Description
We are looking for a Learning Support Assistant to join us on a permanent, part-time basis, working 30 hours per week, 38 weeks per annum.
The successful candidate will work to support students with additional learning needs and/ or disabilities to ensure that they can access their study programme in order to be successful and progress, working effectively and confidently on a one to one basis or with small groups of young people to support their learning needs and/ or disability in a classroom setting and promoting social development through activities, clubs and events in the social areas and in the wider college, providing opportunities for social interaction and the development of good communication, encouraging participation in small group activities.
Main Responsibilities and Duties:
The following is an indication of the type and level of the main priorities expected of this role as directed by your line manager and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties or tasks:
1. Provide timely, appropriate support for students with learning difficulties and/ or disabilities in a structured learning environment, supervising and monitor students in the learning environment and social areas as necessary, ensuring the completion of day-to-day administration recording interaction with students and student progress through live student records and development of learning materials, keeping the Learning Support Practitioner informed of day-to-day developments. This includes completing all relevant documentation to comply with college/ audit requirements.
2. Work effectively and confidently with students on a one to one basis or in small groups, in a mentoring capacity. This will include accompanying students on external visits as and when required.
3. Promote the social development of students through activities and events, planning programmes of activities which ensure specific students are engaged, promoting opportunities for social interaction and the development of good communication and encourage participation in regular small group activities.
4. Develop informal opportunities for citizenship and employability education and ensure that students respect the environment and promote positive behaviour of young people
5. Signpost students to relevant support services and assist students where necessary, including attending regular supervision meetings with the Student Welfare Officer and/ or Lead Counsellor where appropriate.
6. Set Smart targets for students on their PLP to support improvement and complete timely review
7. Liaise with the relevant curriculum lecturer in order to plan the support needed for students, including ensuring access to a scheme of work at the beginning of each term and a lesson plan at the beginning of each lesson, and implement planned differentiation within the learning environment as required.
8. Prepare resources to aid teaching of students with disabilities/ difficulties, ensuring the maintenance of the required physical resources, equipment and facilities to assist students.
9. Attend staff development activities, meetings and Focus days as required, in order to maintain and develop the skills required to support students. In addition all post holders will be required trained to act as Fire Marshals and First Aiders.
All staff are required to:
* Complete mandatory annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accordance with the number of hours set for their Department.
* Travel between sites as and when required in accordance with their job role.
* Undertake occasional evening and weekend work to meet the needs of the service.
* Comply with and understand all aspects of legislation and College policies and processes relating to safeguarding, including promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
* Form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people.
* Comply with, understand and promote statutory and college best practice in Health & Safety at a level relevant to the role and responsibilities held by the post holder.
* Comply with, understand and promote statutory and college best practice in respect of GDPR at a level relevant to the role and responsibilities held by the post holder.
* Have access to confidential information which should not be disclosed to any other person unless in pursuit of your duties in compliance with GDPR or with the specific permission given on behalf of the College.
* Actively take responsibility for their personal learning and development (informal and formal) reviewing and reflecting on their performance within their current role.
* Promote, adhere to, understand and put into practice all college policies and procedures.
* Positively support equality of opportunity and equity of treatment to colleagues and students in accordance with the MidKent College Equal Opportunities Policy.
* Attend and complete all mandatory training sessions or on-line computer based training packages as required by the college.
* Undertake any other duties consistent with the key responsibilities and/or duties of this role as directed by your manager.
Benefits
Health & Wellbeing:
Access to a Workplace Health Coach
Benenden Health & Health Assured services
Support for Eye Checks & Glasses
Health Checks
Menopause Mentors & Counselling Services
Mental Health First Aid & Musculoskeletal Advice
Stop Smoking Support & Help for Alcohol or Substance Use
“Get Moving” Physical Activity Programs & Healthy Living Support
Work-Life Balance:
Flexible Working Options to suit your needs
Generous Annual Leave
Up to 5 Volunteering Days per year
Wellbeing, Community, and Focus Days
Free Parking on all Sites
Career Development:
Learning & Development Opportunities
Internal Development Schemes & Aspiring Managers Programme
Pay Progression & Honoraria Payments
Recognition & Rewards:
One You Rewards & Recognition Schemes
Campus Resources & Support
You at Work
Long Service Awards & Retirement Bonus
Teachers Pension / Local Government Pension Plans
A GOOD local College for Maidstone and Medway
Every year over 6000 students from Medway, Maidstone and beyond choose MidKent College to continue their studies and prepare for their future career.
Our sparkling campuses in Maidstone and Medway boast some of the best vocational training facilities in the country as well as staff and student social zones and more. Our University Centre Maidstone campus provides a valuable higher education and professional training centre for Maidstone, including South East Institute of Technology and the College's Home Energy Centre. Additionally, in September 2024 we proudly opened Medway School of Arts in Chatham's Historic Dockyard.
All of our campuses benefit from ongoing investment programmes so that we can provide fantastic learning environments for our students.
For over 100 years we've been providing high-quality technical training and apprenticeships in a range of subject areas.
In November 2018 Ofsted rated the College as 'Good'.
Commitment to Safeguarding
We are committed to the safeguarding of all our students and staff. This means everyone who works here is required to actively protect them from preventable harm. Our recruitment and selection process includes background checks which will be undertaken on the successful applicant, including an enhanced DBS, and in your application you are required to demonstrate how you meet the Colleges requirements on safeguarding.
The background checks will be carried-out in accordance with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Code of Practice. The DBS helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. We operate in accordance with the DBS Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy. You can access both of these documents at https://www.midkent.ac.uk/about-us/policy-and-privacy-information
MidKent College is committed to safeguarding and the Prevent Agenda and to promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff to share this commitment. MKC complies fully with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Code of Practice regarding the correct handling, storage, retention and disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure information, and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.
Since the post for which you are applying may involve unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults, it will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children or young people. Candidates who are preliminarily offered a position for such posts will be required to disclose details, cautions (including final warnings or reprimands), or convictions which are not "protected" as defined by the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020 or any other matters that may be relevant to their suitability to work for the College including sanctions relating to work with children in any country outside of the UK.
Please note that the College is unable to consider an application further if the candidate declines to complete the Disclosure form.
Commitment to Equal Opportunities
As a proud user of the disability confident scheme the College is committed to equal opportunities and celebrates the diversity of staff and students. As part of our commitment to the scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy.
We welcome applications from anyone wishing to work flexibly and those considering a return to work from a career break.