Autism Support Practitioner (Maternity Cover)

Autism Support Practitioner (Maternity Cover)

Ref: ME2425017

(Post is fixed term maternity cover for a period of 1 year or until the post holder returns,

whichever is sooner)

Hours: 29.6 hours per week, 52 weeks per year annualised hours. 855 full time equivalent annual teaching hours

Salary: In the range of £30,581 - £36,454 per annum pro-rata, actual salary in the range of £24,464 - £29,163 per annum (Dependent on skills, experience and qualifications)

Reporting to: Assistant Principal

Primary Location: Northampton, Booth Lane Campus

Closing Date: Tuesday 3rd December 2024

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed 

About Northampton College

Northampton College is proud to be the leading provider of further education in the South East Midlands region. As a College, who have been rated by Ofsted as ‘good’ with outstanding features, we are committed to developing the professional and technical skills of our students, who are the workforce and leaders of the future.

The Team

The School of Academic & Vocational Support is an exciting team, which services all learning support across the college. The school contains many teams which comprise specialist teachers, practitioners, and support staff with diverse skills, that work with curriculum teams to support students in their learning. The roles within the school have a focus on supporting students with Special Educational Needs, and Disabilities, and helping support the learning and social development that students have missed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Support may be provided to students who have experienced previous challenges in accessing maths and/or English, or have medical, physical, sensory, life and social skills, emotional and/or mental health requirements, and the role has a focus on enabling students to learn independently. Student support plans may recommend access to a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) in their lessons, with this resource being managed centrally by the school.

The Role

To work within the School of Academic and Vocational Support to provide expertise, knowledge and understanding of Autism and how it impacts teaching and learning to benefit students and staff.

To assess the support needs of students with Autism both at pre-entry and on-course, and provide necessary support tutorials to high needs students, and/or students with Education Health and Care plans, to foster independent learning skills and enable students to participate in the wider college environment. The post holder will also be responsible for advising curriculum staff on the most appropriate teaching, learning and assessment strategies for students with Autism.

To work with the Assistant Principal for Academic and Vocational Support to oversee and review the support provision across college for students with Autism who have Education, Health and Care Plans and/or are High Needs Students.

The Successful Candidate

The successful candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, abilities and qualities will include:

• Relevant experience of working with young adults with Autism in school or college setting.
• Experience of assessing and supporting students with Autism to help them manage in college environment.
• Proven ability to teach students at a range of levels from Entry to Level 3.
• Current knowledge of requirements under the Equality Act 2010.
• Current knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and its relevance to F.E. settings.
• Current knowledge of the Preparing for Adulthood Agenda.
• Experience of teaching students with additional needs and challenging behaviour.
• Strong IT skills and able to use Assistive Technology to support learning.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collectively within a team and with a range of colleagues across college.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both oral and written with the ability to work effectively with a wide variety of audiences both within and outside the college.
• High level of organisational and administrative skills as required for this post.
• Understanding of the need for, and commitment to an excellent pastoral care system to support students in their academic activities.
• Proven experience of implementing quality processes to ensure good teaching and learning.
• Emotional resilience in dealing with challenging behaviours.
• Flexible ‘can do’ approach and willingness to work outside of normal office hours when required.

Rewards and Benefits include

• 53 days pro rata annual leave, comprising 42 personal days, pro rata (1 September – 31 August), including 8 bank holidays and 3 closure days. The College reserves the right to designate up to 3 closure days per holiday year
• Discounts through membership of the NUS, ranging from Student Prime (Amazon), to eating out, fashion, beauty, entertainment, technology and travel
• Eligible to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (a defined benefit scheme including an employer contribution rate of 28.68%)
• Right to request flexible working from start date
• Access to continued professional development
• Free car parking and electric car charging facilities
• Gym facilities
• 24 hours per day, 365 days per year Employee Support Helpline
• Enhanced maternity/shared parental and paternity schemes
• Paid Compassionate Leave - up to five working days paid absence (in a rolling twelve-month period) on compassionate grounds in the event of bereavement or serious illness of a close relative)

If you would like to be a part of our successful team please go to https://www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk/working-for-us.html for further details on how to apply.

This post will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check