Cognition and Learning Specialist Team Member: Moderate Learning Difficulties in Belfast

PERSON SPECIFICATION NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.

2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.

3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.

4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.

6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

• Qualifications: Hold a teaching qualification as approved by the Department of Education (NI); OR Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher examination qualification in Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology, Education, Special Educational Needs or relevant discipline.
• Experience: Have five years’ experience supporting children with special educational needs, three of which must include supporting children with Moderate Learning Difficulties in a school setting. Have experience of providing advisory support/training to educational staff, parents, colleagues, or other professionals in relation to pupils with special educational needs. Have three years’ experience of co-ordinating an area of development within an educational setting or an education related service. Have experience of line management of staff.
• Other: The successful candidate will be required to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner.

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

• Knowledge: Knowledge and understanding of the current policy and legislation context as it applies within the area of Special Education and also within the wider educational context. Knowledge of the SEN framework including the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Children with Special Educational Needs. Knowledge of appropriate teaching strategies and approaches to meet the learning needs of children with SEN including pupils with MLD. Knowledge of a range of Management Information Systems.
• Skills/Abilities: A high degree of interpersonal skills in relation to staff and other stakeholders. Strong commitment to teamwork. Ability to collaborate with a range of stakeholders to ensure an appropriate service model and effective service delivery. Ability to deal sensitively and professionally with parents, schools and other stakeholders. Empathy for the needs of children with special educational needs. Ability to manage change. Flexibility, confidence and enthusiasm.
• Values Orientation: Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

• Experience: Have experience of working within a multi-agency model of service delivery.
• Qualifications: Hold an additional relevant qualification in the area of Special Educational Needs.

Our Values: Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND: The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES: To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Job Purpose: Responsible to: Cognition and Learning Specialist Lead / ASEO. The specialist Team member for Cognition and Learning (Moderate Learning Difficulties) will work as part of a regional, multi-disciplinary, specialist team within the Local Impact Team model to support the delivery of a Local Impact Teams for pupils and schools.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Management, development and co-ordination: Provide co-ordination of agreed functional areas of service delivery; contribute to planning, target setting and meeting the objectives of service in line with the Specialist Team and wide Local impact Team service delivery plan and action plan; work within the broader corporate objectives of the EA and the operational objectives of SEND and Youth Services; assist in the development of procedures and protocols regarding the delivery of the service.
• Training, advice and support for service users: Facilitate the delivery of a range of interventions deemed to be appropriate to meet the identified needs of the individual child or young person; work directly with selected pupils; maintain reports of involvement, assessment and progress for each child receiving support; monitor, assess and review pupils’ progress and the appropriateness of provision, maintain records and provide reports at regular intervals.
• Collaboration and Inter-agency Work: Encourage a co-ordinated approach in addressing the special educational needs of a child or young person with moderate learning difficulties; develop links with other EA officers in relation to the co-ordination of work related to the specialist team; engage in meetings and working groups with other EA officers as deemed appropriate to provide a consistent model of service delivery.
• Information Technology: Promote the use of assistive technology as a learning tool; responsibility for supporting the MIS system regionally in relation to pupils with Cognition and Learning Needs.
• Continuing Professional Development: Read, investigate and evaluate the development of special educational initiatives, as part of ongoing professional development; attend courses and conferences in the areas of need associated with the work of the service, as deemed appropriate by the specialist lead for cognition and Learning.
• Other Duties: Comply with EA policies and procedures in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the post; maintain at all times confidentiality of information received in line with GDPR regulations; any such other duties that the EA may from time to time require.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.