Learning Support / College-Link Mentor (Post-16)

We have an exciting opportunity for a confident, enthusiastic individual with a passion for learning and excellent inter-personal skills and teamwork to join our team as a Learning Support / College-Link Mentor, supporting children who have speech, language and communication difficulties.

Learning Support / College-Link Mentor (Post-16)

Term-time (5 days a week)
Permanent

Blossom House is an Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” specialist school for children aged 3 - 19 years of age with speech, language and communication difficulties. Although many of the children have some associated difficulties such as fine motor problems or poor organisational skills, they are all within the average range of cognitive abilities.

The Post-16 provision is a specialist 6th form college for students aged 16 – 19 years of age with speech, language and communication difficulties. Upper House Post-16 is a unique provision as it is tailored, as much as possible, to cater for each student’s individual needs. The department consists of Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Teaching Assistants.

Place of work:

Learning Support / College-Link Mentor support is provided to children who attend Blossom House School in New Malden, and also when they attend their Post-16 Colleges, which include Nescot, Merton (Morden), Kingston, South Thames College and various other colleges. The Mentors are expected to travel to the various colleges and schools as required as their normal place of work. This role will initially be based at Kingston College CIC (Creative Industries Centre - Facilities - Kingston College (stcg.ac.uk) and Blossom House School for the academic year 2022 – 2023.

Range of Support required:

It is also expected that Learning Support / College-Link Mentor will be able to provide support across a range of subjects and will be able to work independently as peripatetic staff at the various colleges, ensuring that they build good relationships with college staff.

The Learning Support / College-Link Mentor role involves supporting children, assisting the class teacher, therapists and lecturers, helping to maintain the learning environments and assisting with administration.

We offer:

• A supportive working environment in a newly refurbished building at Blossom House School.
• Good links with Post-16 colleges and regular contact with the school.
• The opportunity to work 1-1 with children where possible.
• Support from an enthusiastic and dedicated team of Therapy staff and Teachers who will work alongside you when in the classroom at school. Our Speech & Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapist, Art Therapists, Music Therapists aim to maximise each child’s potential in a nurturing and supportive environment.
• Continued professional development.
• Great staff benefits and a friendly nurturing environment.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Confidence, enthusiasm and a passion for learning.
• Excellent English skills (clear written and spoken English) along with good reading, writing and numeracy skills.
• The ability to build good working relationships in a proactive and confident manner with children, teachers, lecturers and college staff, parents and carers
• Experience of working with children with Special Education Needs (SEN), particularly children on the Autism Spectrum.
• The ability to manage a small group of children with complex social communication needs.
• The ability to promote positive behaviour in a nurturing environment is essential.
• The ability to support students in a wide range of subjects.
• Adaptability and the ability to travel independently to the various college sites and work independently at the various sites.
• Good administrative and organisational skills.
• Emotional Resilience and the ability to identify opportunities to prevent issues from escalating by involving the necessary team members and implementing appropriate action plans in a timely manner.

Qualifications preferred include GCSE, CACHE Diploma Level 3 in Child Development or equivalent qualification.

The role is a Permanent, Term-Time role
5 days a week 08:30 – 17:00
(Salary is negotiable depending upon experience)
To Start: Spring Term 2023
Closing date: 3rd March 2023

If you wish to apply for the post, please download the application form from the school website and email the completed application form detailing how you meet the requirements of the person specification along with the recruitment activity (on the last page of the advert) by the closing date.

This role is subject to the relevant Safeguarding checks which will include an Enhanced DBS check.