Pupil Support Assistant - Intensive Support Provision, Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Breadalbane Academy is seeking a compassionate, dedicated, and proactive Pupil Support Assistant (PSA) to join our Intensive Support Provision (ISP) team across the whole school. This role offers a rewarding opportunity to support young people with additional support needs in a nurturing, inclusive environment.

Our work is guided by our core values of Belonging, Believing, Aspiring and Achieving. We strive to ensure every young person feels they belong, develops confidence in their abilities, is encouraged to aspire, and is supported to achieve their full potential.

The ISP supports pupils with a range of complex additional support needs, including social, emotional, behavioural, and learning difficulties. You will work as part of a skilled, multi-disciplinary team to ensure pupils can access learning, develop independence, and build positive relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualised support to pupils within the ISP and, where appropriate, mainstream classes
• Support pupils to experience a strong sense of belonging within the school community
• Encourage pupils to build confidence and believe in their abilities
• Help pupils to set goals and aspire to success
• Support engagement in learning and celebrate progress to enable pupils to achieve
• Assist with implementing individualised education and support plans (IEPs/CSPs)
• Support social, emotional, and behavioural needs using nurturing and restorative approaches
• Work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team alongside teachers, therapists, and other professionals
• Assist with personal and intimate care needs, where required
• Support pupils with specific medical or dietary needs as appropriate
• Contribute to a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment

Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

• Experience of supporting children and young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN)
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, including teachers and therapists
• A willingness to undertake training for specific medical conditions (e.g. epilepsy, eating and drinking support) and intimate care
• Understanding of inclusive practice and nurturing approaches
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• A calm, patient, and resilient approach
• A commitment to Child Protection, risk management, and confidentiality
• A strong commitment to promoting wellbeing and safeguarding young people

About the School  

 Breadalbane Academy is a vibrant all-through school serving children and young people aged 2 to 18, and we are proud of the strong sense of community that runs through all aspects of school life. We offer a rich and diverse wider curriculum that supports the development of the whole child academically, socially and emotionally. Our approach is rooted in fostering creativity, resilience and personal growth, ensuring that every learner is well prepared for life beyond school. 

Opened in 2010, Breadalbane Academy is located in Aberfeldy, in the heart of scenic Highland Perthshire. Our wide catchment area stretches from the dramatic landscape of Rannoch Moor in the west to the lively towns of Dunkeld and Pitlochry in the east, making this an inspiring place to live and work. 

The school is part of a state-of-the-art Community Campus that provides an exceptional learning and working environment. Facilities include a 25m swimming pool, astroturf playing surface, recording studio, dance studio and excellent ICT resources, all of which support a rich and diverse curriculum and create experiences for our young people that are not always available elsewhere. 

 Surrounded by mountains, moors, forests, lochs and rivers, our rural location offers unique opportunities to enrich young people’s learning and wider experiences. Through the Breadalbane Guarantee, we ensure that every learner benefits from a broad range of achievement opportunities beyond the classroom. These experiences are designed to build valuable skills and aptitudes while broadening pupils’ life experiences and knowledge. 

Breadalbane Academy is proud to provide opportunities for Gaelic Medium Education across our Nursery, Primary and Secondary settings. We are committed to giving young people opportunities to engage with Scotland’s cultural heritage, including an appreciation of the wider culture of Gaelic. In doing so, we help learners become familiar with this important aspect of Scottish heritage while contributing to the continued vitality of Gaelic as a living language in Perthshire. 

Many staff enjoy commuting from Perth, Crieff and other nearby areas, attracted by the school’s strong community ethos and stunning natural setting. Breadalbane Academy’s location in Highland Perthshire offers not only a rich educational environment, but also a lifestyle that embraces nature, creativity and connection. 

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

All new employees have a four-month probationary period. Further details are available in the FAQs at “How to apply for a job or apprenticeship with us”.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Lynne Lambert, Head Teacher & Campus Leader, via email - Breadalbane@pkc.gov.uk, to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide 2 references, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check and maintain your membership.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.