Communication Support Worker in Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk County Council

Address: Various locations across Suffolk

Salary: £28,598 - £33,699 pro rata

Hours: 30 hours per week - Term time only

Contract: Permanent and Fixed Term

• Post 1: Permanent - The role is community based, meaning you could be required to work in education settings across Suffolk. It is likely that the post will be based in the East and West of the County according to need. Your official base will be the Suffolk County Council office nearest to your home, but most of your time will be in the community, in Education settings.
• Post 2: Fixed term for 3 years until July 2028 - King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3BH - On-site working

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Suffolk County Council (SCC) Sensory Service as a BSL Communication Support Worker within Services for Deaf Children and Young People (CYP).

Your role and responsibilities:

The Sensory Service is seeking to recruit a BSL Communication Support worker to provide support to access education and communication in social contexts. You will work alongside teachers of the Deaf, communication support workers and other school staff to make the curriculum and all communication in school accessible. You will translate between BSL and English within the classroom and in social situations.

You will need:

• Level 3 qualification in Communication Support with Deaf Learners or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Level 6 NVQ Certificate in British Sign Language or equivalent skill and experience (desirable).
• Experience of supporting d/Deaf young people and making learning accessible.
• To be deaf aware and understanding of the needs of a deaf learner.

The team:

Services for Deaf Children and Young People are part of the Sensory service within the Specialist Education Service (SES). We work closely with the other teams within the Sensory service as well as the wider teams within SES. We have a large team of specialists who are highly committed to d/Deaf children and young people in Suffolk and their families. We embrace our work with our many schools and education settings, from Early Years to Post 16, empowering them to work within their varied communities. We are a friendly, energetic and committed team. We are supportive of each other and thrive on the difference we can make to children and young people and their families in our county.

We will offer you:

• Access to continuing professional development offered within Specialist Education Services.
• On-going mentoring and support from colleagues within services for Deaf CYP and the resource base Teachers of the Deaf.

Empowering Everyone:

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information:

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Andrea Carron on 07850 217238 or email andrea.carron@suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply:

1. Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
2. Click Apply Now to start your online application.
3. Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

• What does being deaf aware mean to you, and how do you demonstrate this in your work?
• Can you describe your experience using British Sign Language (BSL) in an educational setting?
• What strategies do you use to make the curriculum accessible for d/Deaf learners?

1. Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412.

Closing date: 11:30pm, 25 January 2026

Interview date: 3 February 2026 at Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3BH

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance‑related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost‑of‑living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more! If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).