Learning Support Assistant, Orchard Hill College – Kingston

Salary:    Scale 1C/3, £21,615 - £22,866 per annum including London Weighting Allowance (FTE £27,343 - £28,926 per annum)

Location:  Kingston, KT3 3HY

Working Pattern:   36 hours per week, Monday to Friday, Term Time Only (36 working weeks)

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 individuals; their learning programmes are 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.

The College is also an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013 which is home to 15 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. To find out more about Orchard Hill College please visit https://orchardhill.ac.uk/.

We are looking for Learning Support Assistants to join our busy, vibrant College, where our committed workforce is dedicated to empowering and enabling students to achieve.

You will be required to provide support to our Lecturing staff to assist in providing educational activities for adults with special needs. You will do so by:

1.     Providing each student with the support needed to carry out learning

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

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

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

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

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.                                                                                                                       

You should have experience of working, caring or voluntary work with people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Experience of working within a team is also essential.

We deliver a range of courses to our students throughout the year and need our staff to work at any centre if required.

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/.

For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact HR via email jobs@orchardhill.ac.uk.

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. 

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: 31/12/2024

Interview date: TBC

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.