Communication Support Worker

Staffordshire County Council; Wolstanton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffordshire County Council, through The Orme Academy Resource Base, seeks a committed Communication Support Worker to assist autistic young people in accessing high-quality inclusive education. You will work with a specialist team to support learning, engagement and wellbeing within the Resource Base and across the school environment.

The role emphasizes inclusion, collaboration with families, flexible support across locations and a commitment to empowering autistic students to thrive

Qualifications

• Experience of working with autistic young people in an educational setting.
• Commitment to supporting inclusion and positive outcomes for autistic students.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• GCSE English and Maths (Grade 4 or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to autistic young people within the Resource Base, helping them access learning and engage in school life.
• Support autistic students in mainstream lessons and transitions, promoting independence and participation.
• Help develop and maintain an autism-friendly Resource Base.
• Collaborate with school staff to promote understanding of autism and inclusive practice.
• Promote social, emotional and personal development of autistic young people.
• Work with families and professionals to ensure a person-centred approach.

Skills

Experience with autistic young people

Communication skills

Teamwork

Inclusion champion

Education

GCSE English & Maths ( Grade 4 or equivalent )

Job description

The successful candidate will work alongside the Specialist Teacher and a team of Communication Support Workers within the Resource Base, supporting autistic young people to access learning and thrive in their school environment.

• Provide direct support to Autistic young people within the Resource Base, helping them to access learning, engage positively in school life and achieve their individual potential. This will include supporting the delivery of curriculum activities and coursework under the guidance of teaching staff.
• Support Autistic young people in mainstream lessons and during transitions throughout the school day, promoting independence, confidence and successful participation in all aspects of school life.
• Help develop and maintain an autism-friendly Resource Base, creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment that meets the diverse needs of Autistic young people.
• Work collaboratively with school staff to promote understanding of autism and inclusive practice, sharing strategies, modelling effective approaches and supporting colleagues to meet the needs of Autistic young people across the school.
• Promote the social, emotional and personal development of Autistic young people, supporting communication, wellbeing, self-advocacy and positive relationships with peers and staff.
• Work in partnership with families and professionals to ensure a consistent, person-centred approach that enables Autistic young people to thrive both academically and socially.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and committed Communication Support Worker to join the Autism Inclusion Team at The Orme Academy Resource Base. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting Autistic young people to access a high-quality, inclusive education, enabling them to achieve their potential and thrive within both the Resource Base and the wider school community.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience of working with Autistic children and young people in educational settings, together with a strong understanding of autism and the barriers that some Autistic young people may experience in school. You will be passionate about inclusion and committed to ensuring that every young person is valued, supported and empowered to flourish academically, socially and emotionally. You will be an excellent communicator with the ability to build positive relationships with young people, families, school staff and colleagues. You will be flexible, resilient and able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing to a supportive and autism-friendly environment where neurodiversity is understood and celebrated. As this role may occasionally require providing cover support at other locations across the county or transporting students to educational activities and events, the post is designated as a casual car user. Applicants must therefore hold a full driving licence and have daily access to a vehicle. Reasonable adjustments will be considered where required for disabled applicants. This role offers a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of autistic young people as part of a supportive and experienced specialist team.

Minimum criteria:

• Experience of working with autistic young people in an educational setting.
• A commitment to supporting inclusion and positive outcomes for autistic students.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• GCSE Grade 4 (or equivalent) in English and Maths.

The core of who we are as an organisation.

Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy: We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire.