Specialist Teaching Assistant

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Teaching Assistant to join our Education Team. This role will require the successful candidate to support an integrated and holistic approach to education, health and care, work under the direct supervision of an allocated teacher / senior specialist teaching assistant, support access to learning and provide general support to the teacher in the management of pupils in learning opportunities and to assist the teacher in providing relevant support for pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and complex therapeutic, medical and health needs.

You will be a natural and enthusiastic leader able to provide challenge and support to a high performing team.

Main duties of the job

To support an integrated and holistic approach toeducation, health and care.

To work under the direct supervision of an allocatedteacher / senior specialist teaching assistant.

To support access to learning and provide general supportto the teacher in the management of pupils in learning opportunities.

To assist the teacher in providing relevant support forpupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learningdifficulties (PMLD) and complex therapeutic, medical and health needs.

About us

The Childrens Trust is the UKs leading charity for children with brain injury and complex health needs.

The charity provides rehabilitation, medical care, special education, community services and expert information.

Our key services are:

Rehabilitation for children with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

A non-maintained special school, with associated residential houses for children with complex education, health, therapy and care needs

Support for children with ABI and their families in the communities across the UK, through our Brain Injury Community Services. Online information and support via our publications and

Our residential services based at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, Surrey, work in partnership with the NHS and local authorities to provide a step-down pathway of care between hospital and home. The centre is entirely child and family focused to ensure that their needs are appropriately supported.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide support for LearningActivities set by Classteacher & Senior Specialist Teaching Assistant

Tosupport learning activities for individual, groups or whole classes of pupils,leading activities under the direction of the teacher or Senior TeachingAssistant supporting the teacher in their delivery of lessons.

To demonstrate our School Ethos and Pupil Charter throughout the Schoolday.

Holistically integrate education, health and care needs.

Evaluateand record procedures for learning activities.

To know individual learning targets for each pupil in the group(s) andtake specific action to enable individual pupil goals be achieved.

To attend to the general care, maintenance and storage of classroomequipment.

Support Childrens Development

Observe pupils, sharingobservational findings, contribute to the implementation of activities tosupport development.

Actively contribute towards record-keeping particularly in respect ofpupil learning, therapeutic interventions, behaviour management, childprotection and any other specific programme set up for individual pupils by theteacher / Senior Specialist Teaching Assistant / Therapist.

Help to keep Children Safe

Undertake annual safeguarding training.

Adhere to the schools Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures andpolicies. Recording incidents pertaining to pupil safety, including forillness, accidents and incidents, accepting that Safeguarding is everyonesresponsibility and that it could happen here.

Read relevant documentation / mandatory reads in relation to KeepingChildren Safe In Education.

Report any signs and indicators of possibleabuse, being sensitive to the child/young person and circumstances,Identifying, report and record changes in behaviour and physical signs.

Be aware of and follow plans, risk assessments and record keepingpertaining to individual pupils, including care plans, health care plans,feeding plans, moving and handling and behaviour management plans, activelyengaging in relevant training and competencies offered to ensure that you areable to support in keeping all pupils in the class safe.

Ensure safe transport for all pupils in the class for off site visits.

Contribute to Positive Relationships

Interact with and respondpositively and professionally, to pupils and adults, including colleagues,other professionals and parents/ carers at all times.

Work collaboratively as part ofa class and wider School and organisational team.

Actively support change whereit is required to improve the teaching, learning and meeting of our pupilsneeds.

Support Literacy andNumeracy Activities, Communication and Interaction Needs

Supportthe delivery of appropriate communication, language and literacy as well as thelearning targets related to cognition to individuals, small groups and wholeclasses of pupils, providing accurate support and feedback to the teacher andpupils.

Support Childrens Play andLearning

Topromote and support age-appropriate play for pupils.

To supervise and actively encourage play and leisure activities duringplaytimes taking an active role in the organisation of play, leisure and recreationalactivities.

SSupport a Child withDisabilities or Special Educational Needs and Their Families

Beconfident in each of the pupils needs in the classroom and the relevantstrategies that are required to support them.

Seethe pupil as a whole and integrate their education, health and care needsthroughout their day.

Support pupils with communication andinteraction, cognition and learning, behaviour, emotional and socialdevelopment needs and pupils sensory and/or physical needs.

