Teaching Assistant Level 3 (Senior Student Support Worker)

The Trustees are looking to recruit to the post of Teaching Assistant Level 3 (Senior Student Support Worker)

The Springboard Project, Oldham Town Centre

NJC scale points 12-17: £27,771 - £30,060 per annum (full time equivalent) 

Actual Salary NJC scale points 12–17 - £23,700 - £25,710 Term Time Plus 5 days (195)

SEN Allowance £1,491 per annum

Commencing as soon as possible

Part of the New Bridge Multi Academy Trust, The Springboard Project, based in Oldham town centre, provides high quality, innovative alternative educational experiences for pupils and students with SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties) across the 14-19 age range.

Here at the Project, we believe passionately in supporting our students to achieve their very best outcomes and overcome their barriers to learning. Our provision is set up to provide high quality, innovative educational provision for 14-19 year olds with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. Our aim is to meet the needs of our young people where they are, supporting them to gain the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to go into fulfilling life beyond education. It is our ambitious goal to support every one of our students into employment, further education or training once they leave us at 19.

We promise to ensure all our students have the opportunity to:

• Gain a minimum of 4 Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualifications, including Maths and English
• Gain a vocational qualification in a pathway of their choice
• Develop employability and life skills, including recognised qualifications
• Have real, meaningful work experiences, including being allocated a career coach, who will stay with them post-19

We also believe that we cannot support our young people in isolation, and so always look for innovative ways to support our wider community, the young people’s families. This can be through offering a friendly ear / support to the adults around our students through to real, practical support via our ‘Project Pantry’, a one-stop option for families struggling with the cost of living crisis.

The Project is part of the New Bridge Group, a specialist MAT focussed on supporting young people across Oldham, Tameside, Rochdale and Stockport with additional needs. Through the MAT, and our partnerships with wider external agencies, we can support our young people up to the age of 25, ensuring they have the best possible outcomes and move successfully into adulthood.

Due to an expansion of our setting, we are now looking for passionate and dedicated people to join our team as Senior Student Support Workers. The role is a dynamic one, with some aspects similar to a Teaching Assistant, whilst others are more individualised, supporting our young people through building appropriate relationships and developing their personal skills.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how they meet the following essential criteria:

• Previous experience of working with young people of secondary school age who may present with challenging behaviour and complex SEMH (Social, Emotional & Mental Health) needs, preferably within an educational setting
• A nurturing and empathetic approach to behaviour management
• The physical and emotional resilience to support students with complex needs, taking a non-judgemental approach
• The ability to support teaching and learning within an SEMH setting to a dedicated group of students
• The ability to work within the team to monitor student progress, ensuring their improved engagement with the school and their learning
• The ability to record student progress and provide regular feedback to stakeholders.
• The ability to model and encourage appropriate social behaviour in and out of school and to cater for the general welfare of students.
• The ability to work in partnership with other staff to differentiate appropriate interventions for students in relation to the curriculum
• The ability to work as part of a team using own initiative when needed
• Willingness to participate in own professional development

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment.   

This post will be subject to a number of pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and proof of right to work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. It will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here.  

For successful candidates, an online search will be carried out as part of our due-diligence in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.  

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  

Salary: NJC scale points 12-17: £27,771 - £30,060 per annum (full time equivalent) 

Actual salary range pro rata: £23,700 - £25,710

Allowance: SEN allowance - £1,491 per annum

Contracted hours: 36 hours 40 minutes per week / term time plus 5 days (195 days)

Status: Permanent

Based: Initially at The Springboard Project, 2 Medtia Square, Phoenix St, Oldham, OL1 1AN

Closing Date: Friday 6th December (9am)

Interviews: TBC

Further info: David Butterworth, Head of Site – David.Butterworth@newbridgegroup.org

Completed application forms should be returned to: recruitment@newbridgegroup.org