Community Teaching Assistant

**Would a term-time role in education suit your lifestyle? Would you like to be part of a new project providing education in Bedford for young people who have a learning disability?**

As a Community Teaching Assistant, you will not always be confined to the classroom. The learning will be out in the community and learning at our base, depending on the needs of the young person.

You'll teach young people whose learning difficulties or autism mean that mainstream education won't always meet their needs. Using a tailored curriculum, you teach what is important for the individual: key life skills and appropriate lessons in literacy, numeracy and ICT.

By way of example, one learner that started with us - we will call her Amanda* - had been supported 2:1 in school and was not included in any of the group lessons. During her first term with us we developed a communication system that enabled Amanda to make active choices in her day and have control of how, where and what she was learning. This in turn made her more secure and confident in her learning and by using a communication method - pictures/visuals - that made sense to her we had a dramatic reduction in behaviours that challenge and Amanda was not only able to join in group sessions with peers but also made friends with other learners.

You'll work in the Bedford area, working **38 hours a week on** **a 37 weeks a year contract**.

Every day is different but one thing is the same: the achievement you will feel as you watch young people blossom into adulthood.
- _Name changed for confidentiality_

**About us**

MacIntyre is a national charity which supports over 1,200 people with a learning disability and/or autism.

We were founded in 1966 by the visionary parent of a child with disabilities and have been growing steadily ever since. We celebrate and develop everyone’s unique gifts, talents and contributions.

Our No Limits division provides bespoke education programmes to children and young people for whom more traditional learning environments may not have worked.

We are creating a new provision in Bedford to provide transitional education for students leaving school or sixth form, and we are recruiting to build our team and ensure everyone is trained before the start of the next academic year.

**What we need from you**

Perhaps you’ve worked in special education, as a Learning Support Assistant or Teaching Assistant. Perhaps you've been a Support Worker in the social care sector. However, experience is not essential. For us, underlying ability and attitude are just as important as background and experience.

If you have not worked in the field of education before then please don’t be put off. We can provide all of the specialist training you need, including the opportunity to gain a certificate in education and training.
**You must be a driver **with your own transport, willing and able to travel across the Bedford area, supporting young people from their own homes. Reasonable mileage is reimbursed.

GCSEs (or equivalent) minimum C grade in English and Mathematics are essential.

**Training and Development**

At Macintyre we fully support your training and development. We know it can be daunting to start a new job, and not everyone learns the same way, so throughout your probation we will provide you with a mixture of eLearning, face-to-face training and mentoring support whilst on the job.

But it doesn't stop there - throughout your career with us you will have access to our own dedicated in house Learning and Development team, Quality Specialists and HR Teams. These teams, along with your Manager, will provide you with opportunities to learn and develop professionally as well as enabling and supporting you to achieve professional qualifications and career progression opportunities - all free of charge.

If you do not have an educational qualification, we will support you to complete the Education and Training Diploma Level 3.

**Pay and Rewards**

We provide a range of benefits to reward and thank our staff which includes:

- 5.6 weeks' annual leave including statutory public holidays)
- Workplace Pension scheme - MacIntyre will contribute 3% of your salary to all eligible employees
- MacIntyre Staff Savings Scheme
- Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
- Health Cash Plan which provides money back on core health treatments such as: optical, dental, physiotherapy, chiropody (at reduced cost)
- MacIntyre Sick Pay (qualifying period)
- Life assurance scheme offering valuable benefits to your dependents
- MacIntyre Rewards Scheme which recognises and rewards staff
- MacIntyre Perks which offers up to 6% discount off leading retailers including Tesco, Curry/PC World, Costa and many more
- Access to the Blue Light Card which offers thousands of amazing discounts online and on the high street for emergency and social care staff.
- Enhanced DBS Certificate (cost paid by MacIntyre)

The salary range above is dependent