School Administrator

Who are Fair Ways and what do we stand for? 

Fair Ways is a leading children’s services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential, Mental Health and Family services and cares for over 400 children, families, young people and vulnerable adults each year.

Fair Ways is a great place to work. We are a team. We care about each other and are all committed to making a change to the lives of the young people and families in our care. We will not apologise for calling our staff great, the best, or world-class. Our staff are at the core of our organisation and we celebrate them by shouting it from the rooftops!

Where and when do we need you? 

We are looking for a School Administrator to work at our SEMH School located on the outskirts of Southampton supporting around 20 young people. Our students will have all been identified as having complex and additional needs and as such are better suited to 1:1 or 2:1 learning and will have an individualised curriculum based on their specific needs. Students are placed with Fair Ways when other mainstream or specialist schools have been unable to meet their needs and as a result of this they may have been out of education for a long period of time, having exhausted multiple placements. 

In this role you will be involved exciting and rewarding things like: 

• Being the ‘go to’ for all things admin - Ensuring a consistently high standard of administrative support is provided to all staff, management and students within our education settings and that the highest level of adherence to all safeguarding legislation happens at all times.
• Using your excellent attention to detail - Accurately creating, updating and maintaining staff and student records within the required time frames, using the appropriate systems.
• Creating a secure and welcoming environment - Representing the school in a professional manner, welcoming all visitors politely and efficiently and ensuring all visitor guidance is followed in order to keep our young people safe.
• Using your fantastic communication skills - Providing clear and concise information and reporting to relevant parties within required time frames.
• Building respectful relationships - Proactively maintaining respectful relationships with staff and students ensuring safe professional boundaries are fostered in line with best practice and safeguarding legislation.
• Looking after yourself - Recognising your own reactions and feelings in response to challenging situations and using opportunities such as supervision, team briefings and relevant training to ensure you proactively support your own wellbeing.
• Investing in your personal and continuous professional development – Maintaining a good knowledge of current best practice and statutory regulations ensuring best levels of administration support are compliance are delivered.

Successful candidates will be working a 25 - 27.5 hours per week, term time only. 

All candidates must have a full driving license and have access to the use of a car. Successful candidates will be required to provide an enhanced Disclosure (DBS). This disclosure cost will be met by Fair Ways.  

Desirable…. but not Essential  

Whilst we value the knowledge and understanding that experience and qualifications can bring, we also know that some of our best people have come to us from unrelated backgrounds. These people already held our core values at heart, and with the dedication of our amazing in-house training and development team, we have supported the rest!  

• To hold a Level 3 qualification in administration or equivalent or be happy to work towards one
• To have considerable experience in an administrative role – preferably within an educational environment

Let us look after you!

At Fair Ways, we care about your well-being, here is what we currently offer to our dedicated team:

• Exciting Opportunities: Participate in free staff lotteries with amazing prizes, such as £1000 holiday vouchers, weekends away, luxury hampers, £1000 fostering referral scheme and vouchers. Experience a workplace that celebrates your contributions.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a Holiday Accrual Scheme and the option to purchase additional holidays (up to 5 days). We value your time and offer flexibility to accommodate your existing commitments.
• Health and Support: Benefit from Health Shield, our health cash plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Scheme, providing emergency financial assistance and 24/7 counselling services. Access your salary when you need it with Early Pay – The ability to withdraw an amount of your salary early each month to assist with any unforeseen circumstances.
• Growth and Development: Unlock your potential with our Education Grant, offering funding for accreditation up to master's level. Engage in leadership courses to enhance your skills and progress in your career.
• Wellbeing Matters: Experience team-building days, summer festivals, and well-being initiatives, promoting a positive work environment. Take advantage of discounted gym memberships and a cycle-to-work scheme to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Recognition and Rewards: Be appreciated for your dedication through annual Staff Awards and Long Service Awards. Build a secure future with our pension scheme and gain eligibility for a Blue Light Card.
• Supportive Community: Be part of our diverse workforce that embraces all communities. We value your unique perspective and encourage you to contribute to our inclusive and vibrant culture.

Become a part of our community – We can’t wait to meet you!

If you're passionate about making a difference and are ready to embark on an incredible journey, apply today and be a part of something amazing at Fair Ways. Join our team and help shape brighter futures!