Welcome to your candidate handbook that will give you all the information you need to work with Smile

Transcription

1 Welcome to your candidate handbook that will give you all the information you need to work with Smile Introduction Contact Details Kinds of work Child Protection Expectations Standards Benefits of Smile CPD & Training Getting Paid Tips & FAQ Useful Links Handover Sheet Social Media Who are Smile Education? Full Contact details What kinds of work can we offer you? Smile Education s commitment to Safeguarding Children Smile Education operate at the highest standards. The Candidate Expectations and Professional Standards are detailed here Why choose Smile Education? What will your consultant do for you Smile Education offer a range of training to primary and secondary candidates throughout the year. Please ask your consultant for more details How do you get paid? Frequently asked Questions Smile Education s advice for working on supply Frequently asked Questions Website links that will help you Smile Education have created this template for you to help the school and teacher you have covered All of our Social Media links How to get involved

2 Introduction Smile Education are a privately owned Educational Recruitment Company who were established in We focus entirely on offering a specialist service within the West Midlands area only. This allows us to gain a complete understanding of each individual area within that region, and provide an accurate and tailored service to the staff that we work with. We take pride in providing the best teachers for each individual role and work closely with a variety of schools, supporting them in any way we can. There are several of the team who are parents themselves and consequently safeguarding is an indispensable part of everything we do. We pride ourselves in only placing staff in positions who we would be comfortable if they were teaching our own children, and we always exceed DFE guidelines. We maintain and improve our standards by always continuing to develop and grow our staff by providing ongoing training and guidance, throughout their time with Smile Education. With the continued support of our fantastic teachers we are sure we will be making schools SMILE for many years to come! ü Solely West Midland focused ü Providing the right staff for your school every time ü Working in partnership with your school adding value to pupil experience ü Every Smile teacher exceeds DFE safeguarding guidelines

3 Contact us Main telephone number (0121) Address Smile Education, One Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BD Fax Number addresses Kinds of Work

4 Smile Education can offer you a range of local opportunities to fit in with your commitments outside of school and to allow more work-life balance. We work with Nurseries, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Pupil Referral Units, SEN Specific schools, Academies and Colleges. Our main objective is to offer you sustainable, relevant work in an environment of your choice. These types of staff include Teaching Assistants, Learning Support assistants, Nursery Nurses, Learning Support Practitioners, Instructors, Cover Supervisors, Vocational Tutors and Qualified Teachers. We can offer the following types of work for any type of teaching staff: Day to day: this is for short term bookings up to a maximum of five consecutive days and can be in a range of schools. There are not normally planning responsibilities but you will be responsible for following planning, maximising pupils learning, maintaining behaviour and marking where applicable Long- term: this can be either half a day per week or five days a week in a full time position, this will involve doing the same days per week over a length of time, normally measurable in terms. Depending on the role, you will have more responsibilities within this kind of work. The list below shows the type of documents you need to provide at interview stage when you meet your consultant: Passport/birth certificate, Driving licence, Proof of name change (if applicable), NI proof, Address proof (dated within the last 3 months), Qualification certificates, Copies of previous DBS and payment for us to complete new DBS checks. There will also be overseas police checks needed where applicable. Child Protection

5 We work tirelessly to gain verification checks for all of our candidates ensuring the safety of children in their care and that Schools are happy with the bookings. The registration process can sometimes seem longwinded but all stages are necessary to make sure that everyone who works for Smile Education is a quality, trustworthy candidate. Telephone interview - This is an opportunity for us to Find out about what you are looking for in terms of work Briefly run over your career history and CV Book a face to face interview Interview Exchange ID documents for safeguarding and DBS purposes Discuss your CV and experience in detail, idenhfying your experhse and the type of work you are looking for. Outline Smile EducaHon's ExpectaHons and Professional Standards Clearing your registrahon We do all checks on your file using our comprehensive checklist, Further checked by a manager before we sign the file off as ready to work. YOU BEGIN WORK!!!

6 CANDIDATE COPY - EXPECTATIONS At Smile we value the commitment, hard work and dedication our Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Cover Supervisors and Instructors put into every assignment. As an agency, our high standards ensure that you are re-booked by client schools and help develop a client base of your own. In order to maintain our relationships with schools and generate new business, we need your help. The following list of expectations must be adhered to on every assignment, and schools are encouraged to notify us should our staff fail to meet these standards. These will also help you to get regular work!! We expect the following from our candidates: Remember our success means more work for you! 1) To arrive no later than 8.30 am, preferably by 8:15. If it is a last minute booking, please advise us at the office if you are going to be later than 8:30, so we can check this is okay with the school. If you are held up and are likely to be late, please call to inform us by 8:25am. 2) To carry a CRB/DBS and photo ID at all times. 3) To mark work completed throughout the day (essential in primary schools, but not always required in secondary schools). Ensure that the marking is done fully and adheres to the policy laid out by that school 4) To dress respectfully and appropriately. This is usually a shirt, tie and jacket for men, smart business dress for women, unless covering PE. 5) To familiarise themselves with the school s disciplinary policy, following this and Smile s guidelines at all times. 6) To remain at school until the classroom has been tidied and is in a suitable state for the following day. 7) Please leave a handover note for the returning class teacher. 8) It is your responsibility to check the school office has received your online Timesheet from Smile at the end of the day or on Friday if working all week long and make sure it is going to be completed. The deadline for Timesheets is Monday at 4pm. Otherwise payment will be delayed until the following week. 9) In long-term contracts, if you are going to be off sick, please notify Smile by 7:30am latest. You should also contact the school if you have been asked to do so. 10) Mobile phones must be switched off in lessons. In order to ensure we can give you the bookings that you want, remember to keep us up-to-date with your availability and the type of assignments you are interested in. Also, try to remember to check your mobile for messages at lunchtime often we have to get back to schools to confirm bookings before the end of the school day. You can contact the Smile team on Tel: Candidate to sign here to confirm he/she understands the above expectations Signature:

