Job title: Learning Support Assistant

Salary: B3 TTO £22,128 plus Secure Unit Allowance of £3,020 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week Mon-Fri

Contract: Permanent

Are you someone who can connect with young people, who are often hardest to reach, with empathy, resilience and a genuine belief in their potential? Do you understand child and adolescent development, use a restorative approach, and have relevant experience? If so, you could be our next Learning Support Assistant at Adel Beck Secure Children’s Home.

We support up to 24 young people aged 10 to 18. Each arrives with their own story, some following court proceedings, some on remand or sentence, and others needing secure accommodation for their own protection or the safety of others. What they all share is the chance for a fresh start.

Our goal is to transform the trajectory of each young like we encounter. We help young people shift their attitudes, build healthier behaviours, re-engage with learning, and develop the emotional skills needed to move forward with confidence.

We want every young person who leaves Adel Beck to feel safer, stronger and ready to make a positive contribution to their communities, safe from risk-taking, exploitation and offending.

As part of Child Friendly Leeds, we’re committed to making our city a place where all children are happy, healthy and able to reach their full potential.

The role

As a Learning Support Assistant, you will be expected to provide 1:1 and in class support for our young people with additional learning needs in accessing all aspects of the curriculum.

About you

We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic, adaptable candidates with the personal qualities to connect with and inspire vulnerable children and young people. You must have:

good IT skills particularly in MS Office Word, Excel and database programmes, email and the Internet
good interpersonal and communication skills, including face-to-face, telephone and written communication skills
able to listen actively, ask questions, clarify points and check understanding
ability to deal positively and objectively with challenging pupils
ability to demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team
ability to work using own initiative and adhere to strict timescales
Effective skills in the facilitation of mentoring, supervising and developing pupils with a wide spectrum learning styles and educational needs
Ability to manage self and work under pressure
Ability to lead learning activities and monitor progress of young people within their subject area.

We expect the following experience and qualifications:

GCSEs or Equivalent in English and mathematics
understanding of child and adolescent development
understanding of restorative and trauma-informed practice
knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and child protection and safeguarding principles
experience working in a residential childcare/education environment and of supporting children or young people with complex and challenging behaviour

What we offer you

You’ll be part of a supportive team which has your wellbeing and professional development at heart. There’s no greater job satisfaction than seeing the difference you make every day to the lives of children and young people.

We offer:

a competitive salary plus allowances
funding for you to study for relevant qualifications
ongoing training opportunities for you to build the skills you need to do your best for the young people in your care
a clear career path for the right candidates through the team structure, with potential for progression
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund

How to apply

Before applying, please read the job description and employee specification carefully. To apply you should submit:

a Leeds City Council application form
a supporting statement (maximum 500 words) explaining your suitability for the role

Your supporting statement must demonstrate that your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements in the job description and employee specification. Think about your transferable skills, competencies and attributes and explain how these qualify you for the position.

Email your application form and supporting statement to adelbeck.admin@leeds.gov.uk.

To arrange an informal chat about the role please call our main reception on 0113 378 3701 or email adelbeck.admin@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Role

To contribute to a wide range of teaching and learning activities within the education facility that meets with Education Standards, Children’s Homes regulations, Children’s Homes National Minimum Standards, Youth Justice Standards and requirements. To advance pupils’ learning in a range of classroom settings, including working with individuals and small groups. To take a lead role in, behaviour support, corridor management and class to class transition. To provide Special educational Needs (SEN) support for pupils on the SEN register.

Responsibilities:

Support the Home’s main purpose of encouraging and enabling children and young people to develop attitudinally, behaviourally, educationally and emotionally in order that they may deliver positive contributions to their families, society and their local communities whilst reducing offending, resulting in the decrease in victims of youth crime.
To work together with colleagues from all other service areas within the home to provide and maintain a safe and secure living and learning environment that promotes the safety and welfare of children and young people in which they can prosper, develop and achieve.
To input and retrieve information using the computer and IT systems available.
To provide literacy and numeracy support for students as appropriate.
To provide 1:1 support for students
To be accountable for the highest standards of achievement of all including pupils with SEN and identified vulnerable groups and the monitoring, reporting and evaluating pupil achievement and setting targets for improvement.
To monitor student progress and attainment.
To establish and maintain liaison with outside agencies in support of students.
To effectively manage individual student caseload.
To carry out supervisory duties in accordance with published schedules and procedures and always maintain professional credibility.
To be proactive in personal professional development.
To assist with the development and implementation of Individual Learning Programmes.
To establish constructive relationships with pupils and interact with them according to individual needs.
To promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils.
To encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by teachers.
To set challenging and demanding expectations, academic aspirations of students and promote self-esteem and independence.
To create and support a purposeful learning environment.
To assist with the planning of learning activities.
To promote good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflicts and incidents in line with restorative principles and approaches and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour and actions.
To establish constructive relationships with parents/carers, students and staff within the centre.

Qualifications:

A Level 3 qualification in Learning Support, is desirable. There is an expectation that relevant qualification is to be achieved within 18 months of appointment.

GCSE grade C or above in English, Mathematics and Science is essential.

Essential requirements: The candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities. We will use one or more methods to assess whether candidates meet the essential requirements, including application form, interview, test and certificate.

We will only shortlist candidates for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

IT skills particularly in MS Office Word, Excel and database programmes, email and the Internet
Good interpersonal and communication skills, including face-to-face, telephone and written communication skills
Able to listen actively, ask questions, clarify points and check understanding
Able to deal positively and objectively with challenging pupils
Able to demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team
Able to work using own initiative and adhere to strict timescales
Able to develop and maintain manual and computerised administrative systems and databases
Effective facilitator of mentoring, supervising and developing pupils with a wide spectrum learning styles and educational needs
Able to manage self and work under pressure
Knowledge and experience of work with difficult and demanding young people.
Knowledge/Awareness of differentiated learning
Knowledge of National Minimum Standards for Children’s Homes (England and Wales)
Knowledge of the Ofsted Framework for Education
Experience in the field of Special Education
Experience in providing learning support in formal and informal contexts on a one to one basis and provide supervision of young people
Experience of working in a team and on own initiative
Experience in working with young people in conflict and in crisis.
Experience in face-to-face service delivery with young people
Experience of working with and implementing restorative approaches
Experience of working with external agencies in relation to pupil support
Experience of maintaining electronic and computerised records

Essential behavioural and other characteristics:

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements:

Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Knowledge of National Standards for Youth Justice Services
Knowledge of Children’s Homes National Minimum Standards
Knowledge of the Children act 1989, Volume 5, Children’s Homes
Knowledge of the Secure Estate for children and young people