Who are we?
This is an exciting time to join the TCHC Group. TCHC Group was set up in August 2004. Since then, we have continued to develop and deliver programmes to support young people to learn, achieve and progress to greater opportunities. TCHC is an organisation that believes in creating opportunities for all. It is an organisation that is ethical, friendly, and considerate and encompasses these values in all its services and operations. Most of all, we believe in working together as a team to create opportunities for the individuals we work with to grow, to help them recognise and achieve their aspirations and goals and attain a positive outcome.
TCHC is a disability confident, committed employer.
Who are we looking for?
TCHC is looking for an inspiring individual with a real passion for supporting young people in education.
Can you engage and build positive relationships with young people who may have learning differences?
Do you feel that young people deserve an opportunity to develop their skills and abilities and have the best chance to succeed?
Are you enthusiastic, determined, and resilient, and do you have effective communication skills?
Can you solve problems by thinking of solutions?
Are you someone who can work in different settings to support learners, both practical and classroom-based?
Job Title
Learning Support Assistant & IAG (Information, Advice & Guidance) Advisor
Location:
Ipswich
Contract:
Permanent
Working Hours:
OPT 1 - 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, inclusive of one-hour unpaid lunch break. 37.5 hours per week
OPT 2 – 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, inclusive of half an hour of unpaid lunch break. 37.5 hours per week (Term time only 38 weeks plus 2 weeks)
Reports to:
Centre Manager
Salary:
OPT 1 - £28,000 per annum
OPT 2 - 24,553.85 per annum (prorate calculation)
What are we looking for?
TCHC is looking for a Learning Support Assistant & IAG Advisor who will be creative and engaging to ensure individual learners achieve their qualifications and develop their skills while learning. Working with individuals who may present challenges, your support will be patient while demonstrating empathy by engaging with individual learners to enable progress towards their aspirations in all subjects.
LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT
Qualifications & Experience
·Qualifications & Education – Holds or is willing to work towards a Level 2 Learner Support Certificate, with Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English.
·Experience & Knowledge – Experienced in supporting individuals in educational settings, particularly 16 -19 aged learners and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, with a good understanding of inclusive learning.
Main Tasks & Responsibilities
Implement a range of highly effective strategies to support the diverse additional learning needs within the centre, whilst promoting independence, and tailor these for each individual in line with their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), support plan, initial assessment and individual targets
·Assist teaching staff in delivering outstanding teaching and learning, to ensure learners achieve their planned outcomes and reach their potential
·Interpret instructions effectively to support learners in following these and assist with communication challenges, to ensure equal access for all
·Maintain accurate, timely departmental records and contribute to the setting and monitoring of individual targets, including the review of EHCP outcomes as part of the annual review process
·Provide support with study skills, pastoral needs and community access 1:1 or in small groups to ensure learners successfully navigate any challenges and progress to their aspirational destination
·Support learners in engaging with work experience opportunities
·Adhere to confidentiality guidelines and college policies for SEND, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and safeguarding
·Contribute to the work of the centre team, attend curriculum events and centre meetings
·Access training and professional development activities to ensure continually remaining up to date and gaining new skills and knowledge, including SEND-specific options
IAG (Information, Advice & Guidance) ADVISOR
Qualifications and Experience
·Customer Service or qualification at Level 2 or above, or equivalent work experience essential
·Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications or equivalent in English and maths GCSE grade C or above essential
·IAG qualification desirable
·Experience of Recruitment Practice and Services
·Sales experience
·Tele-Sales and Cold Calling
·Highly developed interpersonal skills, particularly presentation skills, negotiation and influencing skills and written communication
·Flexible with the ability to respond quickly and positively to changes
·Strong Attention to detail
·Target-driven with a proven track record of delivering targets whilst responding to tight deadlines and multiple pressures
·Market Awareness within the employment and skills sector
·Ability to work within a team as well as independently
·Car Owner/driver desirable
·Providing quality Careers Information, Advice and Guidance to clients, especially those with complex or neurodiverse needs
·Developing and maintaining excellent relationships with partners and stakeholders.
·Confidence in using a diverse range of presentation, facilitation, and communication skills.
·Respect for and understanding of Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Data Protection policies.
·A passion to inspire, motivate and lead by example to support people to achieve qualifications and career aspirations.
