Job Summary
Ambitious About Autism's college settings are currently looking for an Assistive Technologist to join the team. Ambitious College settings provide excellent education for Autistic young people with complex needs. The college aims to enable learners to access further education and to develop skills and knowledge that lead to successful transitions to adulthood where our learners will live, work and contribute to their local communities.
Main duties of the job
As the Assistive Technologist, you will develop, implement, monitor, and enable assistive technology for our learners. You will provide modelling and training to staff and parents on the full continuum of communication and technology support. Working as a diagnostic team member you will provide ongoing technical assistance to learners, staff, and parents.
Your Role As Assistive Technologist
* Collaborate with colleagues and parents to share information and expertise to plan and implement effective student programs for the purpose of developing and implementing assistive technology services.
* Facilitate student communication in social settings across environments through the use of assistive technology.
* Work with learners who qualify for assistive technology support to develop an appropriate individualised learning plan.
* Proficiently use technology to communicate, compile reports and collect data, providing accurate records and communicating with team members, parents, administration, and charity staff.
The role can be based at either site with some travel.
About Us
Please also note an online application on the below link will be required.
Application Link
This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a forward-thinking organisation with the interests and wellbeing of autistic children and young people at its core.
We are committed to CPD, where you can access a wide range of training and development opportunities to support your personal and professional development. Other benefits include a generous holiday allowance, access to our Employee Assistance Programme, a wide range of wellbeing activities, and more.
If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential call, please contact Stephen Vickers on 020 8815 5439 - svickers@ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
AaA is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates. We welcome applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, or age. All applications will be considered solely on merit.
AaA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
Job responsibilities
Role purpose
Valuing difference is a core value of Ambitious about Autism. This role will support, promote, and celebrate the development and embedding of an inclusive culture, practice, and ways of working. You will support and coordinate the drafting, implementation and evaluation of our EDI strategy and plans working with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), EDI committee, staff, networks and your People team colleagues.
Key accountabilities and dimensions
* Collaborate with colleagues and parents to share information and expertise to plan and implement effective student programs for the purpose of developing and implementing assistive technology services.
* Facilitate student communication in social settings across environments through the use of assistive technology.
* Foster the development of augmentative, language-rich environments using low to high technology systems for the purpose of fostering communication across settings.
* Interpret, integrate, and synthesize information to make recommendations for Assistive Technology interventions and services for the purpose of providing access for learners.
* Maintain accurate records e.g. student performance.
* Participate, as needed, as a member of a transdisciplinary team for the purpose of ensuring all disciplines come together to ensure a best fit based on individual student needs.
* Work with learners who qualify for assistive technology support to develop an appropriate individualised learning plan.
* Working collaboratively with Speech and Language therapists to share best practice and understanding of professional disciplines.
* Proficiently use technology to communicate, compile reports and collect data, providing accurate records and communicating with team members, parents, administration, and charity staff.
* Develop a baseline tool to identify learners' starting points in relation to assistive technology.
* Provide in-service training and consultation to staff and parents on augmentative communication and literacy development for learners (reading & writing supports, communication skills for the non-verbal and minimally verbal learners) for the purpose of facilitating student use of augmentative communication devices across settings.
* Select, adapt, and conduct appropriate evaluations to assess communication across all domains for the purpose of making recommendations to augment student communication needs.
* Utilise and make recommendations for technology and assistive technologies for the purpose of identifying appropriate assistive technologies.
* Participate in CPD activities on a yearly basis for the purpose of increasing professional knowledge.
Other Duties
* Demonstrate a continual commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
* Demonstrate a continual commitment to the promotion of diversity initiatives and the sharing of best practice in line with Ambitious about Autism's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and procedures.
* Any other duties commensurate with the role.
Person specification
Essential
* Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification relating to the field of IT.
* Specialist knowledge of assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating assistive technology.
* Experience of working with children and young people with autism or behaviours that challenge or SEN.
* Experience of developing augmented, language-rich environments using a range of low-high technology systems for individualised learning plans.
* Experience of working collaboratively with transdisciplinary professionals using the principle of PBS.
* Working Knowledge or understanding of Further Education Curriculum.
* Experience of providing in-service training and consultation to staff and parents on augmentative communication and literacy development for learners.
* Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with an ability to deal with sometimes complex and/or sensitive situations with professionalism, tact and diplomacy.
* Accuracy and attention to detail.
* Excellent organisational, project management and time management skills, ability and experience to coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
* Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team.
* Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Personal attributes
* Ability to build rapport and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders at different levels.
* Strong verbal and written communication skills adaptable to a variety of audiences.
* May be required to occasionally work across multiple Ambitious about Autism locations and where required to work additional time when volume of work demands.
* Good appreciation of health and safety in the workplace, data protection principles and equal opportunities.
Employer details
Employer name
Ambitious About Autism / Ambitious About Autism Schools Trust
Address
Ambitious College
Clyde Road
London
N15 4FY
Employer's website
Ambitious About Autism Website #J-18808-Ljbffr