Job Description

Specialist Learning Support Assistant (Hearing Resource Centre)

Full Time (36 hours 40 minutes per week, term time plus one week)

Start Date (as soon as possible)

Fixed Term for 12 months in the first instance.

Salary:

SCP 21 - SPC 24: 33,143 - 35,412 (full year equivalent), term time plus one week, 28,954 to 30,936 (actual salary)

About the role:

We are seeing to appoint a passionate and experienced Specialist Learning Support Assistant to support the inclusion and learning of a student with complex needs. This student will be educated within the HI Resource Provision at Hathershaw College, alongside multiple offsite therapies.

Hathershaw College

The Hathershaw College is a very successful and oversubscribed 11-16 Academy within the Pinnacle

Learning Trust, which consists of ourselves, Oldham Sixth Form College, Werneth Primary School, Broadfield Primary School and Alexandra Park Junior School We are also well located with good public transport links and excellent access to the motorway network.

You will see from our Ofsted report published in January 2022 that we have retained our good status. I would advise you to read the excellent report before applying. Key highlights from this include: "Pupils behave sensibly around the school and in lessons. They are respectful to other pupils, staff and visitors." "Staff value the steps that leaders have taken to ease their workload and support their well-being." Senior leaders have taken radical steps to manage the workload and well-being of colleagues by reducing unnecessary burdens and bureaucracy. These actions were rated highly in the most recent staff survey, which takes place on annual basis.

The Pinnacle Learning Trust

We celebrate students' uniqueness and support our young people to flourish and become responsible, successful citizens who contribute positively to their communities. Our Trust invests in each member of staff, offering them professional development opportunities, including designation as Evidence Leads in Education for the Research School; delivery of school-to-school support; CPD facilitation and support for trainee teachers. Staff have access to opportunities to develop their teaching practice, such as training on metacognition, virtual classroom coaching and retrieval practice. As a Trust, we celebrate diversity by encouraging an understanding of our communities, faiths and cultures.

To apply

, please visit our website: https://www.pinnaclelearningtrust.org.uk/Vacancies/

Any Queries please email Vicki Sainsbury: vs@hathershaw.org.uk

Advert Closing Date: Friday, 19 September 2025 at 9.00am

Provisional Interview Date: Friday, 26 September 2025

Additional Reasons to Join Us:

? Automatic enrolment into a Pension Scheme

? Cycle to work schemes available

? Various health and wellbeing benefits (including on site gym membership at Oldham Sixth Form College and The Hathershaw College)

? Free on-site parking

? Excellent opportunities for CPD and career development

Commitment to Safeguarding

Hathershaw College is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment checks. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Hathershaw College is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups and ethnic minorities.

WE TAKE SAFEGUARDING SERIOUSLY

SPECIALIST LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT - (HEARING RESOURCE CENTRE)

Purpose of the post:

To support the inclusion and learning of a student with complex needs. This student will be educated within the HI Resource Provision at Hathershaw College, alongside multiple offsite therapies.

Summary of Main Duties and Responsibilities

Core Purpose:

? To support the inclusion and learning of a student with complex needs, including Down Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Condition and hearing loss.

? To accompany a student with complex needs to daily offsite therapies and to support access/communication throughout the duration of these activities.

? To contribute to the work of the team for deaf students within the resource provision at Hathershaw.

Core responsibilities:

1) To support the inclusion and learning of a student with complex needs, including Down Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Condition and hearing loss.

? To plan and deliver engaging learning sessions for a student with complex needs

? To create accessible resources to support the delivery of a bespoke curriculum

? To support the independent management of hearing aids and radio aids

? To model appropriate communication through a combination of speech and sign language

? To actively promote the development of speech, language and communication skills alongside sign language

? To closely supervise a student with complex needs during break and lunchtimes, including whilst they are eating

? To support the accessibility and participation in extracurricular activities

? To assist the mobility of a student; this may include the use of a wheelchair

? To facilitate and model appropriate social interactions with others, including with staff and peers

? To facilitate increasing opportunities to develop student independence

? To establish high expectations and to manage behaviour issues appropriately, in line with school policy, individual behaviour support plans and risk assessments

? To contribute to the regular update of individual student learning plans, behaviour management plans, meetings and risk assessments

? To have a valid first aid certificate and to carry out first aid as/when necessary

? To assist with personal care needs as/when necessary

? To keep an up to date log of students progress sharing this daily with parents.

? To report any concerns or incidents with line manager in a timely manner

2) To accompany a student with complex needs to daily offsite therapies and to support access/communication throughout the duration of these activities.

? To accompany a student with complex needs to daily offsite therapies, alongside a designated PA/driver

? To work collaboratively with the PA at all times, always identifying a lead support person who will make decisions and give directions to the second support person

? To be the lead support person during car journeys

? To promote learning opportunities and to utilise appropriate learning materials during car journeys

? To support the communication needs of the student whilst participating in offsite therapies

? To safeguard and ensure the personal safety and wellbeing of the student at all times whilst offsite, utilising the strategies and interventions listed in the risk assessments and behaviour management plan

? To respond to emotionally dysregulated behaviours with confidence and tolerance, recognising behaviours as adaptive strategies of resilience and coping

? To utilise pre-planned reactive strategies during unsafe situations

? To reflect and plan to avoid future situations of emotional dysregulation

? To liaise with external therapy providers to ensure the suitability of activities, in the planning, delivery and review stages

? To liaise with parents of the student to plan/amend planned offsite therapies.

