Deputy Principal Special Education

**Position Information**:
Rivendell School is a Centre of Excellence supporting adolescent students with mental health diagnoses in a secondary setting. The school is part of a joint NSW Ministry of Health and Department of Education (DoE) facility, located within the historical Thomas Walker Estate at Concord West and shares the site with the Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Service. Our school has 14 classes, with up to 98 students, across Concord West and Campbeltown settings. Onsite, Rivendell School provides a positive and inclusive learning environment for students admitted to the Yaralla and Lawson programs of the Rivendell Mental Health Unit. The school also operates two Department of Education programs for students with an emotional disorder. Paterson program supports students in stages 4 and 5, and the Sulman program supports students in Stage 6.

Offsite, Rivendell School staff two learning centres. One is within the Walker Adolescent High Severity Psychiatric Unit in the Concord Centre for Mental Health and the other is at Gna Ka Lun Acute Adolescent Mental Health Unit attached to Campbelltown Hospital. The school provides a curriculum consisting of stage and individualised academic programs, targeted vocational programs, and the opportunity for students to participate in a range of engaging extracurricular activities including sport, cultural and creative arts. Wellbeing is embedded across all programs in the school.

Our committed staff demonstrate a strong ethos of communication and collaboration within a supportive and professional environment. This is an opportunity for a deputy principal lead and manage a dynamic special education setting, building the capacity of staff to deliver targeted curriculum and wellbeing supports for students transitioning into and out of these programs. You will be part of an education/health team, making a positive difference to the academic, social and emotional outcomes for adolescents with atypical education pathways.

**Selection Criteria**:
Approval to teach special education and/or experience;
1. Highly visible and collaborative leadership with a demonstrated capacity to successfully lead continuous improvement in a diverse and complex school community.

2. Expertise in strengthening effective interagency partnership, including multi-disciplinary mental Health teams and a demonstrated ability to build genuine and collaborative relations within the school community.

3. An inclusive educational leader with demonstrated understanding of the diverse needs of students and the ability to build staff capacity in all areas of curriculum delivery that is differentiated, engaging and supports all students.

4. Demonstrated expertise in leading evidence-based approaches to student wellbeing to support student-centred learning through partnerships with families, students, external agencies and the broader community.

**General Selection Criteria**:
1. Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice

2. Knowledge of curriculum, assessment and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs

3. Educational leadership skills to build the capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams

4. Well developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents

5. Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning

6. Knowledge of and commitment to the Department's Aboriginal education policies

**Conditions**:
**Special Notes**:
Applicants must be willing to regularly travel between Rivendell school settings, located in Campbelltown and Concord West.

**About the NSW Department of Education