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Working at Westcountry Schools Trust - Your Employee Benefits

Whether you are working at one of our schools or within the central team, there are many additional benefits available to you for working at Westcountry Schools Trust.

To find out more, please visit the staff portal or click here.

 

Support Staff Pay Award 2023

We are pleased to confirm that the national process for the support staff pay award 2023 has been concluded and we are making arrangements to apply the award in December’s pay. The agreement is for all support staff members employed under the NJC Green Book to receive an increase of £1,925 to annual salary, and this will be backdated to 1 April 2023.

Regrettably, a consequence of the delayed pay deal is the adverse impact on some staff who are in receipt of income-related benefits, in particular Universal Credit (UC). Unfortunately, payment of backpay cannot be staggered over a period of months as it is monies owed to staff and is required to be paid as soon as practicable after the pay deal is agreed. If you are affected by this issue, we would advise you to speak to your Universal Credit Work Coach via your online account or call the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644, who can assist you with this matter.

If you would like further information on the support staff pay award 2023, please visit the LGA Website

Flu Vaccinations 2023/2024

WeST continues to support staff wellbeing and is pleased to offer staff access to flu jab vaccinations this winter.
Following your feedback and market research, this year we have partnered with Doctorcall to deliver a limited number of flu vaccination vouchers to use at participating pharmacies. These vouchers are provided at no cost to staff members and we encourage all staff to take up the offer of a flu jab.

To request your flu vaccination
voucher, please visit here or
scan this QR code:

 

 

Flu vouchers can be used at one of the Doctorcall participating pharmacies, which include Tesco, Day Lewis, +Well and Asda.


To find a pharmacy near you and to book your appointment at a time and date which suits you, please visit: https://doctorcall.co.uk/pharmacy-finder


Please note if you would like to book with a +Well Pharmacy there are more location options listed directly on their website https://services.well.co.uk/
Flu vouchers are redeemable until 31 March.

For further information please contact WeST HR via hr@westst.org.uk

Keeping active at Christmas

As the weather is changing and getting a lot colder, staying indoors and keeping warm and cosy sounds good but staying active is more important than ever right now, and even if you’re mostly in your house, there are plenty of ways you can still do so….

Join an online class

If you are a member of a gym, check their social media pages to see if the instructors are running any online classes! Many gyms are continuing to offer classes from home, and these do not require any specialist equipment. If you aren’t a member of a gym there are still many online videos on YouTube or other social platforms that are great for beginner’s right through to experienced fitness fanatics.

Exercise outside

If you are ready to brace the cold weather, exercising in the crisp fresh air can be much more awakening and refreshing. There is something about exercising in the cold weather that warms you in the inside.

Find exercise painful?

Many people live with chronic pain, or health conditions exacerbated by exercise. For many people, this puts them off exercising full stop. It is important to try to find suitable alternate exercises that do not place too much stress on areas of injury, or cause any issue with a pre-existing health condition. Yoga, stretching, cycling and bodyweight exercises are often less stressful on our joints than jogging and high intensity interval training (HIIT), so modifying exercise routines is important.

Avoid falling into unhealthy eating patterns

For many the current need to social-distance means working from home has become essential. With this, many people no longer adhere to the traditional ‘lunch break’ routine you may be used to at work. Many of us are now sat either in, or very close to our kitchen with access to food all day. You may find yourself snacking more often than usual. If you find this to be the case, then you may want to set yourself specific times of the day you are to eat between. It may be helpful to allocate yourself a breakfast, lunch and dinner time, and try to avoid unhealthy snacking between these times.

Check the Care first Lifestyle website for information on physical wellbeing

Your Care first Lifestyle site has content dedicated to physical health and wellbeing, including articles and information on warm-ups, stretches you can do whilst working, ways of keeping fit for free and many more. You can also access Care first’s Wellbeing Assessment tool, which looks at 10 aspects of health and wellbeing – allowing you to take more control of your own wellbeing.

Join Care first’s webinars

The service managers at Care first have been running webinars weekly on a number of different topics, relating to mental health and physical wellbeing. If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Keeping active at Christmas’ this is being delivered live on

Friday 15 December at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/358932707543194975

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Changes to National Insurance Rates

The government has announced a 2% cut to the main rate of Class 1 employee NICs from 12% to 10% from 6 January 2024; further information is available here.

We are working with our payroll provider to ensure staff will benefit from these changes in January's pay.

A huge congratulations to the netball team at Ermington Primary School 

Ermington's netball team competed at ICC for the South Hams Area Netball Qualifier. Their squad of 7 played and won against every school entered into the competition, resulting in them qualifying for the Devon County Finals later in the academic year. 

It is incredible to hear that the children have worked so incredibly hard and showed true sportsmanship and teamwork skills, along with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Coombe Dean's Christmas Fayre

 

Thank you so much to everyone who supported Coombe Dean's Christmas Fayre. 

