Student Support Worker (Car Valet)
Department: Learning for Living & Work
Salary: £20,981 per annum (£24,316 full year equivalent)
Contract Type: Permanent - Term Time 37 hours per week
Reference: REC2292 | Closing Date: Sunday, 2nd November 2025
Term Time Contracts
This contract offers full-time hours across 38 weeks of the year, primarily during term time. You will be required to work during the academic terms, with some additional duties outside of term time as needed. This structure provides a balance between a full-time role and flexibility during non-term periods.
The Opportunity
You will play an important role in helping our learners with learning difficulties and disabilities gain hands-on work experience in a real-life car valeting environment. Working within the friendly Learning for Living and Work department, you will support our students working at pre-entry level and above to develop meaningful skills that boost their confidence, independence, and future employability.
In this role, you will provide practical, person-centred support to individuals and small groups, ensuring every learner can take part and make progress within the car valeting initiative. You’ll adapt activities to meet each learner’s individual needs, including support with communication, mobility, sensory challenges, or literacy and numeracy. Your consistent, high-quality approach will help learners achieve the outcomes set out in their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) while building the skills and self-belief they need for the next stage of their journey.
You’ll record learner progress through detailed observation logs and progress reports, ensuring all documentation is accurate and compliant. Working closely with teachers, the pastoral team, parents, carers, and external professionals, you’ll help ensure every learner receives the right level of support. You’ll also encourage safe and responsible working practices, making sure our students follow health and safety procedures and use PPE appropriately.
As part of the team, you’ll act as a positive role model and mentor, helping our learners to build confidence, teamwork, and practical life skills. You’ll contribute to team meetings, staff development activities, and ongoing improvements to the service, and there may be times when you take responsibility for a group using prepared resources.
Ultimately, you’ll help create a supportive and inclusive environment where our learners with SEND can develop valuable real-world skills, gain confidence, and take meaningful steps toward their future goals.
About You
You’ll bring a caring, proactive approach and a genuine passion for supporting others to achieve their potential. With a positive attitude and adaptable approach, you’ll ensure every learner receives the right support to succeed.
You’ll enjoy working hands-on, helping our students gain real-world experience through the car valeting initiative. You should have experience working with learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, ideally in an educational or care setting, and be confident using inclusive, person-centred approaches that place learners first.
You’ll have strong planning and organisational skills, enabling you to manage your workload, support our learners effectively, and plan and facilitate group activities that promote teamwork and skill development. You’ll also know how to motivate and lead our learners, keeping them engaged, focused, and proud of their achievements.
Good IT skills and excellent record keeping are essential, as you’ll produce accurate, well-written reports to track our learners’ progress. You’ll work closely with teachers, support staff, parents, carers, and external professionals, so clear communication and teamwork are key. You’ll also feel confident supporting our learners with a range of complex needs, showing empathy, patience, and professionalism at all times.
You’ll bring energy, warmth, and dedication to your work, valuing the chance to make a real difference as part of a supportive team.
Below is a list of some of the key skills, qualifications and experience we are seeking for this exciting opportunity.
Required
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification
• GCSEs in Maths and English (or willingness to work towards)
• Level 3 Teaching qualification, e.g. ETA L3 (or willingness to work towards)
• Level 2 Health and Social Care (or willingness to work towards)
• Experience supporting learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in an educational or care setting
Reasons to join us
• We offer substantial annual leave entitlement (Up to 47 days per year including bank and public holidays)
• Holiday purchase scheme to buy additional annual leave days
• Local Government Pension Scheme – with a generous 19.2% employer contribution!
• We invest in our people through funded CPD opportunities, regular staff development training and paid volunteering days
• Career advancement opportunities with tailored support for staff to progress
• Free Barnsley College courses to support your professional and personal development (subject to approval)
• 24/7 access to same day appointments with a GP
• Exclusive discounts and cashback for retail, dining and leisure as part of YouatWork
• Access to health cash plans as members of the Westfield Health Scheme or Health Shield
• Discounted college gym membership with onsite facilities
• Supporting employee mental health through access to free counselling services and the Foundations App
• Discounts schemes for greener travel including Northern Rail, Trainline and Cycle to Work
• Free Microsoft Office 365 for personal use on up to five machines
• Access to discounted hair and beauty therapies at our onsite salon
• On site subsidised Starbucks and food outlets offering a variety of dining options
• Free breakfast provided daily for all staff members
• Our shared purpose - We believe in transforming the lives of both our learners and staff
The Barnsley College Advantage
When you join us, you can expect to benefit from The Barnsley College Advantage. This is the advantage of:
• Being supported to achieve your personal and professional goals
• A range of flexible working opportunities
• Autonomy, Empowerment and Accountability
• Short- and Long-Term development commitments
• Access to experiencing work in a range of areas
• Working in a Value and Behaviour led organisation
• Reward and Recognition
• Having your voice heard at every level
• Comprehensive Wellbeing Support
Closing date for applications is Sunday, 2nd November 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early depending on the level of interest.
Barnsley College is committed to creating a dynamic and diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all candidates regardless of their gender, disability, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or faith. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure from DBS.
Please be aware that it is a Criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.