7 PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS (ALL TEACHING STAFF AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE TO ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS WITHIN THEIR CLASSROOM PRACTICE) CANDIDATE COPY Safeguarding Children and Maintaining Welfare Ensure all children or young adults in your supervision are safe at all times. Always ask for support or help from SMT if you think your own actions could put pupils at risk Ensure that you take appropriate action if you observe another member of staff having a negative impact on pupils Always follow the school s child protection policies and procedures. Ensure that relationships with pupils remain professional at all times Professional Values and Relationships Teaching staff should always be committed to the best interests of the children in their care and be fair and objective Respect each individual s specific needs Develop positive relationships with every individual in the school community Work towards a culture of mutual trust and respect in every assignment Professional Integrity Demonstrate honesty and integrity in all aspects of their work Respect the privacy of others and confidentiality of information gained in course of professional practice, unless there is a legitimate concern for wellbeing of an individual Represent themselves, their status and qualifications honestly. Professional Conduct Uphold the reputation and standing of the profession Take all reasonable steps in relation to the care of pupils and students in their care, to ensure safety and welfare Work within framework of relevant legislation and regulations Comply, respect and uphold all school policies, procedures and guidelines Report all incidents which impact on student/pupil welfare Professional Practice Maintain high standards of all aspects of their professional practice Plan and communicate clear, challenging and achievable expectations for pupils and students Act in the best interest of pupils and students at all times Diversity and Equality Be committed to equality and inclusion and accommodate diversity that arises from gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, ethnicity, membership of the Traveller community and socio-economic status Candidate to sign here to confirm he/she understands the above expectations Signature:

8 Benefits of working with Smile Education and What can we do for you ü Solely West Midland focused ü Providing the right position for you ü Working in partnership with schools adding value to pupil experience and strengthening relationships for you ü Every Smile teacher exceeds DFE safeguarding guidelines ü Fifty years Education Recruitment experience within the office ü Competitive rates of pay ü Personal consultants for each person ü Careers advice, interview preparation, CV guidance ü Ongoing CPD opportunities many of which are FREE ü Access to supportive, best practice teacher forums ü Qualified Teachers and SEN specialists within Smile Recruitment Consultants and Management ü Working in partnership with schools to promote lasting relationships ü Friendly, personal service

9 Continuous Professional Development Smile Education firmly believes that CPD is a vital part of any educational professional s career and development. We work tirelessly to engage with the latest training opportunities and provide you with accessible and relevant courses. Please speak to your consultant about the CPD that Smile Education can offer Cover Supervisor Training The Cover Supervisor training organised by Smile Education is an excellent opportunity to meet other people doing the role, as well as developing your skills and confidence in the classroom. The free training session lasts for approximately two hours and includes: -Dos and don ts for cover supervising. -How to prepare for success in the classroom. -Making a good impression and asking the right questions. -Behaviour management (positive language, engagement, following school procedures, consequences and sanctions and classroom management). The training has received 100% positive feedback from those who have been involved in it, and has been credited with increasing confidence and effectiveness in the classroom by a number of our cover supervisors. Teacher Training courses The teacher training courses that Smile Education provide are run at no cost to you and offer a range of topics for the latest developments in the sector as well as fundamental courses addressing areas like behaviour management. These courses are held at client schools and have received excellent levels of feedback.

10 Getting Paid You get paid through an Umbrella company, our preferred company is RACS so once you have registered with us we pass your details through to them and they contact you to get your payment information. You can register with them either as PAYE or on their Umbrella scheme- they will give you further information Pay scales depend on your qualifications and work experience. Your consultant will discuss the pay rate with you during your interview. Refer a Friend Smile Education is constantly recruiting for Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Cover Supervisors to join our family of supply staff. If you know anyone looking for work we would be delighted if you would refer them over to us and as a thank you, as soon as they have worked 10 days we will give you a choice of: 100 cheque 100 donation to a charity of your choice 100 gift voucher of your choice 100 worth of resources for your school Call, or contact us on social media and time to find out more! Let us make you Smile.

