Learning Support Assistant

Promote independence for our students through learning and enabling support.

Key Responsibilities

• Learning
  • Recognising & Recording progress of students against their targets
  • Understand Curriculum area and broad course objectives including the techniques utilised to evidence progress (such as photographs, videos, and witness statements).
  • Participate in team meetings
  • Adaptable approach to different learning styles of our students
  • Understand disability theory & practical implementation of this to engage students in learning
  • Adapt styles of communication to develop a positive and constructive learning environment
  • Liaise and implement strategies from specialists (IT/SLT/ Physio)
  • Support communication through the development of your own skills in communication methods (PECs/Makaton/BSL)
  • Support Tutors to ensure the classroom environment is suitable for students sensory or support needs
  • Support Tutor in the creation and preparation of differentiated resources
• Personal Tutoring
  • Undertake tutorials with your assigned students on a regularly directed basis.
  • Agree with your assigned students, a range of targets and review these regularly.
  • Attend and participate in the annual and transitions reviews for your students
• Social & Emotional Support
  • Recognise the social and emotional needs of our students and adapt your support in line with the agreed strategies to support positive improvements
  • Contribute to the development and updating of Positive Support Plans and Risk Assessments
  • De-escalate behaviour that challenges in line with the positive behaviour support plan, utilising all training and MAPA techniques where applicable.
  • Undertake preventative work to reduce the likelihood of behaviour that challenges.
• Break & Lunch Support
  • During unstructured time, support students to ensure ratios and safety are addressed at all times.
  • Support the students to engage with their peers or chosen activities.
  • Lead and support students during club/ directed study or enrichment activities, sharing your knowledge where applicable.
• Personal Care
  • Support students with a range of hygiene needs, including feeding, toileting and changing clothes.
  • Ensure the personal care needs are met in line with care plan and performed with respect and dignity.
  • Support students to access the full campus and activities, which may require you to push wheelchairs/ guide wheelchairs/ sighted guide students.
• General
  • Use technology to access information on students to ensure their support needs are met.
  • Ability to talk to external professionals, families and careers, where directed to support students
  • Participate in personal education, including mandatory and skills development training
  • Actively engage with Peer Mentoring for yourself, along with new and existing colleagues.
  • Support students to access activities in the community to develop their independence.

QAC complies with Safeguarding guidelines and all appointees are required to have DBS Check and two references.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Level 2 – English & Maths (equivalent)
• Experience of working effectively with young adults with barriers to learning
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Good IT skills, including word processing, Excel and Microsoft Programmes
• Ability to communicate effectively with young adults with barriers to learning, including those who may present behaviours that challenge
• To have previous experience of SEN learners with moderate to severe learning difficulties and be able to provide the associated curriculum, approaches and strategies.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, parents, carers, and other external contacts, at all levels, using a variety of media.
• To be able to demonstrate learning strategies as appropriate to people with visual impairment and autism and/ or complex disabilities.
• To be familiar with communication methods and access technology as appropriate to learners with visual impairment and other disabilities.

Why Work at Queen Alexandra Charity

Join our team at Queen Alexandra College! Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.

The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.

Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:

• Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals
• Make a difference to the educational experience of young people
• Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education
• Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence
• Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.

Our benefits include:

• Access to on site car parking
• Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)
• Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF)
• Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff
• QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing
• BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services
• Annual Flu vaccination/voucher
• Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers
• Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off.
• Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)
• Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities
• Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)
• Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)
• Reward and Recognition Policy – Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service
• Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Occupational sick pay (based on length of service)
• On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation)
• Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)
• Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.

This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.

We look forward to receiving your application and knowing more about your qualifications, skills, personal qualities and experience that you would bring to the role and to QAC.