Student Support Division

THANET COLLEGE

STUDENT SUPPORT DIVISION

JOB DESCRIPTION

FIXED TERM UNTIL 30 JUNE 2012

Post:LEARNING SUPPORT PRACTITIONER (LSP) -

Behaviour, Emotional, Social Difficulties

Grade:A4 Grade

Hours:Various

Responsible To:Additional Learning Support (ALS) Manager/ Lead Learning Support Practitioner (LSP) for day to day duties.

Summary of Post:

To provide support for students on a 1:1 basis, or as a group as required.

To work as a member of a team to support young peoplewith a range of conditions with a focus on behaviour and emotional, social difficulties. To ensure that their learning opportunities are optimised and that they do not disrupt the learning of others students.

General Duties and Responsibilities:-

To participate in the Staff Appraisal Scheme and to undertake training based on individual and service needs.
To take a lead in creating a positive, inclusive ethos that challenges discrimination and promotes equality and diversity.
To actively partake in quality assurance within the division.

To provide support throughout the year, where possible to a specific vocational or academic Division i.e. at enrolment, induction, initial assessment, on programme and at exit where necessary.

To work with Tutors to enable additional learning support SMART targets to be embedded into electronic Personal Learning Plans (PLP’s) and to monitor these within tutorials.

To work with the Course Tutors to produce course related materials that address the literacy, language,numberlife skills needs of students and offer opportunities for skill practise and development.

To complete reviews for students receiving support in liaison with the Personal Tutor and refer to the Lead LSP any studentswhose support requires review and contribute to the monitoring of progress and student reviews by providing information to the Personal tutor, by completing a review in line with College policy on tutorials

To actively promote the safety and well being of learners in all activities and contribute to review of student risk assessments.

To be familiar with the systems, procedures and guidance documents in relation to the use of Initial Diagnostic Assessment results.

To assist students who have S139a ‘Moving On’ plans and work within the recommendations contained in those plans.

To guide and instruct the identified students in the appropriate behaviour and conduct.

To assist with the mobility and the specific medical/hygiene needs of the student as required, this may include toileting

To prepare and assist students with specific needs e.g. dyslexia in the use of teaching aids, technical devices and apparatus as appropriate.

To support 1-1 travel training in ‘real time’ wherestudentsare being supported to become independent.

To work with guidance to ensure the results of the Initial diagnostic assessment are used in the planning of support and when addressing differentiation of pace and materials.

To attend Team meetings to ensure effective communication between ALS and the curriculum and encourage students to participate in surveys, questionnaires and student focus groups

To contribute to Course evaluation and review - both within the Division and within ALS.

To participate in the annual LSP observation process.

To supervise the behaviour of students on courses and take appropriate action in liaison with the lecturer, working within the college disciplinary process and rules for student conduct.

To work with students to enable them to identify their key ALS areas to improve / work on in order that they manage their behaviour in order to progress their learning

To work with the course team, the facilitator and other members of the behavioural team in developing strategies to support those with behavioural difficulties to remove barriers to learning.

To carry out such other duties appropriate to the job and individual skills and experience as may be required by the facilitators.

THANET COLLEGE

STUDENT SUPPORT DIVISION

LEARNING SUPPORT PRACTITIONER (LSP)

EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION / Application / Interview / Presentation / Test
1. / Level 2 qualifications in Literacy and Numeracy or GCSE’s in English and Maths (Grades A-C or equivalent) / √
2. / C&G 9297 or other Level 2Supporting Learners qualification or willingness to work towards Learning Support Practitioner Qualification upon appointment / √
3. / A qualification relating to the welfare needs of students / √
4. / First Aid Qualification or willingness to work towards upon appointment / √
5. / Specific Qualifications with regards to identified learning needs / √ / √
6. / A knowledge and understanding of specific Learning difficulties such as Dyslexia/Autism or willingness to undergo training. / √ / √
7. / A knowledge of the strategies required to enable students to access the curriculum to become more independent learners / √ / √
8. / Knowledge of the curriculum at foundation level. / √ / √
9. / Experience of working with adults and young people with learning difficulties / disabilities / √ / √
10. / Experience in Strategies for Managing behaviour / √ / √
11. / Experience of supporting learners with identified medical/hygiene needs or a willingness to undergo training / √ / √
12. / Knowledge of safeguarding and a willingness to undergo on-line training / √ / √
13. / Ability to empathise with students with learning difficulties/disabilities and the ability to motivate them. / √ / √
14. / Excellent communication skills both verbally and written / √

K: ALS Managers/ALS Appraisals/Job Description/Learning Support Assistants A4 BESD

Advice to Candidates

Successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Failure to meet all the criteria would not necessarily preclude your application. Consideration will be given to experience and life skills. Thanet College take pride in their Investors in People Award and Continual Professional Development will be supported and encouraged.

In completing your application please draw attention to the extent to which you meet the characteristics for the post as this will assist with the short listing process.

Whilst applicants may submit a CV in support of their application please note that the College application form itself must be completed in full.

It is regretted that separate notification cannot be given to candidates not included on the shortlist for interview. Therefore, if no invitation is received from the College within two weeks of the closing date candidates must assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Please make the HR department aware if there are dates that you are unavailable for interview.

CLOSING DATE: