Learning Support Assistant, Orchard Hill College – Kingston

Salary:  Scale 1C/3, £20,436 - £21,687 per annum including London Weighting Allowance (FTE £25,852 - £27,435 per annum)

Location: Beaconsfield Centre, 17 Beaconsfield Road, New Malden, KT3 3HY

Working Pattern:  36 hours per week, Monday to Friday, Term Time Only

Start date: As soon as possible, subject to clearance checks

Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, November 2019) offering life-changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We have eight vibrant community based College Centres across London and Surrey where committed, specialist teams deliver a range of programmes to meet the needs of over 400 students.

Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community.

Orchard Hill College is a truly unique and rewarding place to work with inspirational students and a dynamic and supportive staff team.

We are seeking enthusiastic and dedicated Learning Support Assistants to join our dynamic team. As a Learning Support Assistant, you will support our students to gain self-confidence and independence through encouragement and reassurance, and the use of teaching and learning strategies. You will do this by supporting the students in accessing a range of home, community, work related and basic skills learning programmes, under the direction of the Lecturer.

Key Responsibilities:

-Providing each student with the support needed to carry out learning

-Carrying out therapy, health and well-being programmes to support learning as directed by the Nurse, Therapist and/or Lecturer

-Ensure that agreed individual programmes of learning for students are implemented correctly

-Work in harmony with all staff to ensure a positive atmosphere within the College is maintained for the benefit of our students

-Ensure that students’ well-being is maintained at all times

Requirements:

-Experience of working with or caring for children or adults who have barriers to learning and/or special educational needs

-Hold a level 1 Maths and English (or equivalent) qualification, or be willing to enrol on our internal functional skills course within your first year of employment, and complete the course within 2 years

Rewards & Benefits:

·        Electric car lease scheme

·        Enhanced parental leave schemes

·        Cycle to work scheme

·        Season ticket loans

·        Employee referral scheme

·        Discounted gym membership subscription including digital fitness

·        Comprehensive training and development

·        Access to counselling advice and support via Health Assured

·        Commitment to wellbeing supported by our occupational health service and mental-health first aiders

·        Scope for career progression across eight college centres, 14 academy schools and shared services team

·        Pension scheme - the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) both of which have life cover and financial protection for your family.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

Orchard Hill College is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and students with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit https://www.ohcat.org/work-for-us/

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact jobs@orchardhill.ac.uk.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.

Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.

Closing date: Friday 1st November 2024

Interview date: W/C 4th November 2024

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.