Support Individuals duringTherapy Sessions

Receiverelevant training from therapists and then implement training and competenciesthroughout the pupils day.

Beable to articulate the purpose of programmes and ensure their delivery in anintegrated way.

Work with individuals to identify theeffectiveness of the therapy sessions on their health and social well-being.

Check observations with appropriate people andagainst agreed outcomes.

Identify any issues or problems in relation tothe therapy sessions and work with individuals, key people and others toidentify and agree changes to the therapy sessions.

Record and report on therapy sessions withinconfidentiality agreements and according to legal and organisationalrequirements.

PromotePositive Behaviour

Highlight and praise positive aspects ofpupils behaviour appropriate to the individual.

Recognise patterns and triggers which may leadto inappropriate behavioural responses and take appropriate action to pre-emptproblems.

Encourage the team to support pupilsconsistently and regularly review their own behaviours to model intendedoutcomes.

Providefeedback to relevant people on progress made by any pupils with a behavioursupport plan inline with the schools Behaviour Policy.

Implement individual pupilbehaviour management programmes if required.

Prepare and Maintain theLearning Environment

Preparethe learning environment to meet the needs of individual pupils.

Supportthe teacher in the preparation of resources needed for lessons by gathering andappropriately positioning them for access.

To ensure that pupils arein the right place at the right time in the right clothing with the appropriateequipment in the correct position.

Support Pupils with Cognitionand Learning Needs

Implement agreed strategies to support pupilswith cognition and learning difficulties to learn.

Sequence and structure learning environmentand experiences ensuring adequate time.

Consistently apply visual, auditory, objectand tactile cues.

Provide an appropriate level of assistance toenable the pupil to experience a sense of achievement, maintain self-esteem andself-confidence and encourage self-help skills.

Listen carefully to the pupil and positivelyencourage him/her to communicate his/her needs and ideas.

Support Pupils with Sensoryand/or Physical Needs

Obtain accurate and up-to-date informationabout: a the nature and level of the pupils sensory and/or physical needs andapply to the pupils learning needs, planned learning tasks and activities.

With support adapt the layout of the learningenvironment and the equipment used to enable the pupil with sensory and/orphysical needs to access and maximise learning opportunities.

Encourage the pupil to actively participate inlearning tasks and activities consistent with his/her developmental level,physical abilities and any medical conditions.

Ensure that any specialist equipment is usedappropriately to maintain the pupils comfort and maximise his/herparticipation in learning tasks and activities.

Give appropriate assistance to enable thepupil to experience a sense of achievement and encourage independence.

Positively reinforce the pupils efforts toparticipate in learning tasks and activities.

Assist in the Administration ofMedication

Apply standard precautions for infectioncontrol and other relevant health and safety measures.

Report any discrepancies or omissions youmight find to the person in control of the administration and to relevant staffas appropriate.

Be aware of School procedures.

Contribute to administering and record keepingof medication to individuals in the appropriate manner, using the correcttechniques according to the care plan if signed off as competent in doing so.

Ensure the security of medications throughoutthe process and ensure all medication is stored in the correct safe place whenadministration is complete.

Meet their Personal SupportNeeds

Attend to pupils personal care needs as and when necessary ensuringcare and dignity at all times.

Assist with the organisation of refreshments and mealtimes, feedingindividual pupils where necessary including feeding by gastric tube afterreceiving the necessary training.

Support pupils in thewater and assist with swimming and or hydrotherapy programmes.

Take part in School StaffDevelopment Procedures

Take part in aperformance management programme and work towards specific pupil progress andprofessional development targets.

Take part in a staffinduction programme, and pursue other training opportunities as agreed with theline manager.

Take part in staffdevelopment days, class team meetings, departmental meetings, whole staffmeetings and other occasional meetings held in usual working hours.

To support studentsand volunteers who work within the classroom from time to time.

The roles andresponsibilities in this job description can be reviewed at any time in orderto better meet the needs of pupils.

All of our SupportAssistants will be expected to work with a range of pupils in their class andmaybe requested to work with others across the School.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

Maintains a positive approach and outlook whendealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.

Recognises own limitations, develops realisticgoals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.

Treats challenges and problems as a learningexperience.

Remains organised and focused when underpressure.

Responds appropriately and

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Experience with working with children

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