Learning Support Assistant

JOB PURPOSE The Learning Support Assistant will have responsibility for providing additional learning support to students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. They will be required to undertake a range of tasks associated with supporting learners on a range of full time and part time courses, this may include working one-on-one in a small group within a classroom supporting students with their education and social development. A Learning Support Assistant provides support to students who have a learning difficulty and/or disability such as specific literacy difficulties, Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome, mental health difficulties or mobility difficulties.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES The successful candidate will be responsible for any or all of the following duties: • Provide additional learning support as detailed in the Individual Support Plan as directed by Line Manager. • Learning support assistance in a variety of settings such as classrooms, exams settings, kitchens, sciences labs and workshops.

• Provide support for extracurricular activities including meetings, tutorials, educational trips, career events, formals etc. and any other organised events as agreed. • Reading / prompting or taking notes as recommended in the student’s individual support plan. • Use and promotion of specialist equipment or assistive technology. • Assist students to find appropriate research material for their assignments/ projects. • Assist students to locate and collect books / Laptops from the Learning Resource Centre. • Provide one to one support for student/s where appropriate at break and lunchtimes, this may include supporting students or order and pay for food. Some students may need assistance during their meal time. • Provide support to students during class assessments or exams as directed by their Line Manager • Liaise with Line Manager and relevant curriculum staff where necessary ensuring all communication remains confidential. • Promote and assist students with the use of assistive Technology, this may also include demonstrating assistive technology to students (following training). • Promote and assist students to access counselling services and other health and wellbeing supports where appropriate • Liaise with relevant Safeguarding staff to refer a cause for concern as per relevant policies and procedures. • Support students during fire evacuation if required Administrative and Record Keeping Duties

The successful candidate will: • Liaise and co-operate with Line Manager to provide support for students with special educational needs or disabilities as outlined in the student’s Individual Support Plan • Complete monthly pay claims by required deadlines. • Complete monthly paperwork required by the Line Manager e.g. learning support records • Complete any additional reporting or recording as requested by Line Manager or relevant curriculum staff e.g. Normal Way of Working Form for access arrangements • Regularly update the Learning Support Manger / Co-ordinator regarding relevant issues by completion of Learning Support Records • Attend meetings as requested by Line Manager • Assist in risk assessments as required. • Participate in training and development including mandatory online training. • Be familiar with relevant policies and procedures including Learning Support Policy, Examination Support Policy, Safeguarding Policy. • Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade and post as may be assigned.

GENERAL • Participate in the enrolment cover rota as appropriate. • May be required to undertake work outside normal working hours on occasions. • Provide reports, written and oral, as required. • Ensure that all documentation and authorisation procedures are adhered to.

CONDITIONS • Promote the College positively at all times. • Abide by all College procedures and ensure these are implemented in area of responsibility. • Within the context of the post, ensure full compliance with College health and safety requirements. • Abide by Learning Support Code of Conduct as outlined during Section Induction. • Within the context of the post, ensure full compliance with College equality requirements. • Any other duties appropriate to the grade and post, as assigned.

The location of the post will reflect the needs of the College and may be changed subject to the requirements of the College. Duties may change as the College develops, therefore the person appointed will be expected to be flexible in relation to duties performed as required. It is anticipated that the post-holder will be required to adopt a flexible approach to the duties and responsibilities as outlined in this Job Description. This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted. It is the practice of the College to periodically examine employees’ job descriptions and to update them to ensure that they relate to the job as then being performed or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This procedure is normally carried out through discussions between the post holder and the line manager. It is the College’s aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes following consultation with the post holder. Personnel Specification Applicants must as a minimum, meet all of the essential eligibility criteria listed below. Eligibility Criteria Essential 1. A minimum of five passes at GCSE Level or equivalent including Maths and English. 2. A minimum of 6 months experience of working with young people or adults in a support or educational setting through study, unpaid or paid employment. 3. Be competent in the use of computer applications to create word documents, spreadsheets and other Microsoft applications.

Other Essential Criteria The role may entail travel between sites and you are required to demonstrate how you are able to meet this requirement, e.g. whether you hold a full (i.e.) not provisional, current driving licence which enables you to drive in Northern Ireland, and a car for official business, or, access to a form of transport which will enable you to meet the requirements of the post.