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Closing date: Tuesday 04 July 2023
Location: Orpington and partner college in either Bromley or Croydon
Hours: 35 hours per week, term time only. (Part time hours will be considered - please state in application).
Salary: £17,687–£18,742 per year dependent on skills and experience. Starting salary of £21,606 – £22,895 per year FTE.
Contract: Permanent

Amazing LSA opportunities available in Orpington for a September start

‘It’s not what you imagine it will be like. It’s much more. If you love people, you’ll love working with our students.’

Hayley, Dorton College LSA

“All  our students receive 1-1 support, a package of care and a holistic approach/support from our therapists, which enables them to learn, grow and achieve to become independent young people. With RSBC’s ethos of life without limits and just enough support, this sums up our role.”

Zena, Learning Support Lead

As part of our dedicated and friendly team, you will support and promote independence for students with a vision impairment, to effectively access their courses within one of our mainstream partnership colleges  and on study days, develop their life skills in the Dorton College hub in Orpington.

We are looking for candidates with a minimum of Level 2 in Numeracy and Literacy and a Level 2 or 3 qualification in a related subject such as Supporting Teaching and Learning, plus proven IT skills. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and knowledge of how the support role promotes independent learning and personal development in the classroom.

We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive workforce and are a Disability Confident Employer. We also hold the Investors in People Silver Award. We offer a competitive range of benefits including 3% contribution towards your pension, and season ticket loan. Rated “Good” by Ofsted (2018) across all areas.

To apply

If you are looking to develop or utilise your SEN experience both within a small specialist team and in a mainstream setting and can demonstrate our values of Trust, Energy, Ambition and Motivation please complete our application form and send to: recruitment@rsbc.org.uk We are looking to fill this vacancy for an immediate start so submit your applications as soon as possible. Please indicate on the application form if you are applying for the permanent or bank contract.

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

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

Objectives

• As part of our dedicated and enthusiastic team, you will support students from a range of different backgrounds with vision impairment, to effectively access their courses within one of our mainstream partnership colleges or from the college hub..
• You will promote the students’ independence in learning and skills
• Working alongside and in liaison with a range of college specialists and professionals, you will ensure that the students’ 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, or from the student hub on study days.
• Safeguarding of students, understanding of relevant protocol, reporting concerns promptly following the College procedures.
• Support the students to develop independent study 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 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:

• 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 (e.g. Learning Support) or other Level 3 qualification.
• UEB Grade 1 and/or 2 Braille
• Qualifications at Level 3 and above

Skills, Experience and Knowledge

Essential

1. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
2. Ability to think creatively and problem solve.
3. Ability to use basic ICT software, particularly Word, and Outlook.
4. Awareness and understanding of Equality and Diversity.
5. Knowledge of how the support role promotes independent learning and personal development..
6. Knowledge and understanding of student assessment, progress, evaluation and reporting of attainment.
7. Ability to work under own initiative and as part of a wider team..
8. Understanding and awareness of individual needs and ability to adjust..
9. Motivation to participate in ongoing training and self directed CPD programmes.

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 and other additional learning needs and/or disabilities.
2. Familiar with different communication aids and adaptive technology that aids student learning and communication.
3. Experience in an Educational or Care setting, in a support role.