EDUC G1 3681 - School Support Assistant (Various)

Location: Various locations available in the South Lanarkshire learning communities.

Hours: Various hours available.

Salary / Hourly Rate: £13.33 - £14.33 per hour.

Within South Lanarkshire Council it is our mission to deliver positive, meaningful outcomes for our young people. In Education Resources we aim to provide an exceptional learning and working environment within our establishments for pupils and staff. We work in partnership with services and families to focus on the national priorities to improve literacy, numeracy, and health & wellbeing outcomes.

To help meet these needs where a child requires support over and above that provided by their Class Teacher or Early Years Key Worker, we have a flexible role that encompasses three main elements of additional support needed for our schools and pupils. The flexible role is designed to allow School Support Assistants (SSAs) to work together as a team to support the diverse needs of the pupils and the school. The nature of schools and pupils means these needs change and can be re-prioritised on a regular basis. This keeps the job of a School Support Assistant dynamic, absorbing and challenging.

In that context, hard work and flexibility is key for successful candidates. The rewards of the role in return are very attractive. As well as the progress and achievements of the young people you support, the posts are mainly term time, so having the same holidays as schools means these jobs are ideal for people seeking a positive work/life balance. You’d also be joining a Local Authority that values its staff. We are a family friendly employer who understands the needs of our employees through a range of supportive policies. You’d have excellent job security and employee benefits, and we hold the “Investors in People” Gold accreditation. You’d have access to a very well-developed training and development programme for School Support Assistants.

The Three Elements Of The SSA Role Are:

• Administration support within the school or nursery office
• Working with different administration systems including MS packages such as Word and Excel. After training, using many bespoke systems for other essential admin processes.
• Dealing with incoming and outgoing phone calls
• Providing a first point of contact at reception
• Providing excellent customer service to pupils, parents, staff, visitors and external agencies
• Liaising with other departments regarding school transport and admissions as well as with other internal and external customer groups

This element still involves lots of interaction with children and young people; being in the playground and dining room supervising pupils, providing personal care, first aid and other assistance such as administration of medicines.

Supporting pupils in classroom/play-based settings:

• Curricular support for individuals and groups of pupils. Working closely with teachers across different classes and stages to provide literacy, numeracy and health and well-being support to pupils. This could involve support in and out of the classroom/playroom.
• Support class teachers by helping to keep children/young people focused on their work at times when they may not be ready to do so.
• Provide nurturing support and remain calm in the environment.
• Providing personal care, first aid and other assistance such as administration of medicines.
• Contribute within the team on supervising in shared areas at intervals and lunchtimes, promoting independence and the values of the school.

Supporting Pupils Within Additional Support Needs Bases:

• Provide support in and out of class/playroom for pupils with more complex needs such as medical support and personal care as documented in Health Care Plans.
• Administration of medicines, physical and emotional support for our most vulnerable pupils with a range of needs which could include non-verbal pupils, pupils with complex needs relating to ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) or attachments and communication support needs.
• Training in relevant topics (i.e. moving and assisting) will be provided where required.

Please answer the following questions as part of your application submission, your answers should be uploaded under supporting documents, providing no more than 2000 words per question:

• Please describe any situations where you have supported children displaying distressed behaviour, explaining the approaches that you used. (max 2000 words)
• Communication skills are a critical part of working in a team. Please describe a time when you have had to contribute constructively to a meeting or discussion. (max 2000 words)
• Please describe a time when you have had to adapt your approach to address changing priorities. (max 2000 words)
• Please describe a situation where you have used planning and organising skills to achieve an efficient outcome. (max 2000 words)
• Can you please confirm in the attached document if you are interested in Class posts or Office posts?
• If you require to submit any further additional information to support your application (not a CV), please upload this under supporting documents.

Please Apply online - All correspondence will be via your email address.

Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.

Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.

Legislative Information: This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 2003. This post is considered Regulated Work with Children and/or adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children and/or adults. Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made.

Overseas Criminal Records Check: An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of three months in the past 10 years. Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.

Equal Opportunities and Armed Forces Community Covenant: South Lanarkshire Council is an Equal Opportunities employer and encourages applications from all members of the community. We are a Disability Confident Scheme Employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description. South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing support to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families which is set out in the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Veterans & Service leavers are guaranteed an interview who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description.

As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including: Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme, to increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme, Occupational sick pay, Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave, Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema, Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support).

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT CVs IN PLACE OF THE APPLICATION FORM. To be considered for this vacancy you must complete the application form. All CV submissions will be disregarded.