·Empathy with the learner group and experience of overcoming complex barriers
Main Tasks & Responsibilities
Key Objectives would be to:
·Support our learners to gain skills to enable them to find, maintain and improve their employment situation, some of whom will have had poor experiences of learning and employment in the past. Some may have complex lives and require signposting to other organisations that can help.
·To promote our training programmes in Essex primarily, in addition to promoting our wider programmes where appropriate. e.g., Apprenticeships.
·Work with referral agencies, e.g., JCP, to recruit to our training programmes and work with local employers to assist our learners to progress. This role requires excellent relationship building with both referring agencies and potential learners to ensure our funding is maximised to help the largest number of people and positively impact their lives and those of the local community and economy.
·As an IAG Advisor, you are required to carry out the following duties in the context of TCHC’s policies and practices, particularly Safeguarding, Prevent, Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety and Data Protection:
·Recognise and record, and if appropriate, build on previous work experience and educational attainments and continually support learners to progress to ensure that realistic career aspirations can be set and achieved.
·Record all interactions with learners on appropriate contract paperwork, updating case notes and local MI systems.
Note: These responsibilities serve as an initial outline for the tasks that the post holder will initially be expected to perform. Changes may occur over time to accommodate evolving job requirements and adapt to shifting circumstances.
Furthermore, given the dynamic nature of our operational environment, it is crucial for individuals in these roles to demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to travel to different work locations. This outline represents an initial plan and will be subject to periodic review as part of our Continuous Professional Development process.
Confidentiality
The individual in this role is responsible for upholding the confidentiality of information pertaining to clients, staff, and other stakeholders. Certain aspects of their work involve handling confidential information, which should not be disclosed to individuals outside the scope of their official duties. It is imperative that the post holder consistently always adheres to the provisions of the General Data Regulation Act.
Safeguarding, Prevent & Equal Opportunities
TCHC is dedicated to promoting equal opportunities and preventing discrimination for everyone. Our commitment extends to adhering to Safer Recruitment Policies, safeguarding practices, complying with the Prevent Duty, and advocating for the well-being of children, youth, and adults. In pursuit of our dedication, we will continuously enhance and refine our robust safeguarding processes and procedures, fostering a culture of safeguarding among our team members and volunteers.
Commitment to Safeguarding
TCHC is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. All staff are expected to adhere to our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and the safeguarding responsibilities outlined in their job description.
We conduct Safer Recruitment Checks on all staff prior to confirming a start date, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. An online search of information within the public domain is conducted on all candidates who are invited to interview.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, amended 2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975 provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions, and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.
Please see our Recruitment with Safer Recruitment Policy for further information, or get in touch on 01923 698477 or [email protected]
Pre-employment checks
The company also conducts an internal online search on social media platforms in accordance with the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. Should any pertinent information arise from this search, it will be discussed with the applicant as part of the recruitment process.
Please note that upon a successful job offer, the company performs digitalised right-to-work checks and initiates DBS applications through an external service provider. An enhanced DBS check, including the barred list, is mandatory for this role.
Rewards for your hard work
For us here at TCHC, reward means far more than just pay. Our generous and competitive benefits package includes:
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The full-time equivalent annual leave entitlement is 20 days per year in addition to 8 UK public holidays. An additional day of leave will be added for each complete year of service, effective from the commencement of the next holiday year, up to a maximum of 5 additional days after 5 years of service, giving a maximum total annual leave entitlement of 25 days. This will be pro rata for part-time hours.
- ·We operate a Christmas and New Year shutdown period, in which you will receive an additional 3 days of leave at full pay to cover this closure period after 1 year of service. This will be pro rata for part-time hours.
- When your birthday falls on a working day, you will receive the day off at full pay.
- Sickness pay allowance after the probationary period.
- Pension scheme after 3 months you have been employed with us
- Bupa Cash Plan, level 1, paid by the company after the probationary period.
- Employee Assistance Programme to access help and support 24 hours a day, every day of the year for immediate family (eligibility applies)
- Discounted membership for BUPA (subject to the qualifying conditions)
- Long Service club loyalty gift upon completion of 5 and 10 years of continuous service
- Quarterly and annual awards
- Company tools and equipment for the performance of your duties
- Reimbursement of travel to other locations outside of the Centre (this will exclude travelling to the usual workplace)
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the application form online at: https://www.tchc.net/vacancies/apply-now
TCHC Group Limited have been a leading provider of skills training and provision for 19 years, delivering our vision of transforming the lives of individuals by being the first-choice provider for exceptional delivery of employment, skills and business support.
