Skills for Life - Pupil Support Assistant

Job Summary

Temporary for 25 weeks

We may conduct our interviews in person or using Microsoft Teams for video calling. All you need is a device with a camera and access to the internet. We will provide guidance and instructions on how to use this method if your interview is being held virtually.

We are a disability confident leader and we support reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process - for more information click important-information-for-applicants (north-ayrshire.gov.uk)

This placement opportunity is for unemployed parents in North Ayrshire who are interested in gaining experience as a Pupil Support Assistant. North Ayrshire Council is creating temporary positions through its Skills for Life programme. Funded by the Scottish Government, the programme aims to help parents develop skills, training and work experience needed to progress into employment within educational settings across North Ayrshire. The programme offers: A mentored placement lasting 25 weeks (January to June), 20 hours per week term-time only, Pay at the Real Living Wage of £14.10 per hour (pro rata), Ongoing in-work support throughout the placement, Pre-employment training, including a Paediatric First Aid qualification. To be considered for the programme, you must: Be a parent with one or more dependent children living with you, Live in North Ayrshire & Be currently unemployed

To be considered for an interview, you must attend an Information Session on 11th November. During the session, the programme will be explained in detail, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Interviews will take place on 17th and 18th November.

As part of the Skills for Life programme, you will be registered with We Work for Families at the Parent Hub in Ardrossan to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria. You will be required to: • Provide proof of identity • Meet with support services • Complete a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) disclosure check.

Throughout your placement, you will receive mandatory in-work support from a dedicated member of the team. They will work with you regularly to: Update and develop your CV, Complete job application forms, Prepare for interviews, Search and apply for suitable vacancies. The aim of the placement is to provide you with the experience, skills and confidence needed to secure future employment. To further support your progression, 13 weeks before the end of your placement, you will be added to North Ayrshire Council's redeployment list. This gives your applications for suitable Council vacancies priority consideration, provided you meet the essential criteria for the post.

For more details see the attached Role Profile below.

Before you apply, find out a little bit about us and why we are a Great Place to Work.

Staff Values & Behaviours

North Ayrshire Council uses behavioural based approach throughout the recruitment process. Our staff values of Focus, Passion & Inspiration will be explored for this vacancy.

Further information on our Staff Values and how to complete behaviour based application form questions is available on the Staff values and behaviours (north-ayrshire.gov.uk).

Additional Information

References

For your information if this post requires references you will be notified of further details if you are successful in gaining an interview. Not providing relevant references when requested may delay the outcome of the interview process.

PVG (Children)

This post is considered Regulated Work with Children, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children.

Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check, prior to confirmation of employment being made by North Ayrshire Council. Please note, successful candidates will be expected to meet the cost of the relevant PVG check (£59 or £18), which will be deducted from your salary following commencement of employment. For further information on the PVG Scheme please visit Disclosure Scotland - mygov.scot. For further details on North Ayrshire Council’s policy please visit Pre-employment checks (north-ayrshire.gov.uk).

Please note if you are the successful candidate your name and email address will be entered into the Disclosure Scotland PVG system to generate your PVG form which will be issued to your email with an enclosed link to complete.

Our Workstyles

As an employer of choice, North Ayrshire Council has identified four different Workstyles. Each post in the council has been allocated one of these styles:

In Building – More than 90% of time spent primarily at a single base or location.

This post has been allocated the workstyle: In Building

More information on our workstyles can be found in our HR Guide - Workstyles (north-ayrshire.gov.uk). If you have any questions on the allocated Workstyle for this post, please ask at interview.

Use of AI in Applications

Applicants may use AI tools to assist with drafting or refining their application. However, AI should only be used to enhance an application and must not replace personal experience or be used to generate content wholly on the applicant’s behalf. Where it is identified that AI has been used to create an application in full or to falsify responses, this will be taken into account within the scoring, and your application may not be progressed.