The Student Support function provides one to one support for individual students who have been identified with a very wide range of learning needs and or disabilities. The service is very keen to foster inclusion and to support the learning needs of all QMC students. We are looking for Student Support Assistants to support mainstream, cross college provision and Foundation Learning.

JOB 

To work closely with curriculum and other staff to support the individual student so that they can achieve to their full potential and progress successfully.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The ideal person for this role is someone wishing to experience a career in Education first-hand. Someone who has flexibility around the expectations of the role and can balance these against the needs of the students they are supporting. Kindness, patience and compassion are important factors in delivering this role as well as being part of a multi-disciplinary team.

The successful candidate will be able to give a clear demonstration of the following requirements:

• Appropriate level of skills in numeracy and literacy;

• Good level of general education;

• Motivated to become knowledgeable about specific disabilities and best practice support;

• Interested in general aspects of social care;

• Ability to interact effectively with a broad spectrum of disability and a genuine empathy and affinity for this particular age group;

• Commitment to the philosophy of inclusion for students with learning difficulties and disabilities;

• Discrete and professional in terms of confidentiality;

• Self-motivated and shows good use of initiative;

• Well organised and committed to providing high quality support;

• Ability to understand and carry out reasonable instructions;

• Good communication skills with both staff and students;

• Willing to attend training courses to enhance professional expertise and breadth of experience;

• Good level of general fitness to allow for the wide range of support tasks undertaken;

• Willing to support in swimming and PE if and when applicable.

• A willingness and ability to support learning in specific curriculum areas

• A broad understanding of equalities, diversity and inclusion more widely in education

• Good current IT skills

• Flexible approach to new tasks

• Adaptable to last minute changes

Please note this role requires 1:1 supervision or occasionally leading small group work usually taking place on site for example in class or areas such as the green house, therefore this role is not conducive to remote working.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Accountable to: SSA Team Leader & SENDco

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide student support in a wide range of classes to help raise the achievement, Skills for Progression (SfP) and aspirations of the student.

• Develop an understanding of the specific needs of the student(s). Students will have Mild, Moderate and Complex Learning Difficulties and Disabilities. Student Support Assistants need to be flexible and adaptable to the programme requirements.

• Enable the student to learn as effectively and independently as possible, both in group situations and on their own, taking into account their Special Educational Needs (SEN).

• Provide mentoring support for students not designated to you in a one to one key worker role as and when deemed appropriate to do so or as dictated by their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

• Work with curriculum staff and specialist agencies to support and facilitate methods of promoting self-esteem, independence and Skills for Progression (SfP).

• Keep student notes up to date using college systems and student progress information (VISTA).

• Provide administrative, classroom and whole-college support by undertaking tasks such as data inputting, word processing, filing, photocopying, preparation of support materials, ensuring the environment is clean, tidy and safe and other such non-teaching duties as reasonably fall within the scope of the post.

• Provide break and lunch-time supervision on a rota basis for a small number of students.

• Provide support for the college exam team in ensuring that students are not disadvantaged by disability. Acting as a reader, scribe, and physical assistant and occasionally as an invigilator for students entitled to access arrangements.

• Support students during off-site, course related activities where appropriate.

• Support students with an SEN to develop independent living skills. Responsibilities may include cooking skills, social skills training, emotional support or support to facilitate work experience.

• Provide assistance with college events such as enrolment and taster sessions.

Key Outcomes

Students of Queen Mary’s College with learning needs, difficulties and disabilities will be better supported, and overall student inclusion will be facilitated. Students will gain confidence to become independent learners and be more prepared for progression to adulthood.