Learning Support Assistant

Do you enjoy working with young people?

Are you passionate about the way in which animals can help young people to make sense of the world, and help us learn?

We need friendly, energetic, positive problem solvers who are familiar in working with a range of needs to join our team.

We are a therapy and learning farm, just outside Guildford, and this is a wonderful opportunity for the right person. We are particularly looking for people who have some established skills in working with young people who can present with challenging behaviours.

Elysian is an animal assisted therapy and learning organisation, established in 2015, and as of Sept 2020 we became a registered Secondary school. We have a farm with many different animals. Our specialism is suppprting children and young people with complex SEMH needs. Learning Support Assistants will support children and young people to engage in the learning sessions, often supporting 1-1 and sometimes smaller groups. They work under the direction of teachers and other staff, alongside a range of support staff.

This role requires resilience to deal with disengagement, mistrusting and testing behaviours from vulnerable young people who have often been let down by the system, professionals, carers or professionals. You need to be emotionally and physically robust with an established self care mechanism for maintaining your resilience and motivation when working with a range of behaviours that can test your motivation.

You will get up close with a whole range of animals every day, from walking goats and ponies, to undertaking animal care tasks with young people. The key skill is how to engage children and young people who are often disengaged and struggle with motivation and building and maintaining positive relationships.

We offer you a friendly team, an outside work environment, a supportive place work, and future progression opportunities.

**Job Description**:
**Learning Support Assistant**

**Position**

Learning Support Assistant

Full time - Term time - 9am-5pm Based at Westland Farm, Guildford, GU5 0TL.

41 weeks per year.

**Job Requirement**

The role holder will support a full range of learning, including Animal Assisted Therapeutic Activities, working with complex children and young people. This will consist of supporting a vast variety of needs, including emotional, social, behavioural, learning and mental health needs.

**Skills**

**Experience and Qualification**
- Degree or higher education in a relevant field or extensive experience working with vulnerable children and young people.
- At least 3 years’ experience of direct work with young people
- Experience of SEND education setting is preferable.
- Experience in delivering psycho education workshops or supporting groups incorporating animals will be an added advantage.
- Confidence and knowledgeable supporting young people to care for and respect animals.
- Sound knowledge of Safeguarding and good professional boundaries is essential.

**Additional Skills**
- Ability to project a positive public image of self and the organisation whilst exhibiting a culture of outstanding service and high ethical standards.
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in spoken and written English is essential
- Capable of establishing and maintaining constructive interpersonal relationships within the organisation.
- Demonstrated experience of working within a multi-disciplinary and/or diverse environment.

**Overview of role**
- Supporting young people to undertake educational and therapeutic activities with animals on the farm, including providing 1-1 for learners who need extra support.
- Provide informal assessment of new young people, and contribute to formulating therapeutic and educational goals, individualised for each young person
- Maintain any records necessary for the evaluation of service needs and efficiency and ensure that documentation is clear, accurate and in compliance with legal requirements.
- Undertake research relevant to the work as needed.
- Maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality at all times.
- Prepare and deliver structured Animal Assisted Therapy and/or Learning sessions for groups and individuals, including workshops and delivering learning plans/lessons where applicable.
- Where appropriate, provide coaching and training for students, junior or new staff.
- Where appropriate provide supervision of apprentices and/or volunteers.
- Oversee and undertake general liaison with young people, their carers/parents and relevant professionals within and outside the organisation with regards to general progress reporting and follow up.
- Contribute to the overall promotion activities of the organisation.
- Contribute to the overall ethos and aims of the organisations and general team agenda, which may include ensuring animals are healthy, happy and looked after, and/or developmental or maintenance tasks as part of a current or ongoing organisational agenda.

This is an ongoing adver