Advisory Teacher in Dundonald

The Advisory Teacher will work within the Education Authority Local Impact Teams. The Advisory Teacher will work alongside staff in mainstream settings (Primary and Post Primary) providing advisory support and training. In addition, the Advisory Teacher will provide direct support to children in the school environment. The focus of this aspect of the work will be the delivery of targeted programmes for identified children who require more intensive support including direct support to school staff, parents and carers. An integral part of this role will be the development of effective working partnerships with parents and other relevant professionals.

As a member of a transdisciplinary team, the Advisory Teacher will work across traditional role boundaries and within various Key Stage phases. In promoting an effective and efficient service, all team members will be committed to the development of knowledge and skills beyond one specialist field.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the development and co-ordination of the Local Impact Team.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of an In-Service training programme for educational professionals to promote the capacity building of staff in mainstream settings both primary and post-primary.
• Liaise with staff in EA services and other agencies regarding delivery of training in order to maximise the quality and consistency of training offered to professionals supporting children with special educational needs.
• Promote and develop effective partnerships with parents to support their children's learning, achievement and development by contributing to the development of training/information sessions for parents.
• Contribute to the establishment of cluster groups and provide a key role in supporting individual groups.
• Contribute to the quality monitoring and evaluation of aspects of Local Impact team in promoting positive outcomes for service users.

Training, advice and support for service users

• Collaborate with staff in educational settings and with parents to provide assessment, intervention and progress monitoring for children with SEN.
• Provide and facilitate the delivery of a range of interventions that are deemed to be appropriate to meet the needs of the individual child.
• Support the transition of children with SEN.
• Maintain reports of involvement, assessment and progress for each child receiving advice and support.

Families

• Liaise with parents to encourage their involvement and to offer advice and support as to how they might assist their child at home.
• Encourage and demonstrate liaison between home and educational settings to maximise consistency in relation to effective strategies that are being implemented to meet the needs of an individual child.

Educational Professionals

• Provide a 'link' role to selected mainstream settings establishing a key relationship on behalf of the Local Impact Team and facilitating an efficient and effective use of the service resource.
• Provide training for mainstream setting professionals in developing knowledge and skills in supporting children with SEN.
• Provide advice to staff in educational settings regarding the educational implications of the children's SEN and the use of appropriate support strategies and resources including assistive technology, where appropriate.
• Assist staff in drawing up Individual Education Plans/Personal Learning Plans for children with SEN.
• Work closely with staff to develop practical strategies and interventions which could be promoted with a child and parent as the primary educator based on a model of capacity building.
• Advise on reasonable and appropriate adjustments that could be made to promote the effective inclusion of children with SEN in accordance with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (2005).

Collaboration and Inter-agency work

• Provide, as required, written Educational Advice in respect of pupils with SEN under the terms of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986.
• Contribute to Annual Reviews of Statements of Special Educational Needs, as required.
• Liaise, as appropriate, with members of other services and agencies including the Educational Psychology Service, and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, as appropriate, regarding the special educational needs of individual children.

Record keeping, reporting and Information Technology

• Provide information, advice and reports to the SEND & Youth services to enable the EA to meet its responsibilities in the provision of a high quality service.
• Prepare reports on support provided to settings on the progress of individual children.
• Use a range of Management Information Systems and software packages to support record keeping and record management.

Continuing Professional Development

• Keep informed of current approaches, strategies and resources relevant to supporting children with special educational needs.
• Participate in and contribute to the service staff development programme.
• Engage in professional development activities in line with a transdisciplinary model of team development.

Other Duties

• Comply with Education Authority policies and procedures in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the post.
• Maintain at all times confidentiality of information received.
• Undertake any other related duties as required by the Education Authority.

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.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria

• Be a qualified Teacher as recognised by the Department of Education to teach in grant-aided schools.
• Have three years' experience of supporting children with Moderate Learning Difficulties in a mainstream setting either primary, post-primary or both.
• Have experience of designing and implementing specific intervention programmes for children with SEN.
• Have experience of working collaboratively with a range of professionals to support children with SEN.

Desirable Criteria

• Have experience of providing advisory support/training to school staff, parents, colleagues or other professionals.
• Have experience of involvement in a new initiative where you showed a high level of innovation, adaptability and ability to work well in a team.
• Hold an additional relevant qualification in the area of Special Educational Needs.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.