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• Communication Support Worker (Level 3 British Sign Language)

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Closing date: Monday 03 July 2023
Location: Orpington and Bromley
Hours: 35 hours per week, term time only. Part time hours may be considered - please state in application.
Salary: £37,858 per year FTE
Contract: Fixed term for one year with possibility of renewal
Interview date: To be confirmed

Are you interested in working for an organisation making a real difference to the lives of young blind and partially sighted people?

Here at the Royal Society for Blind Children we believe that every blind young person should have the chance to live life without limits. Our values of Trust, Energy, Ambition, and Motivation underpin everything we do, and by giving young people the essential skills to take control of their life, they can unleash their true potential.

We are looking for a BSL Communication Support Worker to provide 1-1 support to a student who is profoundly deaf, registered blind and uses BSL as their main form of communication.

The main purpose of this role is to support the delivery of learning programmes delivered at a partnership college in Bromley and from the Dorton College student hub in Orpington on study days.

You will support the student to access lessons and encourage independent learning skills as well as produce adapted classroom resources.

We would love to hear from you if you hold or are working towards  a Level 3 BSL qualification, experience of working with young people with multisensory impairment.

In return we offer a competitive range of benefits including a generous annual leave allowance of 27 days (rising to 28 days after 3 years’ service) + bank holidays, Employee Assistance Programme, Perkbox, flexible working opportunities, 3% contribution towards pension, and season ticket loan. We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive workforce and are a Disability Confident Employer. We also hold the Investors in People Silver Award.

To apply

For further details on the role, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification on the RSBC website.

Please apply by emailing your CV and a supporting statement which details how you meet the requirements of the role and person spec to recruitment@rsbc.org.uk

Closing date:  Please apply as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

To apply you will need to have the right to work in the UK.

The Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Therefore, all posts are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure check from the Disclosure and Barring Service and 2 satisfactory professional references. Registered Charity No.307892

Job description

Primary Objectives/Job Purpose

• As part of our dedicated and enthusiastic team, you will support a student on a 1-1 basis who is profoundly Deaf, registered blind and uses BSL as their main form of communication to effectively access their learning at an additional needs unit at one of our partnership colleges (Bromley) or from the Dorton college hub (Orpington).
• This role will involve working 1-1 with a Deafblind student who uses BSL as their main form of communication.
• You will promote and support the student’s independence in learning and life skills.
• Working alongside and in liaison with a range of college specialists and professionals, you will ensure that the student’s experience is rich, varied and contributes to developing independence and wellbeing.

Key Tasks and Main Duties

• Support the delivery of learning programmes delivered at one of our partnership colleges (Bromley), or from the Dorton college student hub (Orpington) on study days.
• Safeguarding of students, understanding of relevant protocol, reporting concerns promptly following the College procedures.
• Support the student to access lessons and encourage them to develop independent learning skills and develop their independence in wider contexts, including travel skills.
• Produce adapted classroom resources, providing classroom support or supported study, for a range of courses.
• Support the students to fully participate in a range of learning, work experience and leisure activities.
• Use ICT and other technologies, to adapt classroom resources in students’ preferred mediums.
• Build positive working relationships with key staff at partnership colleges and liaise with both these and staff at Dorton College, to ensure student needs are met.
• Encourage students to make their own informed decisions and take responsibility for their learning, care and support.
• Track and record student progress and achievement within set timeframes.
• Have a clear understanding of individual student strategies, including mobility, learning, adaptive, medical, or behavioural strategies, to promote independence and enable students to manage and take increased responsibility for their own learning and behaviour.
• Be proactive and reflective in self-development.
• Ensure that Equality and Diversity is considered and reflected in practice.

This Job Description cannot be considered to be exhaustive and other duties not included above may arise from time to time. On the understanding that such duties are commensurate with the purpose of the job and have been identified by the post holder’s line manager and advised to the post holder, then such additional duties shall form part of the requirements of this post.

Person specification

Educational and Professional Qualifications

Essential:

• Level 3 Certificate in BSL Qualification or working towards level 3.
• GCSEs or equivalent Level 2 qualification.
• Minimum of Level 2 Qualification in English and mathematics or working towards.

Desirable:

A Levels, Level 3 NVQ in a related subject or other Level 3 qualification.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge

Essential

1. Experience of working with young people with Multisensory impairment and other additional learning needs and/or disabilities.
2. Experience of working with Deaf young people in an Educational, Care setting, or in a support role.
3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
4. Ability to think creatively and problem solve.
5. Ability to use ICT software, particularly Word, and Outlook.
6. Awareness and understanding of Equality and Diversity.
7. Knowledge of how the support role promotes independent learning and personal development.
8. Knowledge and understanding of student assessment, progress, evaluation and reporting of attainment.
9. Ability to work under own initiative and as part of a wider team.
10. Understanding and awareness of individual needs and ability to adjust.
11.  Motivation to participate in ongoing training and self-directed CPD programmes.
12. Flexibility and ability to work with students, following a range of programmes at different levels.

Desirable:

1. Experience of working with young people with Vision Impairment.
2. Experience of working with young people in an SEN environment
3. Familiar with different communication aids and adaptive technology that aids student learning and communication