Individual Needs Assistant

**JOB TITLE: Individual Personal Assistant (school-based)**

**Hours: 30 per week (8:30am - 4:00pm, Monday to Thursday)**

**Term-time contract.**

This role is school-based and will provide support to a young person with complex special educational needs. The Assistant will work under the instruction of teaching/therapeutic staff to provide support throughout the school day, to enable access to learning, to support social skills and independence both in the classroom and throughout the school day.

**1. PURPOSE OF JOB**

This role is to work under the instruction of teaching/therapeutic staff to provide support throughout the school day, to enable access to learning for a student with Special Educational Needs.

**2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES**

**Support for the student**
- Supervise and provide particular support for a specific student, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities
- Assist with the development and implementation of Therapy Passports and Pastoral care Plans and intervention programmes
- Establish constructive relationships with students and interact with them according to individual needs
- Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all students
- Encourage students to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher
- Set challenging and demanding expectations and promote self-esteem and independence
- Provide feedback to students in relation to progress and achievement under guidance of the teacher

**Support for the Teacher**
- Create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment in accordance with lesson plans
- Use strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to support students to achieve learning goals and outcomes
- Assist with the planning of learning activities
- Monitor students' responses to learning activities and accurately record achievement/progress as directed
- Provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on students' achievement, progress and difficulties
- Promote good behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage students to take responsibility for their own behaviour
- Establish constructive relationships with parents / carers
- Administer routine tests and invigilate exams and undertake routine marking of students' work
- Provide clerical / admin support, e.g. photocopying, typing, filing, money and administer coursework.

**Support for the Curriculum**
- Undertake structured and agreed learning activities / teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to student responses
- Undertake programmes of intervention
- Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop students' competence and independence in its use
- Prepare, maintain and use equipment / resources required to meet the lesson plans/relevant learning activity and assist students in their use

**Support for the School**
- Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to Safeguarding, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
- Contribute to the overall ethos / work / aims of the school
- Appreciate and support the role of other professionals
- Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required
- Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required
- Assist with the supervision of students out of lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtime
- Accompany teaching staff and students on visits, trips and out of school activities as required and take responsibility for a group under the supervision of the teacher

**Safeguarding**

The post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risk to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Person.

The list of duties in the job description should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. There will be other duties and requirements associated with your job and, in addition, as a term of your employment you may be required to undertake various other duties as may reasonably be required.

**Person Specification - Individual Personal Assistant**

**Essential**

**Desirable**

**Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attributes**
- NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification, or equivalent relevant experience in working with young people.
- Experience of supporting children in a classroom environment, including those with special educational needs
- Excellent written, communication and organisational skills