SESS Advisor- Job Description and General Notes

SESS Advisor- Job Description and General Notes

1. Special Education Support Service and its work

The Special Education Support Service (SESS) aims to enhance the quality of learning and teaching in schools, with particular reference to special educational provision. This service is delivered in a variety of educational settings including mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special schools and special classes on a nationwide basis. This support service includes the provision of seminars and workshops, on-line learning, publications, and in-school support.

·  The National Network of Education Centres plays a key role in the work of the service. SESS’ head office is located in Cork Education Support Centre.

·  SESS advisors have responsibility for implementing the programme of work assigned by the Director of the SESS, and report to an assistant national co-ordinator.

2. Job Description

The overall remit of the SESS advisor will be to respond to the continuing professional development (CPD) needs and support requirements of all teachers in the area of special education in accordance with their own area(s) of expertise.

This SESS advisor will report to the Director of the Special Education Support Service or his/her nominee. He/she will undertake the following tasks:

·  Provide and facilitate professional development programmes with regards to the learning and teaching of students with identified special educational needs.

·  Assist in the design of innovative and effective modes of delivery of continuing professional development programmes.

·  Engage in individual schools visits in order to increase teachers’ understanding of students with identified special educational needs.

·  Develop support materials and resources suitable for use with teachers.

·  Enable teachers to meet the needs of students with special educational needs through individualised planning.

·  Support teachers in the implementation of the planning process.

·  Assist in the provision of continuing professional development of other SESS teams.

·  Assist in the development and piloting of innovative approaches to learning and teaching and in supporting teachers in the implementation of these approaches.

·  Promote and support capacity-building regionally and locally in order to develop sustainable supports for teachers.

·  Contribute to the maintenance and development of existing web-based support to support the integration of ICT into learning and teaching.

·  Compile and provide data and reports (including the recording of CPD support provided to schools) for the Director and his/her nominee on an ongoing basis and as required.

·  Liaise and collaborate as appropriate with other Department of Education and Skills support services and agencies working with schools.

·  Contribute to the evaluation of the operation of provision and co-operate with external evaluators of the service as required.

·  Participate in SESS team professional development opportunities and other team meetings.

·  Carry out such other tasks as may be allocated by the Director or nominee from time to time.

The duties undertaken by the SESS advisor may vary in accordance with emerging needs.

3. Range of knowledge, experience and skills required:

Ideally the successful candidate will have a range of expertise in the following areas:

·  involvement in curricular innovation/development and/or experience in the design and delivery of teacher professional development in special education including evidence of a capacity to mobilise and support teacher reflection, enquiry and classroom-based research

·  a thorough knowledge of the education system generally and an in-depth knowledge of the curriculum at primary or post primary-levels

·  A range of leadership, motivation and innovation skills

·  A range of communication, and interpersonal skills as well as a capacity to work independently and as part of a team

·  A range of management, planning, ICT, administrative and organisational skills

·  An enterprising approach to tasks, including the capability to undertake the innovative and challenging elements of the work

·  Flexibility to meet the needs of the organisation, including a willingness to engage in travel and/or some evening work as necessary.

4. Location

·  The SESS Head Office is based in the Cork Education Support Centre.

·  Successful candidates will be seconded to Cork Education Support Centre.

·  The work base of the SESS advisors is his/her own home. He/she will not be required to be located in the Cork Education Support Centre. He/she will, however, be required to travel there and elsewhere as necessary.

·  The work of the SESS advisor will require travel at regional and national level. Some overnights may be essential.

·  The successful candidate will be required to have their own means of transport and to retain a full driving licence.

·  Public Service travel and subsistence rates and regulations will apply as agreed with Teacher Education Section, Department of Education and Skills.

5. Competition

·  The current competition is to establish panels of SESS advisors in relation to all specialist areas within special education.

·  Secondment to the team will be effective from 1 September 2013 or as soon as possible thereafter. Candidates must be eligible for full-time secondment as per circular 11/02 for primary and 0107/2006 for post primary*. The persons appointed will be seconded for an initial period of one school year, subject to satisfactory completion of a 3 month probationary period, with a possibility of further extensions available in line with DES regulations for secondments.

·  Each appointment is subject to the sanction of the Department of Education and Skills.

·  The secondment contract will provide for on-going performance review.

·  Health, sick leave and general work record must be satisfactory.

* If you are unsure as to your eligibility for secondment, please contact Rose McDonnell in the Department of Education and Skills (090 6484218) or email .

6. Salary

The salary for an advisor is in accordance with Category 4 as provided for by the 2003 Arbitration Award in respect of teachers on secondment, subject to the conditions outlined below.

Remuneration is at all times subject to the relevant DES or Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regulations and circulars. In that regard, candidates should note thatsecondment allowancesfor new secondees are currently on hold, pending a review of same.The allowances below may bepayable to successful candidates, depending on the outcome of the review.

An SESS advisor is entitled to all of the following:

·  her/his relevant point on the Teachers’ Common Basic Scale, plus

·  an honours primary degree allowance

·  an honours Higher Diploma in Education allowance

·  the standard Category 4 secondment allowance, which is pensionable (see table below)

Seconded
Category / SESS
Position / Teachers’ Common Basic Scale / Honours Degree Allowance* / Honours H.D.E. Allowance* / Standard Secondment Allowance*
4 / Advisor / As applicable / €4,918 p.a.
@ 01/01/2010 / €1,236 p.a.
@01/01/2010 / €10,130 p.a.
@01/01/2010

* Circular 004/2010 refers

For teachers newly appointed to their teaching post since 01/01/2011 a 10% reduction applies to these allowances as per circular 0040/2011.

Seconded
Category / SESS
Position / Teachers’ Common Basic Scale / Honours Degree Allowance** / Honours H.D.E. Allowance** / Standard Secondment Allowance**
4 / Advisor / As applicable / €4,426
@ 01/01/2011 / €1,112
@01/01/2011 / €9,117
@01/01/2011

** Circular 004/2011 refers

Post of responsibility allowances will not be payable to seconded personnel who are in receipt of the above secondment allowances.

7. Selection Procedure

·  Selection will be by way of competitive interview and shortlisting may apply.

·  Application should be made by submission of a completed application form. This should be submitted in electronic format by 5pm on Thursday 6th June 2013 to

·  Note that four signed hard copies must also be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 6th June to:

Aideen Fitzgerald

Special Education Support Service (SESS)

Cork Education Support Centre

The Rectory

Western Road

Cork

·  A selection committee will be established to carry out all aspects of the selection process. Panels will be formed from which current and possible future vacancies may be filled.

·  It is the responsibility of the candidates to make themselves available for interview, if invited to attend. Candidates should note that it may not be possible to provide an alternative date.

·  Those called for interview will be asked to make a short presentation (5 minutes) at the interview focusing on any aspect of Special Education.

·  Any offer of appointment will only be made where it is considered that suitable candidates for the post(s) exist.

8. Release from Present Post

·  It is a matter for successful candidates to secure the agreement of their school authorities for release to take up a post for the period concerned.

·  Successful candidates will be expected to be available to take up appointment on 1st September 2013.

·  Commitment of release from your employer will be required. On receipt of an offer the successful candidate will be asked to seek immediate confirmation from his/her employer (e.g. Chairperson of the Board of Management). This signed statement should indicate that the employer (e.g. Chairperson of the Board of Management) is in a position to release the successful applicant.