3) To contribute to the work of the team for deaf students within the resource provision at Hathershaw.

? To contribute to the positive outcomes for deaf students at Hathershaw through following direction from the Hearing Resource Centre Manager

? To promote the inclusion of all deaf students, ensuring they have equal opportunities to learn and progress

? To communicate the content of mainstream lessons using sign language, modified language, as well as simple written and visual cues

? To plan and deliver pre and post-tutorial sessions in the Hearing Resource Centre

? To keep electronic records of student learning, progress and observations

? To contribute to target setting and review of individual student's Edukey profiles

? To contribute to student review meetings, including EHCP annual review meetings

? To explicitly teach new vocabulary and promote language development

? To modify written materials for students

? To set appropriate homework tasks, to provide feedback and facilitate opportunities for improvement

? To provide regular feedback to the Hearing Resource Centre Manager, Teachers of the Deaf, class or subject teacher and parents, regarding progress for students within the resource provision

? To support extracurricular activities and school visits

? To use IT programmes effectively for both administration and learning/teaching purposes

Requirements of All Trust Staff:

? To promote and uphold the Trust Mission Statement, values and strategic aims and objectives.

? To comply with the Academy and Trust's policies and procedures, including those relating to health and safety, safeguarding, welfare and security.

? To work positively and inclusively with colleagues, students, parents and other partners regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability.

? To attend briefings and staff meetings as required.

? To participate in the Performance Management Review scheme and undertake professional development and training as required.

? To be a positive role model and take responsibility for promoting good standards of behaviour and conduct in students.

? To undertake other duties that are in accordance with the purpose and grade of the post as agreed with the Executive Principal or designated alternate.

PERSON SPECIFICATION: SPECIALIST LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT

(HEARING RESOURCE CENTRE)

This person specification will be used in shortlisting and interview to select the best candidate. Each applicant should therefore address the person specification in their written application and where appropriate should give examples of how you meet the criteria.

Education and Qualifications

A minimum of English and Maths GCSE (Grade C/Grade 4 or above) - Essential A Levels (or equivalent) - Desirable Level 1 Certificate in British Sign Language (Signature) or OCSL Level 2 - Desirable A willingness to undertake and complete a BSL course upon commencement of the role - Essential First aid qualification or willingness to complete. - Essential

Knowledge and Experience

Past experience in supporting Children and Young People (CYP) with complex learning needs. - Essential Past experience in supporting deaf / hard of hearing CYP. - Essential Experience of working in education. - Essential Experience of working in Secondary Education or Special Education. - Desirable Experience of supporting CYP with a diagnosis of Down Syndrome and/or Autistic Spectrum Condition. - Desirable Previous experience of supporting students' personal care and supporting mobility and eating. - Desirable Evidence of professional development relevant to the position. - Essential

Skills and Attributes

Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish positive working relationships with students, including when supporting a learner with complex needs on a one to one basis. - Essential Ability to support the social communication and interaction of a learner with complex communication needs. - Essential Ability to act as an advocate and to promote an understanding of learning disability throughout the student community. - Essential Experience of supporting a learner to meet agreed speech, language and communication targets. - Desirable A willingness to participate in and lead extracurricular activities. - Essential Knowledge and experience of supporting learners to use hearing equipment successfully. - Desirable Ability to manage time effectively, use own initiative to work without close supervision and to work effectively as part of a team. - Essential Ability to communicate effectively; verbally, through the use of sign language and in writing to multiple agencies, including parents. - Essential Ability to modify language and resources to support curriculum access. - Essential Ability to think flexibly and to identify learning opportunities in all situations, including during travel. - Essential Ability to use basic IT packages, e.g. word processing / learning apps and a willingness to undertake further IT training where necessary. - Essential Awareness of barriers to learning and to recognise the causes of emotional dysregulation experienced by a child with multiple complex needs. - Essential Experience and confidence in establishing appropriate boundaries and managing behaviour effectively using bespoke behaviour management plans and risk assessments. - Essential Ability to keep accurate records which can be used in annual reviews and parental handovers. - Essential Seek advice and support when necessary, and report any concerns to the line manager in a timely manner. - Essential

Special working conditions

Ability to work flexibly across multiple sites, with a range of professionals and external providers. - Essential To assist and participate in all off-site activities. - Essential To work collaboratively with the designated PA and to be the predominant lead support person. - Essential To be the lead support person during car journeys and to provide appropriate learning materials in the car. - Essential To be confident to make effective decisions using the strategies from the behaviour support plan, especially during moments of emotional dysregulation. - Essential To reflect and plan with the line manager, parents and other agencies to avoid future situations of emotional dysregulation. - Essential Assist mobility around the school building and in other locations, this may include supporting the use of a wheelchair. - Essential Own transport/driving licence. - Desirable Ability to work within the ethos of the school. - Essential A willingness to undertake training to meet the demands of the job. - Essential
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 28,954.00-30,936.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Cycle to work scheme Free flu jabs Free parking On-site gym On-site parking
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 19/09/2025