JOB DESCRIPTION

To coordinate and support the Schools in all areas of compliance management, advising the Heads, COO and Senior Leadership Teams on all aspects of regulatory compliance, including but not limited to Health and Safety, data protection and Independent Schools Inspectorate, and other legal issues relating to the management of the schools.

To establish, manage and monitor standards, processes, communication, training and reporting to ensure all responsibilities with regards to health and safety and regulatory compliance are met.

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Location: The role will be based on across all schools in the Trust, with proportionate time spent between them, it is expected that the role will  be on site during term time, with flexibility in the holidays.

Key Responsibilities:

• To ensure the Heads, COO and SLTs are kept informed of all relevant changes in guidance and legislation in the following areas:
  • Independent Schools Standards & Regulations (ISSRs);
  • Health, safety and welfare (including medical and educational visits);
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (including child protection and safeguarding) in conjunction with the Designated Safeguarding Leads;
  • EYFS statutory framework & wider legislation in conjunction with the Head of Junior School and EYFS Teachers;
  • Management/operational (bribery, licencing, copyright).
• Advise and, if required, develop practices to ensure these guidelines and legislation are met. Monitor these practices and maintain all records to certify compliance.
• To consult with legal advisers when needed, to resolve difficult compliance issues.
• To identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; develop action plans for the mitigation of those risks and provide general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar situations in the future.
• To ensure that statutory policies are in place and compliant.
• To manage, the Schools’ policies, ensuring there is a robust management system to accurately record amendments, version control, scheduling of updates, Governor approval, and the maintenance of an archive.
• Spread awareness of policies, and liaise with Senior Leadership Teams, Heads of Department and other relevant staff to ensure that policies are being followed in practice.
• To support the Educational Visits Co-ordinators and staff overseeing co-curricular provision to ensure that risk assessments for trips and other activities are completed properly and kept up to date; Support the SLT to ensure the Schools’ Staff Handbooks and Employment Manuals are in line and up to date with current policies and legislation.
• To support the Director of Facilities and Estates to ensure that all statutory health and safety is in place by ensuring a robust auditing and monitoring process
• To undertake internal checks of health and safety across higher risk departments and activities to ensure compliance.
• Ensure necessary staff across the Trust have received appropriate training and guidance in relation to Health and Safety, Risk Assessments, Data Protection, Child Protection any other areas of risk.
• Liaise with the Marketing Department to ensure the website content is up to date with current policies and any other legislative documents as necessary;
• Be responsible for the Trust Risk Register, liaising with staff and Governors as necessary to ensure that the Register properly reflects the perceived risks to the Trust, is reviewed and updated, and that agreed mitigating actions are carried out and recorded;
• To report termly to the Governing Council on Compliance matters.

Inspection

• Ensure that all documentation required for inspection is kept up to date and available for immediate dissemination as and when required.
• To act as the custodian for all inspection documentation as set out in the ISI’s ‘Documentation Required for Inspections’.
• Provide support to the Schools during inspection.

Data Protection Officer & Subject Access Requests

• Provide, in conjunction with external partners expert advice and educate staff on important data compliance requirements, in conjunction with external partners.
• To act as the first point of contact for Data Protection and GDPR issues and support and advise the schools accordingly. This is to include supporting the Trust responses to a Subject Access Request.
• Proactively conduct audits to ensure compliance and address potential issues.

General

• Attend training and to develop relevant knowledge and skills.
• Other tasks to be specified that are associated with the nature of this job.
• The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Appraisal

• Participating in any arrangements that may be made for appraisal.

 Further training and development

• Reviewing from time to time your methods and programme of work;
• Participating in arrangements for your professional development;
• Undertaking such training as may be reasonably required by the School to enable you to adapt to the changing requirements of the School and your role as may be necessary to fulfil the School’s statutory or regulatory obligations.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Experience of working with a range of compliance procedures, ideally within a school or education setting.
• Proven ability to build positive working relationships with individuals and relevant groups.
• Ability to undertake audits, analyse data and develop plans to set targets, monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ability to interpret legislation and other laid down procedures and be able to explain the requirements in simple, practical terms to non-specialists.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to detail and a methodical approach.
• Highly organised; hard working; ‘can do’ attitude; problem solver.
• Finisher/completer mindset with very high standards and independently minded.
• Articulate, succinct, strong verbal and writing skills.
• A high level of attention to detail.
• Highly skilled in the use of IT Systems particularly Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Word.

Desirable

• University degree educated.
• Health & Safety experience, including NEBOSH accreditation and Data Protection qualifications, or equivalent.
• Hold and/or have a willingness to acquire relevant professional qualifications.
• Experience in education and working in large schools.
• Policy review and School Inspection experience.
• Internal audit experience.