11 Frequently Asked Questions How long does the registration process take? The registration process can take up to three weeks, however there are certain things you can do to speed this process up and therefore start work earlier. These include bringing all the necessary documents with you to interview, obtaining appropriate references and speaking to your referees to encourage them to respond promptly. We can complete a new registration in twenty four hours if you follow these steps to assist us. How long until I can start working? Your file requires several components before being compliant and safeguarded for working in schools, these include your references and DBS. It can take several days until our staff have received everything, therefore we cannot give a specific time frame, but our staff does their best to ensure that all documents are obtained in a timely manner. Please see above for advice on how to minimise the length of time it takes to process your application. Can I complete my NQT Year on supply? Yes, you can do this and Smile Education take this particular request very seriously as it plays such an important part in your teaching careers. Many of the schools we work with offer long term teaching positions and will support NQTs through induction. Please speak to your consultant about these opportunities What is discussed during the initial interview and how long will it take? The interview with your Smile consultant is not a formal interview. They will ask you questions on your work goals, work experience and other questions related to your professional practice. They will also explain what is expected of you as a member of Smile s teaching staff. The interview should take around an hour of your time. Will I have to work every day? No, we understand that your schedule can change due to family requirements, appointments or illness. We do ask that you stay in touch with your consultant and let them know if your availability changes. We can adapt to your situation and work around commitments that you may have outside of working life. If I am on standby for morning calls, what time will I get called? This can be any time between 7.00 and 8.30 as a rough guide but it can be slightly earlier or later. It is a good idea to be up and ready to go as schools need people to arrive as soon as possible. How much will I be paid? Pay scales depend on your qualifications and work experience. Your consultant will discuss the pay rate with you during your interview. What should I take to school with me?

12 You should always carry identity documents and your DBS for safeguarding purposes. Then anything you need for the day in school. This can differ between primary and secondary so please ask your consultant to clarify What qualifications do I need to become a qualified teacher? To become a qualified teacher, you need QTS, Qualified Teacher Status. This is gained through a variety of routes and your consultant will be able to advise you on anything concerning Routes into Teaching and gaining QTS. What qualifications do I need to become a teaching assistant? At Smile Education, as a minimum, we require a level 3 qualification in an educational or childcare subject to become a Teaching Assistant. The schools we work with require this qualification as a minimum for their teaching assistants. The NNEB qualification is equivalent so would also be accepted for teaching assistant work Do secondary schools use teaching assistants? Secondary schools don't typically use teaching assistants, but they do use cover supervisors for their classes as required. Those with teaching assistant qualifications can be cover supervisors depending on their work experience. There may also be occasional TA roles or more often, Learning Mentors and Coaches. Do you offer teaching positions with Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools? Yes we do and we have dedicated consultants that work with SEN schools in the West Midlands. Let your consultant know you are interested in these roles so they can signpost you to the relevant person. Do you offer any Continuing Professional Development Courses? We do offer courses to our teaching staff. Please ask your consultant about our course schedule and CPD opportunities. What do I need to bring with me to register? Reference details- two people that we can contact who have seen you interacting with children including someone from your most recent place of work/study. However, there are some situations where we can accept other references, ask your consultant. Proof of I.D: passport, driving licence, birth certificate; NI proof, 2 recent proofs of address, qualification/enrolment proof, passport photo. Also if applicable proof of name change (marriage cert/deed poll), work permit/visa and/or overseas police check. How do I get paid? You get paid through an Umbrella company, our preferred company is RACS so once you have registered with us we pass your details through to them and they contact you to get your payment information. You can register with them either as PAYE or on their Umbrella scheme- they will give you further information info@racsgroup.com Do I need a Police check? Yes, we need a police check (Disclosure and Barring Service certificate-dbs and this was previously referred to as a CRB) in order to send you out to work.

13 It costs to process and you can pay by cheque, bank transfer or postal order. Once you have worked 10 days for us we will refund it back to you. However if you have a valid DBS that is registered on the update service we do not need to process a new one, but we will need your signed permission to check it. What is the update service and how does it benefit me? You can register your DBS certificate on the update service for a year, this then means your details are on a register that gets updated weekly by the police. So instead of paying every time you join a new organisation for another certificate they can just check the update service which will say if your DBS certificate is still current. You only have 19 days to do this from the issue date on your certificate. Also if you have a gap in your teaching career but your DBS is on the update service we can recheck the certificate to ascertain that you are still suitable to work with children. How long does applying for a new DBS take? It varies, they can take a day or up to 3 months, it depends on which police force it is sent to and what their caseload is like. I've been working abroad for more than 3 months - is there any point in doing a DBS? Yes, however we will also need an overseas police check from the country you have been working in. See the following link for information on how to apply for them: I'm still on my course so do not have any qualification proof, can I still register? Yes, we will just need to see evidence that you are on the course - such as an enrolment letter, a reference from your tutor or a letter with your results prior to the certificate being issued. Why do you need so many documents? As you are working with a vulnerable group of people-children - we have to make sure that we can verify your identity and suitability for the role, as well as checking for eligibility to work in the UK to comply with government regulations.

14 Useful Links Planning your journeys &timeoffset= Resources Payment DBS and update service

15 Handover Sheet Morning lessons Afternoon lessons Concerns Class behaviour Other feedback

16 Social Media tp://tinyurl.com/ob4l36p