Senior Pastoral Lead and Family Liaison Officer (FLO)

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge! Job title: Senior Pastoral Lead and Family Liaison Officer (FLO) Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD Salary: £28,000 per annum (not pro rata) Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only Start: October 2026 UK applicants only; no sponsorship available About the Role We are seeking an exceptional Senior Pastoral Lead & Family Liaison Officer (FLO) to lead our pastoral provision and strengthen partnerships between school, home and external agencies. This is a rewarding opportunity to play a pivotal role in improving outcomes for children and young people by removing barriers to learning, promoting wellbeing, supporting attendance and ensuring families receive the support they need. As Senior Pastoral Lead & FLO, you will provide strategic leadership of the school's pastoral systems, supporting pupils whose attendance, behaviour, wellbeing or personal circumstances may impact their education. You will build strong, trusting relationships with pupils and families, coordinate targeted support, oversee pastoral interventions and contribute to safeguarding practices. This role combines leadership, family engagement and multi-agency working, making it ideal for someone passionate about supporting vulnerable children and helping them achieve their full potential. What You'll Be Doing - Lead and embed a trauma-informed, relational approach across the school. - Oversee pastoral interventions, reintegration programmes, transitions and attendance support. - Build strong relationships with pupils, families and external agencies to improve outcomes. - Support safeguarding processes and work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. - Monitor behaviour, wellbeing and attendance data to identify needs and coordinate interventions. - Lead multi-agency support plans, meetings and communications for vulnerable pupils and families. What We're Looking For - Experienced in pastoral, family support or safeguarding roles within education or children's services. - Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice, pupil wellbeing and attendance support. - Skilled at building positive relationships with children, families and external professionals. - Confident managing sensitive situations with empathy, resilience and professionalism. - Knowledgeable about safeguarding and child protection procedures. - Organised, proactive and committed to improving outcomes for children and young people. - Driving licence required About Us Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school in Southampton, supporting pupils with SEMH needs, communication difficulties, and associated complex behaviours. The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where small classes and personalised support help every pupil thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our broad and purposeful curriculum combines formal learning with life skills and enrichment activities to develop confidence, independence, and resilience. Pupils benefit from staff who understand their individual needs and remove barriers to engagement. Working closely with families, the school fosters strong relationships and a supportive community. Dibden Park School supports every child and young person to feel safe, be heard, discover their worth, develop their strengths and create a limitless future. Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact. We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running. Why Join Us? We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS. - Life Assurance - Pension scheme with options to increase contributions - “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks - Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including: - Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits - Hundreds of UK and international discounts - Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme - Critical illness cover - Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales. #1