Post Title: Learning Support Officer

INFORMATION SHEET

POST TITLE: LEARNING SUPPORT OFFICER

REF NO: 01644/16

LOCATION: Strand Road Campus

SALARY SCALE: Band 5 - £23,166 - £27,394 per annum

CRITERIA

Essential

Essentia

Applicants must have at least:

1 a level 5 qualification in Assessing and/or Teaching learners;

and

2 two years’ relevant* employment experience;

and

3 a current driving licence and access to a car (applicants with a disability who have been prevented from obtaining a driving licence due to their disability (as defined by the DDA 1995) are eligible to apply).

*relevant defined as co-ordinating and/or providing support to learners in a care and support environment

Desirable

4 a level 7 qualification in Individual Specialist Assessment eg CCET – Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing or be willing to undertake this qualification and successfully complete within 18 months of employment.

FOR INFORMATION ON THE LEVEL OF QUALIFICATIONS YOU CAN ACCESS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDIT FRAMEWORK WEBSITE http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Qualification

If, as a direct result of a disability you can not fully meet the essential experience requirement of the criteria for this post the College will waive this requirement.

Applicants should note that the above criteria are the minimum requirements only and may be enhanced at the discretion of the short-listing panel.

Under the provision of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 this post is deemed to be a regulated position.

The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

There is a possibility that a reserve list will be retained if more applicants are deemed suitable than posts exist. In the event the successful candidate fails to take up the post or if the post is vacated within 6 months of the appointment date, or if another vacancy arises within 6 months the post may be offered to the next person on the reserve list. This excludes posts where panel lists will be created and maintained for a specified period.

COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS TO BE RETURNED NOT LATER THAN 12.00 NOON ON WEDNESDAY 4 JANUARY 2017.

The College is committed to equal opportunities and to selection on merit. It therefore welcomes applications from all sections of society in particular applicants from the Protestant Community.

Applicants with a disability are encouraged to visit the college website at www.nwrc.ac.uk and select the link ‘DisabledGo’ which provides accessibility information on College facilities.

If you left the North West Regional College under the Voluntary Exit Scheme (VES) you cannot be re-employed in any capacity for a two year period from the date you left the College.

NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST TITLE: LEARNING SUPPORT OFFICER

RESPONSIBLE TO: Principal & Chief Executive

REPORTING TO: Learning Support Co-ordinator

LOCATION: The successful applicant may be required to work in any of the College’s buildings, as necessary. The initial location will be Strand Road Campus

PURPOSE OF THE JOB: This is a cross College role which carries with it responsibility for providing support for all students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities or who need to access additional support in their learning. The development of a programme of support for learners throughout the College in line with College Policies is an important aspect of the role as is the allocation of additional support funding and the implementation of Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (SENDO) legislation.

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The Postholder will:

Key Responsibilities and accountabilities

Assessment

· Contribute to the interview, enrolment and induction process to identify students with learning needs and specific learning difficulties and/or disabilities;

· Carry out assessment of needs including screening tests, initial assessments and special requirements in consultation with specialists, where appropriate;

· Assess student referrals and make recommendations on the nature of support to be provided including registration for EMA payment duration extension;

· Devise individual programmes of learning and support for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities;

· Negotiate and review individual learning plans and supplementary individual learning agreements to address students’ learning and support needs;

Co-ordination/Liaison

· Co-ordinate, undertake and implement the NWRC diagnostic testing across the College;

· Organise, support and promote student support on all College sites;

· Set up systems to ensure the full and effective implementation of the College’s Learning Support Referral Procedure;

· Set up systems to identify the specific learning needs of all full-time and part-time students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities including and New Deal;

· Organise specialist support services;

· Liaise with the College’s co-ordinator(s) for Essential Skills to provide appropriate support for students with dyslexia and or dyscalculia;

· Regularly update managers regarding student issues;

· Attend Staff/Student consultative meetings and assist in the completion of actions stemming from these;

· Contribute to the support for student residential and other activities/projects both on and off site;

· To liaise with SEN Co-ordinators in feeder schools;

· Ensure that all Learner Agreements for discreet groups of students (03) are completed to comply with DEL requirements;

Resource Management

· Act as line manager to learning support workers, assistants and volunteers as appropriate;

· Establish a resource base of specialist hardware and technology used for the support of students with learning difficulties and disabilities;

· Make recommendations on the allocation of the additional support fund;

· Collect equipment from students following the completion of their course of study;

Quality

· Maintain ongoing audit and appropriate records in relation to the independent counselling service;

· Maintain an asset register for specialist equipment issued to students;

· Keep financial records of all services provided through the additional support fund and other sources of funding;

· Maintain statistical data for students identified as SLDD;

· Complete quality reviews in line with College Policies and procedures;

· Maintain accurate financial records;

· Prepare reports for management and external agencies as required;

· Ensure that all SLDD codes (01-04) are keyed onto the MIS System to meet DEL requirements;

Development and Planning

In conjunction with the Learning Support Manager:

· Review the College’s policy on the provision of learning support for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in light of government initiatives and contribute appropriately to the College Development Planning process;

· Identify staff development needs, make appropriate recommendations and contribute to training where appropriate;

· Support, monitor and review the implementation of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.

