Communication Support Worker

**Communication Support Worker**

**Post Title**: Communication Support Worker

**Responsible To**: Principal Teaching Assistant

**Grade**: 7 (£24,496 - £25,409) FTE

**Hours**: 32.5 per week. 5 days a week, 08:25 to 15:40 (50 minutes for lunch)

**Essential Pre-requisite Skills**:
Level 3 Certificate in Communication Support for Deaf Learners (or willing to work towards)

Level 3 BSL (or working towards)

**Main Purpose**:
Within an agreed system of supervision, work with teachers to support teaching and learning, providing specialist support to maximise development and achievement.

This role is to work proactively in supporting students with hearing impairment/loss to access a range of activities. The role is around employing strategies and procedures that provide inclusive person-centred support, thus improving retention and achievement.

**Support for students**:

- To work collaboratively in a team of multi-skilled Support staff.
- To work with a variety of teams to assist in carrying out screening and ongoing assessment of students’ potential support needs.
- To liaise closely with curriculum staff in identifying where in a students’ study programme, support would be most beneficial.
- To liaise with designated team members in creating individualised support plans and personalised support activities for students.
- To work with students, providing support as identified in assessments, directed by teaching staff. Teaching staff may reasonably request you to support others in the group if your learner does not require your support.
- To work flexibly and responsively in all elements of the school as required to meet student needs.
- To attend, where possible, meetings and report on the progress of supported students
- Assist with the development and implementation of SEN Support Plans and Student Profiles
- Establish productive working relationships with students, acting as a role model and setting high expectations
- Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all students within the school
- Encourage students to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all students in activities
- Promote independence and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement of self
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- Contribute both written and verbally to EHCP reviews / requests from external agencies
- As a Key Worker, provide pastoral support, developing and maintaining positive relations / communication between home and school.

**Support for the teacher**:

- Work with the teachers to establish an appropriate learning environment
- Work with teachers in lesson planning, evaluating and adjusting lessons/work plans as appropriate
- Monitor and evaluate students’ responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement against pre-determined learning objectives
- Promote positive values, attitudes and good student behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage students to take responsibility for their own behaviour
- Administer and assess routine tests and invigilate exams/tests
- Provide general clerical/admin support e.g. administer coursework, produce worksheets for agreed activities etc.

**Support for the curriculum**:

- Facilitate and implement local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy and make effective use of opportunities provided by other learning activities to support the development of relevant skills
- Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop students’ competence and independence in its use
- Help students to access learning activities through specialist support
- Determine the need for, prepare and maintain general and specialist equipment and resources

**Support for the school**:

- Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
- Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school
- Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals, in liaison with the teacher, to support achievement and progress of students
- Attend and participate in regular meetings
- Participate in training and other learning activities as required
- Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others
- Provide appropriate guidance and supervision and assist in the training and development of staff as appropriate
- Undertake planned supervision of students’ out of school hours learning activities
- Supervise students on visits, trips and out of school activities as required

This job description may be changed by the Headteacher in consultation with you to reflect or anticipate changes in the job commensurate with the grade and job role.
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