Learning Support Assistant

ENGAGE – ENRICH – EMPOWER

Meadows School is a successful non-maintained day and residential special school (for 7-19 year olds) on a main campus and off-site junior provision run by Barnardo's, providing education for pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health difficulties; Autistic Spectrum Conditions, Speech and Language difficulties and associated learning difficulties.

• A fantastic location set in acres of open space.   
• A full induction to your role.
• Access to Barnardos Benefits - save money on groceries, holidays, fashion, gifts and experiences.
• Continuous Professional Development and Learning.
• Free daily healthy lunches.
• Free on-site car parking. 
• Full school holidays, and additional yearly 'recognition' day to take.
• Generous Barnardos pension (for non-teaching staff).
• Medical cover to costs of optician check-ups and flu jabs.
• Progression opportunities.
• Teachers' pension.
• Wellbeing services including employee assistance and on-site counsellor. 

It is imperative that you have the passion for making a difference to the education and lives of the young people within the school and in building positive and supportive relationships. You should be a team player, resilient and motivated by challenge and have the ability to think creatively. You will need to be willing to work to Barnardo's Basis and Values.

You may be required to work anywhere within Meadows School (across Key Stage 2-5).

Key Requirements:

• A flexible approach combined with patience, tolerance, stamina and humour
• Experience of working with/willingness to work with young people with challenging behaviours
• Physical and mental resilience. Ability to carry out theory and practical TCI (Therapeutic Care Interventions)
• A willingness to undertake further training
• Good levels of literacy and numeracy – level 1 with a willingness to complete level 2 qualification within the 6-month probationary period.
• Able to communicate well with students and adults
• A manual driving license, with a requirement to drive school vehicles.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

We are committed to welcoming people from a diverse background, culture and experience.

Barnardo's Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

Our safer recruitment processes mean that the safety and welfare of the child is paramount at every stage of the process and therefore we adopt rigorous scrutiny in our pre-employment checking. Applicants must be willing to undergo relevant pre-employment checks, including references being taken up prior to interview and for the successful candidate, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance.

As part of your application, you will need to provide full details of your employment since leaving secondary education, starting with your current or most recent employment first and then by working backwards, including reasons for leaving. Please also include any periods of voluntary work and/or training, providing reasons for any periods not in employment, education or training.

Read further about our commitment to safeguarding and our pre-employment checks in our applicant information sheet below.

At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's.

Our basis and values