Description The Service & Team: The small, friendly Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Team comprises two skilled technical officers and the lead advisor. We work closely with colleagues from the NHS when children and young people are on assessment pathways as well as a wide range of other professionals. We provide technical support for those who have high-tech devices in schools/settings and training for the people who live with and work around them. The training we deliver is usually bespoke and matches the needs of individuals, however, we also deliver on broader communication topics such as Communicating with Symbols alongside colleagues from other teams. We also provide advice and guidance to our colleagues in schools and settings. We are part of the wider Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Support Service (SENDSS) which has professionals who work with children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). We attend training events together and often collaborate on SEND projects. The Role: The lead advisor for the AAC team has children and young people with complex speech, language and communication needs at the centre of everything they do. Working in a multi-agency way, the lead is involved in the AAC assessment pathway and works with schools and settings to ensure that equipment is used effectively so that the child or young person's voice is actively listened to. You will have a caseload and work with schools and settings across the county, providing advice, guidance and well-written, accessible reports alongside training. You will be an integral part of the SEND Support Service being involved in the delivery of county-wide training on SEND matters and will also be involved in some strategic work such as the Post Inspection Action Groups. You may need to travel throughout the county and will be responsible for organising your own time. You will also be responsible for the supervision and support of the other members of the team. Alongside this you will be responsible for the ongoing development of the team as it changes to meet the needs of the children and young people. The SEND Support Service values personal and professional development and staff are encouraged to attend in-house and external training, sharing their expertise with colleagues. This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies. This position will be subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check. Working Pattern: 37 hours per week. What you’ll need to succeed: You will be a qualified teacher, ideally with recent experience of working with children and young people with SEND and/or speech, language and communication needs. A knowledge of AAC is useful but a wide range of training will be given on appointment for anyone with less experience. You will be an excellent communicator whose focus is on enabling and facilitating independence in our learners. You will have a proven track record of working in a family-focussed, multi-agency manner. You will have the leadership skills to manage a small team, providing support and supervision when necessary as well as the ability to make informed decisions about change implementation. What you’ll get in return: Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. Our core employee rewards and benefits include: · a competitive salary. · a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions · a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave. · A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme · Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services. Additional Information: Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role The full role profile is attached here. For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Theresa Maunder, Senior Lead SENDSS, theresa.maundercornwall.gov.uk Application Process Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process. Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careerscornwall.gov.uk if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.