoy a sustainable career within the creative arts industry.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Liaisons

1. Safeguarding
2. Targeted Services
3. Additional Needs & Disabilities
4. Education Management and Administration
5. Academic staff

Main duties

• Provide a frontline student support service to all students across ACM sites primarily based in Guildford but able to travel to other sites.
• To hold the position of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) providing support for children and adults at risk within education and making referrals to the appropriate authorities.
• To act as the Looked After Children Coordinator and ensure the safety of at risk children. To liaise with representatives as and when necessary.
• To coordinate and manage complex caseloads and completing relevant paperwork regarding vulnerable students and adults at risk that will include liaison with parents, carers, social services and other external agencies.
• Participation in Child in Need and Child Protection meetings representing ACM.
• To liaise with providers of accommodation such as YMCA, SCAPE, Guilden Village and private landlords on any student safeguarding concerns.
• To make referrals for further support with counselling services, wellbeing coaches and student hub staff.
• To support development of focused campaigns and awareness of issues related to 16-19 year olds.
• Working closely with the Education Executive and wider Education Leadership Team to ensure that the range of services are delivered consistently across campuses.
• To assist in initiatives aimed at widening participation within the student body.
• To continue to establish community links with local police neighbourhood teams, local council initiatives, NHS and local GP surgeries.
• To ensure all relevant training needs and qualifications required for the role are maintained.
• Devise, implement and coordinate individual interventions for students at risk;
• Liaising with academic, wellbeing, additional needs and disabilities (SEN), widening participation and external support staff in providing individualised support;
• Work with Integrated Services and Education staff to devise, implement and coordinate early intervention strategies for at risk groups;
• Have ownership of the Change Request process from initial query to logging final changes on our internal and external systems;
• Advise students on extenuating circumstances and reasonable adjustments;
• Act as a member of the Risk Intervention Committee;
• Monitor, in collaboration with the Risk Intervention Committee, the data containing student risk indicators to identify opportunities for early intervention and critical intervention;
• Serve as an escalation point for academic staff to flag students at risk following their own interventions;
• Advise other staff on early intervention strategies;
• Report on students at risk, and discontinuation of studies;
• Responding to student queries regarding their at risk status; personal issues identifying them to be at risk; issues with the programme that may make them likely to withdraw/ disengage;
• Attend open days to support prospective students;
• Holding operational responsibility over policies relating to student risk, including but not limited to:
  • Fitness to Study;
  • Student Disciplinary;
  • Complaints.

• This job purpose reflects the core activities of the post. As ACM and the post-holder develop, there will inevitably be some changes to the duties for which the post is responsible, and possibly to the emphasis of the post itself. ACM expects that the post-holder will recognise this and will adopt a flexible approach to work. This could include undertaking relevant training where necessary. Should significant changes to the job purpose become necessary, the post-holder will be consulted and the changes reflected.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Safeguarding training.
• Looked after children legislation and management
• Knowledge of Further and Higher Education legislation with an emphasis on welfare/wellbeing.
• Working with vulnerable children and adults at risk.

• Working with students.
• Developing policy and good practice in education for wellbeing and discipline.
• Working with external support organisations (CAMHS, MASH, NHS, local GP surgeries).
• Mental Health First Aid.
• First Aid at Work.

Skills

• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to multitask.
• The ability to deal with and resolve complex investigations.
• The ability to work well under pressure and to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Able to develop and deliver high quality self development programmes.

Personal Qualities

• The ability to work within a team as well as work independently.
• Candidates should be self-starters, have energy and enthusiasm for education and be able to work with a wide range of people, often under pressure.
• High self resilience due the nature of some of the cases and situations that are presented and need to be managed.

Annual Leave

Due to the nature of this role, there will be certain times in the year that annual leave will not be granted due to business needs (September and June).

All ACM staff work to the same values which are:

Inclusivity

To empower individuals from diverse backgrounds, to maintain accessibility, and provide an inclusive organisational culture.

Supportive environments

To provide environments that support personal and professional development through a holistic approach and bring the benefits of the creative arts to the wider community.

Agility and innovation

To provide an inspiring organisational culture that embraces innovation through openness, flexibility, creativity and self-evaluation.

Connectivity

To recognise the benefits of working closely with industry and others, to embrace new technologies, and to provide meaningful opportunities, in order to enhance learning.

Professional and academically strong standards

To provide state of the art professional environments, to inspire determination and enthusiasm, and ensure high professional and academic standards

Please be aware all ACM staff must undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service Check prior to starting. This will need to be renewed once every three years.

This job purpose reflects the core activities of the post. As the Department and the post-holder develop, there will inevitably be some changes to the duties for which the post is responsible, and possibly to the emphasis of the post itself. ACM expects that the post-holder will recognise this and will adopt a flexible approach to work. This could include undertaking relevant training where necessary. Should significant changes to the job purpose become necessary, the post-holder will be consulted and the changes reflected in a revised job purpose.

ACM reserves the right to close job adverts earlier than the advertised end date where required based on volume of applications.