Marketing and Promotion

· Promote the independent counselling service for students;

· Promote the Learning Support Service through internal and external events including induction, appropriate advertisements, information leaflets and liaise with the College marketing team to inform on services offered within student services;

· Promote the Students’ Disability Allowance for full-time and part-time Higher Education students.

Conditions

· Promote the College positively at all times;

· Abide by all College procedures and ensure these are implemented in area of responsibility;

· Within the context of the post, ensure full compliance with College health and safety requirements;

· Within the context of the post, ensure full compliance with College equality requirements;

· Any other duties appropriate to the grade and post, as assigned.

General

· Participate in the enrolment cover rota as appropriate;

· Be required to undertake work outside normal working hours on occasions;

· Provide reports, written and oral, as required;

· Ensure that all documentation and authorisation procedures are adhered to;

· Comply with and actively promote College policies and procedures on all aspects of equality;

· Ensure full compliance with Health and Safety requirements and legislation in accordance with College policies and procedures;

· Ensure full compliance with the College’s quality assurance systems and procedures in accordance with College policies and procedures;

· Undertake any other duties as required by the College’s Principal and Chief Executive or persons carrying his delegated authority.

The list of duties is not exhaustive. The postholder will be expected to undertake other relevant duties in order to meet any changing operational requirements.

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PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

CRITERIA

Essential

Essentia

Applicants must have at least:

1 a level 5 qualification in Assessing and/or Teaching learners;

and

2 two years’ relevant* employment experience;

and

*relevant defined as co-ordinating and/or providing support to learners in a care and support environment

Desirable

If, as a direct result of a disability you can not fully meet the essential experience requirement of the criteria for this post the College will waive this requirement.

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

Learning Support

Disability Legislation

SPECIAL APTITUDES:

Essential

Problem Solving/Initiative

Interpersonal/Communication Skills

Teamworking Skills

Organisational/Time Management Skills

In addition to assessing the applicant’s ability to perform the duties of the post the interview will explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Applicants should note that the above criteria are the minimum requirements only and may be enhanced at the discretion of the short-listing panel.

Applicants should include on their application form all the information they wish to have considered, as information not on the application form cannot be taken into account. Please note that the application form should be completed in full.

Each aspect of the criteria indicated in the personnel specification should be addressed in full on your application form at Part A. Your application will be shortlisted solely on the basis of the information provided by you in this section of the form.

ATTACHED CVS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and conditions of employment are those as laid down by the

Non-Teaching Negotiating Committee for Further Education in Northern Ireland and will include locally agreed terms and conditions.

Salary Scale

Band 5 Scale Column Point 26, £23,166 to Point 31, £27,394 per annum.

Hours of Work

The hours of work will not normally be less than 36 per week. The hours of duty which may be on any of the College sites will be such as laid down to meet the needs of the College and may include periods of duty after, as well as before 5.00 pm on any Monday to Friday.

Annual Leave Entitlement

Entitlement to annual leave is 23 days in a full holiday year in addition to 12 public and extra statutory holidays. Entitlement to leave in the first year of employment is pro-rata to the number of months completed.

Pension Scheme

There is an Occupational Pension Scheme relating to employment with the College. Further details will be provided on appointment.

Other Employment

No other employment should be entered into during the period of employment with the North West Regional College. No employment by or in the service of another person or body should be undertaken except with express approval of the Principal and Chief Executive.

POLICIES

All staff have an obligation to comply with the statutory duties relating to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and will be required to contribute to the implementation of the College’s Equality Scheme drawn up in accordance with this legislation.

The North West Regional College as a public authority is committed to the promotion of Equality of Opportunity in accordance with the Northern Ireland Act 1998 Section 75.

The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Under the provision of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 this post is deemed to be a regulated position.

The College operates a Childcare Voucher Scheme for staff as part of its family friendly initiatives which are aimed at promoting a healthy work/life balance.

The College operates a smokefree workplace policy for all locations. This policy prohibits smoking in all areas of all.

This document can be made available in a range of formats, please contact HR Services with your requirements.

KD/lmc - Nov16