Sensory Support Assistant

Queen Alexandra College; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialized educational institution in Birmingham is seeking a dedicated professional to promote independence for students with special educational needs. You will support individuals in sensory environments and contribute to their personal development. We value effective communication skills and a passion for facilitating growth and well-being in a supportive setting.

Benefits

Access to on-site car parking

Use of QAC Fitness Centre

Cycle to Work Scheme

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Health and Wellbeing Services

Free meals provided at mealtime support

Qualifications

• Experience working effectively with young adults with barriers to learning.
• Ability to support students with sensory needs.
• Familiar with communication methods for individuals with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Support students in the sensory room and during unstructured time.
• Contribute to the development of Positive Sensory Plans.
• Communicate effectively with students, staff, and families.

Skills

Oral communication

Interpersonal skills

IT skills

Understanding disability theory

Education

Level 2 – English & Maths (equivalent)

Job description

Promote independence for our students in the sensory room and to support their regulation

Key Responsibilities

Learning

· Support the OT and Sensory Coordinator to ensure the Sensory environment is suitable for students sensory or support needs

· Support the OT in the creation and preparation of differentiated resources.

· Recognising & Recording progress of students against their targets; specifically in relation to their sensory and physical needs

· Understand the purpose and intent of the student’s Individual Positive Sensory Plans; including the techniques utilised to support their sensory and regulation needs

· Participate in team meetings

· Adaptable approach to the different social, emotional and regulation needs of our students

· Understand disability theory & practical implementation of this to engage students in their sensory therapy

· Adapt styles of communication to develop a positive and constructive therapeutic environment

· Liaise and implement strategies from the Occupational Therapist

· Support communication through the development of your own skills in communication methods (PECs/Makaton/BSL)

Social & Emotional Support

· Recognise the social and emotional needs of our students and adapt your support in line with the agreed strategies to support positive improvements

· Contribute to the development and updating of Positive Sensory Plans and Risk Assessments, sensory related protocols and other sensory interventions/ programmes.

· De-escalate behaviour that challenges in line with the positive behaviour support plan, utilising all training and CPI techniques where applicable.

· Undertake preventative work to reduce the likelihood of behaviour that challenges.

· To support the Positive Behaviour Team with 333 radio calls where a student requires regulation support in the regulation zones

Break & Lunch Support

· During unstructured time, ensure students are safely supported in the sensory room.

General

· Use technology to access information on students to ensure their support needs are met.

· Ability to talk to external professionals, families and careers, where directed to support students

· Participate in personal education, including mandatory and skills development training

· Actively engage with Peer Mentoring for yourself, along with new and existing colleagues.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Level 2 – English & Maths (equivalent)
Experience of working effectively with young adults with barriers to learning
Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills
Good IT skills, including word processing, Excel and Microsoft Programmes
Ability to communicate effectively with young adults with barriers to learning, including those who may present behaviours that challenge
To have previous experience of SEN learners with moderate to severe learning difficulties and be able to provide the associated curriculum, approaches and strategies.
Ability to communicate effectively with staff, parents, carers, and other external contacts, at all levels, using a variety of media.
To be able to demonstrate therapeutic interventions as appropriate to people with visual impairment and autism and/ or complex disabilities.
To be familiar with communication methods and access technology as appropriate to learners with visual impairment and other disabilities

Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham

Join our team at Queen Alexandra College!

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.

The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.

Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:

· Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals

· Make a difference to the educational experience of young people

· Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education

· Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence

· Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.

Our benefits include;

Schedule 1 Benefits (reviewed annually and/or as appropriate)

Academic Year 2024/25

• Access to on site car parking
• Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)
• Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF)
• Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff
• QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing
• BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services
• Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers
• Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)
• Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities
• Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)
• Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)
• Reward and Recognition Policy – Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service
• Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Occupational sick pay (based on length of service)
• Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)
• Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.

This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.

We look forward to receiving your application and knowing more about your qualifications, skills,
personal qualities and experience that you would bring to the role and to QAC. Please take time to
review the job description above.

Please upload a CV/Resume* with details of your full employment history (since leaving school,
including education, employment and voluntary work) including reasons for any gaps in
employment. This should also include a statement of the personal qualities and experience you
believe are relevant to your suitability for the post and how this meets the job description and
person specification requirements. Your CV/Resume* will be re-produced in a standard format by
the system (without personal identifiers) to assist us in our anonymised shortlisting process.
Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from
engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are
available here

As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in
September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may
enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part of your application we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further information.