Are you passionate about supporting children and young people with autism and additional needs? Do you believe strong relationships between school and home can transform outcomes?

At Aurora Cedars School, we're looking for a dedicated Family Support Officer to join our safeguarding and pastoral team helping students aged 5–19 thrive both in school and beyond.

Why this role matters

This is more than a job - it's an opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the futures of children with ASC and associated needs. You'll work at the heart of our school community, supporting families, improving attendance, and ensuring every child feels safe, heard, and empowered to succeed.

What you'll be doing

As our Family Support Officer, you will:

✨ Build strong, supportive relationships between families and school
✨ Lead on attendance strategies—monitoring data and helping students re-engage
✨ Work closely with our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), SENDCo, and therapy team
✨ Deliver early help interventions for children and families
✨ Support safeguarding processes and act as a Deputy DSL (DDSL)
✨ Provide therapeutic and practical support to students struggling to access learning
✨ Coordinate multi-agency working and lead professional meetings where required
✨ Track and report on attendance and family support outcomes to senior leaders

Your work will directly improve attendance, wellbeing, and long-term outcomes for our students.

About you

We're looking for someone who is:

✔ Experienced in working with children or families—ideally within SEND or autism
✔ Knowledgeable about safeguarding and child protection practices
✔ Compassionate, resilient, and calm under pressure
✔ A confident communicator who can build trust with families
✔ Proactive, organised, and solution-focused
✔ Comfortable working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable (but not essential):

• Qualification in social care, psychology, or a related field
• Knowledge of local support services and agencies

What you'll need

• A relevant qualification (or willingness to work towards Level 3 in working with children and young people)
• Full UK driving licence
• Enhanced DBS (or willingness to undergo one)
• Eligibility to work in the UK

What we offer

💙 A supportive and collaborative working environment
📚 Ongoing professional development and training
🌱 Opportunities to grow within The Aurora Group
🤝 A role where your work truly makes an impact every single day

How to Apply: 

For candidates that haven't worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Betsy in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at betsy.walley@theauroragroup.co.uk

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.