Teaching Assistant for Pupils with Complex Communication Needs and Autism

Oldham-Council; Oldham; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

LGPS pension

Discounted gym membership

Staff discount scheme

Cycle to Work

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Oldham Council is seeking an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join the QEST Team within the Education – SEND and Inclusion area. The role focuses on supporting pupils with autism and complex communication needs, providing modelling and coaching to school staff, and contributing to pupil intervention plans across multiple schools in Oldham.

You will be based at Spindles Shopping Centre Offices with travel to cohort schools; term-time 39 weeks, 32.5 hours per week, pro rata.

Qualifications

• Experience providing support and advice on strategies and interventions for autistic pupils and pupils with complex speech, language and communication needs.
• Ability to model and coach school staff in applying appropriate whole-school strategies.
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with school staff, children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with QEST Advisory Teachers and school staff to develop pupil profiles and identify needs.
• Provide advice on strategies and interventions based on sound assessment and model/coach staff.
• Support implementation of individual pupil support plans as part of the graduated response.
• Help staff understand behaviour as communication and support positive behaviour development.
• Maintain accurate records, including case notes and PIP reports, in line with service protocols.

Skills

Collaboration

Autism awareness

Communication

Job description

Education and Early Years

Education – SEND and Inclusion – QEST Team

Teaching Assistant – Complex Needs (Pupil Intervention Project – PIP)

Ref: 001712

Contract: Permanent

Salary: NJC Grade 4 - Term time (39 weeks) contract – Pro rata

Hours per week: 32.5 (term time 39 weeks)

Travel to various school-based locations across Oldham plus some office based and home-based working.

Location: Spindles Shopping Centre, George Street Oldham, OL1 IHD

Closing Date: Sunday 20 September 2025

Interview Date: TBC.

Role Overview:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and experienced Teaching Assistant to join the Quality, Educational Support and Training Team (QEST Team) as part of the Pupil Intervention Project (PIP).

Working as part of an experienced and supportive team, the role will involve providing support and advice on the implementation of appropriate strategies and interventions as well as modelling and coaching to school staff who support autistic pupils and pupils with complex speech, language and communication needs.

You will be based at the Spindles Shopping Centre Offices, but the role will include travel to schools across the Borough.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with QEST Advisory Teachers and school staff to develop pupil profiles, identifying strengths and needs.
• Provide advice on appropriate strategies and interventions based on sound assessment as well as modelling and coaching to school staff.
• Work with school staff to co-develop and support implementation of individual pupil support plans as part of the graduated response.
• Helping staff understand behaviour as communication and support positive behaviour development.
• Maintain accurate records, including case notes and PIP reports, in line with service protocols.

Key Requirements:

To succeed in this role, you will be able to:

• Work collaboratively with a range of others and be able to build relationships with school staff, children and young people.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and empathy for the learning, behaviour, and sensory needs of autistic pupils and pupils with complex communication needs and, in response to these, apply appropriate evidence-based strategies and interventions.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills both written and oral, being able to accommodate a range of audiences.

About Us:

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact:

A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and our Oldham Plan for further information

Our Values and Behaviours:

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out:

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package:

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following:

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment:

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to the link below for details for how to obtain your Certificates of Good Character. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer, someone who has served in the Armed Forces, or you’ve participated in the GM Elevate Programme, and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme..

Data and Privacy:

For details of how we use your data please see our Privacy Notice

Important Information:

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

Right to Work in the UK from 1st July 2021.doc