Location Yeovil, Somerset

Contract Full Time

Role Type Permanent

Working hours per week40

Salary£26,037

The Cambian Group is one of the largest providers of Specialist Education and Care services for children and young people in the UK, delivering across Special Education Schools and Colleges, Residential Care Homes and a Therapeutic Fostering Service.

Lufton College

Lufton College is a 52-week residential specialist college providing quality care and education for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 with a diagnosis of autism, of whose difficulties place them on the autistic continuum. Our students often have complex needs, associated learning difficulties and behaviours of concern. Our curriculum has been devised to prepare our students for adulthood and to equip them with the skills and knowledge to achieve their personal best in adult life. This is delivered in a variety of settings, including within students’ homes, vocational placements both internally and externally. As well as learning within the classrooms, our young people take part in various outdoor activities such as animal therapy and various activities based around nature throughout the college sites.

Lufton College is within a rural setting on the outskirts of Yeovil spread across 3 sites with over 40 acres, with forest area, small farm areas and ample outdoor spaces. The college is continuing on their journey of improving our provision and the past academic year has been focused on improving the quality of education, our environment and developing the collaboration between care, education and our clinical team input and support.

Main Responsibilities of the Role

• To provide sector-specific expertise to support the ongoing care of animals on site, including pigs, goats, chicken, geese and rabbits. Duties to include oversight of feeding and food purchasing, animal housing, cleanliness and health checks in line with industry standards.
• To be the main point of contact with the veterinarian to ensure the ongoing health and wellbeing of the animals at Lufton College.
• Be responsible for health and safety of the Animal Care environment, including co-ordination of any ongoing maintenance required.
• Support the organisation of rotas for holiday periods to ensure ongoing support and care for the animals outside of college term time.
• Research and introduce new animals that may provide additional educational and/or enrichment opportunities to develop the Lufton College curriculum.
• To undertake a pathway of professional development as part of the Tutor role, including pathway to QTLS.
• Deliver a vocational and therapeutic curriculum in Animal Care, and carrying our personal Tutor responsibilities where required or supporting other Tutors where students have a keen interest and vocational ambition in animal care fields.
• Provide enrichment activities within the Animal Care area to foster students’ interests and passions in being outdoors and part of the natural world.
• Within this role the successful candidate would need to use effective teaching strategies and lesson structures to deliver the curriculum by:
• Identifying appropriate learning outcomes and developing a range of pedagogic approaches which reduce barriers and help students to attain achievable and ambitious goals
• Sequencing and structuring learning experiences and environments to develop organisational and problem solving skills to encourage independent learning.
• Selecting and managing resources, using specialised materials including ICT, as appropriate, to enable maximum access to the curriculum and to promote independent living skills.
• Planning using positive behavioural support approaches and sensory needs for each individual student, with a focus on consistent approaches being provided in all learning environments, adjusting goals and approaches accordingly.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, including care and clinical teams, to make best use of expertise.
• Demonstrating reflective practice by engaging in supported self-assessment of teaching skills and areas to develop in order to improve outcomes for students.
• Requirements
• Minimum Level 4 qualification in Animal Care, Animal Management or Animal Husbandry
• Clean and current driving license
• Minimum Level 4 Diploma in Education and Training.