We are delighted to announce that a very impressive £1,544 was raised for our We Care fund, which supports our most vulnerable children.

Do Good December

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Recruitment update:

We are delighted to inform you of the following exciting career opportunities within our Trust:- 

Arena are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Sports Development Coach - Arena are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated sports coach to join their highly successful team. Due to an increase in our work programme, we have a vacancy for a sports development coach to cover the North Cornwall area of the sports partnership or the South Devon area. Closing date: 8 January 2024.

Outdoor Learning Wild Tribe Development Coach - Arena are looking for an enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated Outdoor Learning development coach to join their highly successful team. The post holder will need to have a minimum of a level 3 Forest Schools qualification or an equivalent Outdoor Learning qualification. Closing date: 8 January 2024.

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here.

Coombe Dean are seeking to fill the following vacancies:

Receptionist (Maternity Cover) - Coombe Dean are seeking to appoint an outstanding individual to join our Admin team. You should be able to remain calm under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Closing date: 11 December 2023.

Teacher of Social Sciences (Maternity Cover) - Coombe Dean are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and inspirational Subject Leader. The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and fellow Subject Leaders to deliver high quality lessons and opportunities to Post 16 students. Closing date: 11 December 2023.

 For more information on the above vacancies, please click here.

Eggbuckland Community College are seeking to fill the following vacancies:

 Casual Examination Invigilators - Successful candidates will support the exams administrators with the day-to-day operation of examination venues. Duties may include reading and/or scribing for students with special needs. Closing date: On-going.

Cover Supervisor x2 - Duties to include supporting the learning of students in class by clarifying work and encouraging successful completion of tasks, monitoring students’ behaviour and uniform, taking class registers and invigilation. Closing date: 15 December 2023.

Literacy Teaching Assistant - Under direction of the Director of SEND and Associate Assistant Principal for Literacy, the post holder will work with students who require additional support with literacy and reading. They will be part of a diagnostic literacy team, using evidence-based strategies and interventions, which support reading fluency, phonics and blending, and comprehension. Closing date: 14 December 2023.

6th Form and Careers Administrator - The post holder will provide general admin and reception services including word processing, photocopying and distribution, filing, dealing with internal and external mail and with telephone calls. They will also be required to compile student reports, chase external reports, maintain notice boards and organise meetings as necessary. Closing date: 8 January 2024.

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here.

Hele's School are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Cover Supervisor (Maternity Cover) - We are seeking an enthusiastic and adaptable Learning (Cover) Supervisor to provide stability and continuity for students whose lessons are affected through short term teaching staff absence and to provide additional support to curriculum leaders, teaching staff and students. 

Cleaner - The post holder will clean and provide a high standard of cleanliness in the area of the school that you are assigned to. The area you clean may change based on school needs. To be flexible and work within time allocations and ensure that all cleaning is carried out. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here.

Ivybridge Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

 Casual Examination Invigilator - Hours of work are by negotiation, to cover examination sessions throughout the year. The ability to work at least three days a week during the peak times in May and June. A full day, morning (start 8.30am) and afternoon sessions are offered. Closing date: On-going.

College Medical Assistant - Ivybridge are looking to appoint an exceptional individual to the position of College Medical Assistant with the responsibility for Student Welfare. The post holder will provide first aid to students, staff and visitors at Ivybridge Community College. Closing date: 11 December 2023.

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here.

Plymstock School are looking to appoint Exam Invigilators. The post holders will be a confident and reassuring presence to students whilst providing supervision within an exam room. Duties will include assisting the Exams Team in ensuring examinations are carried out to the correct guidelines. For more information, please click here. Closing date: On-going.

 

South Dartmoor Community College are seeking to fill the following vacancies: 

 Casual Examination Invigilators - The successful candidates will be hardworking, self-motivated and enjoy working in a team as well as under their own initiative. Previous experience within this area would be advantageous. You will be a committed and loyal individual; with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best for students. Closing date: On-going. 

First Aid Lead - South Dartmoor are looking to appoint an experienced, confident and enthusiastic Student Medical Support Assistant who shares our passion, vision and drive, and who is prepared to go that extra mile to support our students. The successful candidate will be joining a committed team of student support workers who play an important role across our school. Closing date: 13 December 2023.

Inclusion Lead - The successful candidate will provide support, advice and intervention programmes that meet the academic, social and emotional needs of individuals for whom inclusion to our mainstream provision is not enough. They will also host and support the work of visiting professionals and in house support workers. Closing date: 13 December 2023.

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here.

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Headteacher at Boringdon Primary School. They will be required to provide and model outstanding leadership to secure its continued improvement journey, ensuring high quality education for all its students and improved standards of achievement. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 15 January 2024.