Pupil Support Assistant (Sensory Education Service)

Job Description

Assist teaching staff in providing a supportive and positive learning experience for children with additional support needs, as directed, to help create a supportive and positive atmosphere where children can work towards maximum independence and integration with their peers.

Requirements

This post provides an opportunity to work with children who have a hearing or visual impairment. In addition to the roles identified within the Pupil Support Assistant job description, the specialist nature of this work will involve supporting the learning needs of hearing impaired children and their use of technological equipment, allowing their inclusion and access to lessons. You will work under the guidance of a Teacher of the Deaf/Teacher of Visual Impairment and you will be responsible to the Principal Teacher of the Sensory Education Service (SES).

The successful candidate will be supported by Teachers of the Deaf/Teachers of Visual Impairment to become familiar with the requirements of this specialist role. Signing skills at British Sign Language Level 1 are desirable.

This peripatetic post is based at Beechbrae Education Centre and in order to meet the operational needs of the Service you will be required to travel efficiently between various work locations within Moray, including arriving for the start of the school day at your designated timetabled school, which could be subject to change at short notice depending upon pupil’s support needs. This would normally be undertaken independently and so holding a full driving licence and access to your own car will be a requirement of the post.

Prospective candidates who wish further information are encouraged to look for additional information about working with hearing impaired children in mainstream settings from organisations such as the National Deaf Children's Society (www.NDCS.org.uk), the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (www.BATOD.org.uk), The Royal Blind School Edinburgh (www.royalblind.org/education) or Royal National Institute for the Blind (www.rnib.org.uk )

Responsibilities

To provide pupil support, enabling activities.

To provide pupil support to young people with additional needs, including assisting in maintaining a safe, healthy and hygienic environment. 

Administration duties linked to pupil support.

Health and Safety.

Participate in the Council’s employee review an development programme.

The Individual

Experience of working as a pupil support assistant

• Ability to demonstrate a satisfactory level of literacy and numeracy to support pupils with their studies.
• Ability to work under guidance and direction of teaching staff to assist young people in enabling activities such as school and classroom routines.
• A keen interest in child development.
• Display ability and commitment to training and subsequent staff development as required.
• Self confident and self motivated.
• Effective communication skills, oral and written.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Appreciation and acceptance of, and commitment to the importance of confidentiality.
• Capacity to establish productive working relationships with pupils.
• Calm, patient and non-judgemental attitude.
• Solution focused, flexible and adaptable.
• You will be expected to travel efficiently and effectively between various work locations within Moray to meet the operational requirements of the Service. Due to the rural nature of Moray this is normally undertaken by use of a car / pool car.
• Understanding of and ability to demonstrate key inter-personal skills.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships.
• Approachability and willingness to help.
• Willingness to accept direction/ delegation.
• Flexibility to meet the needs and demands of the service.
• Capacity to assist in and carry out certain lifting tasks associated with the support of young people.

Temporary maternity cover up to 27 June 2025

Closing Date: 21 October 2024
Starting Salary: £25,512.24 (pro rata)
£13.26 per hour
21 hours per week (term time only)

For further information contact: Moray SEBN Service, telephone 01343 557914, email admin.sebn@moray-edunet.gov.uk