Learning Support/Teaching Assistant/Support Worker required - Full Time - Autism Specific

Woodside Lodge Outdoor Learning Centre is an Independent School, consisting of 6 individual bases, catering wholly for young people, aged 4-19, with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our Upper Vale site, not only caters for students with ASDs, but also with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

We are looking for charismatic and confident individual who will help engage, motivate and develop our students in a challenging, yet rewarding environment.  We need applicants who will embrace and contribute towards our commitment to learning outside the classroom, communicating well with staff and students alike.  Driving Licence is essential for this role.

This role will support students and teachers throughout lessons, social interactions and trips contributing to the students academic and social progress.

**To apply, please complete the attached application form and email it to the designated contact. CV's alone, will not be accepted**

Key Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

• Support in lessons, where needed, taking instruction from the subject teacher to best progress the academic achievement of the student within the session.
• Attend and contribute to staff meetings with ideas for overall student progression and report back on sessions to Base Manager.
• Have an awareness of the targets of each child with whom they come into contact, by seeking out most recent IEP/IBP.
• Facilitate the transportation of students between Woodside Lodge OLC's different bases.
• Build strong relationships with all students, in order to work with them at all levels of emotional difficulty.
• Be first on the scene when children reach crisis point, prioritising negotiation skills and talk to de-escalate, before consideration of safe handling to reach calm.
• Contribute to activities to ensure the base is in the best order possible and remains a safe and stimulating work environment.
• Embedding of positive attitudes towards education, in conjunction with all other professionals at the school.
• Be a champion and advocate for Woodside Lodge OLC, ensuring positive personal communication to all stakeholders.
• Provide lunchtime cover
• Timely completion of teacher assessment logs and student progress sheets
• Transport students to and from lessons

Compliance responsibilities

• Have an awareness of the risk assessment for bases in which they work and be up to date with all relevant policies and procedures.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Provision of written reports to document behavioural incidents, or safeguarding matters.
• Completion of relevant training documents to keep up to date in all key areas of education.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

• All employees are responsible for ensuring they take every reasonable action to keep themselves and everyone in the school environment safe and well.

Essential Personal Attributes

• Drive, resilience, confidence, initiative, resourcefulness, calm under pressure, common sense and an ability to manage ambiguity.
• Ability to build rapport & trust quickly with both students & staff.

Essential

• An ability to communicate with staff and students alike, in order to best impact on academic, and overall, attainment.
• An appreciation and acknowledgement of the overall direction of the school and the policies which govern it.
• An openness and optimistic outlook towards change.
• A knowledge of, and up to date qualifications in, the safe handling of students.
• Full comprehension of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) information and protocol, as well as all safeguarding issues.
• Competent in administering first aid.
• An understanding of a variety of behaviour management techniques, with a focus on resolution management followed by developmental reflection.
• An ability to perform in situations of high pressure, showing not only theoretical understanding, but also ‘real-life' understanding of both autism and behavioural difficulties.
• An aptitude to work in partnership with a number of professionals, as well as parents/carers.
• A willingness to attend staff meetings, support the vision of SLT and contribute ideas towards better practice.
• A willingness to take on challenges ‘above and beyond' their role as support worker, in order to fully contribute to the ethos of the school and the progression of its students.
• A willingness to work outside of the conventional classroom and embrace outdoor learning, in line with the ethos of the school.
• An understanding of the need for routine and discipline, ensuring that consistent messages are communicated to all students and staff.
• GCSE Maths & English

Desirable

• Ambition and willingness to take further responsibility.
• Experience of supporting in a variety of educational settings.
• A deep and thorough understanding of autism, perhaps backed up by Autism Level 1 and Level 2 Training.
• A commitment towards CPD.
• History of working with children who are disengaged with education.