Job Title: Deputy Head of Campus & Assistant SENDco
Job Location: Oakwood Specialist College, Yate, BS37 5JB
Salary: Between £41,537.60 and £43,617.60 per annum, based on 40 hours per week, 42.4 weeks of the year.
Contract Type: Permanent – Term Time Only
Come and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young adults by helping to create a learning environment that is not only educational, but also creative, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable. Oakwood College is seeking a passionate and committed Deputy Head of Campus & Assistant SENDco to join our supportive and dedicated team, providing leadership and continuity.
Our curriculum isn’t defined by traditional qualifications. Instead, we follow the Post‑16 Study Programme model, offering a rich blend of learning experiences, work placements, Maths and English, and activities that prepare learners for adulthood. Many of our learners face social and emotional challenges, so our neurodiverse‑affirming approach places a strong emphasis on life skills, communication, and emotional expression. You’ll be well‑placed to champion this, as we operate within a total communication environment that supports every learner’s voice.
Key objectives:
- Work with Senior and Campus management teams to ensure that all learners undertake high quality and highly individualised learning programmes designed to meet their specific needs and aspirations as detailed in their EHCPs.
- Identify the training needs of staff and deliver & coordinate relevant training as required.
- Ensure that the therapeutic approach to supporting positive behaviour dovetails with the deployment of teaching strategies so that the students’ needs can be met in better ways, putting them at the centre and using systems to make things work for them.
- Provide coaching and mentoring for staff to help them to reflect on their work and impact, identifying where additional support is needed, and where staff can share best practice.
- Identify evidence-based interventions and practices that are matched to learners’ needs and ensure that these are measurable, time-limited and all staff delivering them are well trained and effective.
- Ensure all staff are aware of the individual support and communication needs of each learner and are trained in how to meet them.
- For an agreed caseload, implement effective and efficient SEND administration, including provision mapping and any information sharing proformas.
- For an agreed caseload, facilitate and lead the review of EHCP’s, coordinating evidence-based progress information for each learner.
- For an agreed caseload, facilitate and coordinate multi-agency input and specialist support such as Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology and Autism Outreach Services.
- Build relationships with students’ previous settings to create transition plans that facilitate continuity of support and learning.
- Communicate regularly with parents, carers and the local authorities, ensuring they are aware of the progress of each learner and are involved in setting targets for improvement
- Firmly commit to their own continuous professional development, attending conferences, reading widely and actively staying up to date with developments in pedagogical theory and practice.
- Support the Head of Campus in ensuring that, operationally, the College enables learners to flourish through the leadership of teams of teachers, LSAs and support staff.
- To be a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
- Support the Head of Campus (HoC) in ensuring that the day-to-day running of the campus is organised and effective, and that the highest standards of quality and performance are upheld in line with the College’s vision and ethos.
- Support the HoC in ensuring that timetabling, room and facilities booking, and staff resource adequately meet the requirements of the curriculum and learners.
- Lead by example in addressing poor performance or adherence to standards using appropriate levels of challenge and formal performance management to ensure that the quality of the campus provision is always good.
- Undertake line management duties for an identified number of staff as agreed with the Head of Campus.
- Deputise for the Head of Campus in their absence (as and when so deputised).
Health & Safety:
- All employees have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
- Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable Phoenix Leading and Care to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.
- The approach required:
- Unflinchingly high aspirations for all young people that study at Oakwood, and high expectations of behaviour for them within their own context.
- Unflinchingly high expectations of behaviour and professional conduct of colleagues and self.
- The humility to recognise where things may not be working, and the progress of learners are at risk, and to speak up and seek support to improve.
- A continuous commitment to seeking to understand each young person and their needs, including those that make them diverse, complex and sometimes challenging.
- The drive to overcome challenges and setbacks using clear and tangible steps and making positive personal changes to approaches.
- Being a “present” and active listener and contributor in conversations about learning.
- Leading formal and informal conversations about best practice with colleagues.
- Being alive and open to new ideas and ways of working.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and engagement in trying something new, sharing ideas and collaborating.
Personal Responsibilities:
- To maintain own continuing professional and personal development (supported by the organisation where appropriate) to ensure up-to-date knowledge.
- To be responsible for organising and prioritising own workload in the day-to-day allocation of work.
- To maintain appropriate confidentiality of information relating to the Company and its employees and maintain compliance with the Data Protection Act and GDPR legislation.
- To set high expectations for all and act as a role model for the Phoenix Values and Code of Conduct.
As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS, online and social media checks, and reference validation. Due to the nature of our work, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), so we may ask you to disclose any spent or unspent criminal convictions during recruitment. This disclosure does not automatically disqualify you, and we encourage transparency at the application stage.
At Phoenix Learning and Care, we are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment where all team members feel safe to be themselves without risk of discrimination. We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation, and we strive to ensure everyone can contribute authentically and openly.
INDEC
Work Location: In person
