Communication Support Worker

Communications Support Worker

Salary - LBR5 point 12

Start Date - September 2024 (or earlier if possible)

Are you passionate about supporting deaf children with their learning and communication needs? Do you have a British Sign Language (BSL) qualification, or live experience of using BSL? Are you keen to further your BSL communication skills in a dedicated provision for deaf children? If helping people comes naturally to you and you find reward in supporting young people, this could be the perfect job for you! Join us at Oaks Park High School, where we are excited to welcome a dedicated and passionate Communication Support Worker to join our team in the exciting adventure of creating a new provision for deaf students.

We are looking for an inspiring and experienced Communication Support Worker or someone who has experience of BSL and is willing to train as a CSW.  You will assist in supporting the delivery of flexible, high quality education that meets the needs of deaf learners within an inclusive environment. The successful candidate will work alongside our dynamic inclusion team to set up and establish a brand new specialist provision.

At Oaks Park High School, our students and staff work hard to ensure the best academic outcomes.  You will work closely with the Teacher of the Deaf, and school based staff, to enable equality of access to information and education to meet the needs of deaf learners. The support may involve working with pupils whose first language is BSL. This type of support would generally involve a two way exchange of information, through BSL, written notes or clear speech.

You will be responsible for understanding individual learner’s needs, developing and using a range of communication strategies, for example working between BSL signing, sign supported English (SSE) speech, note- taking and/or language modification and preparing for support sessions and subject areas, as appropriate. You will work closely with the TOD (Teacher of the Deaf) in ensuring the quality of the curriculum being delivered is linked to national and local curriculum guidelines and where necessary contribute to Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

You will require relevant experience supporting deaf children/young people and have an understanding of the barriers deaf people face especially in education settings. You will be focused on and responsive to learners’ needs, with strong communication skills (spoken and written) and ability to listen accurately in noisy surroundings.

If you would like to be part of this forward thinking and ambitious school community, we eagerly anticipate receiving your application.  

What We Offer:

• Oversubscribed 11-18 mixed comprehensive school with 300 students per year group (Year 7-11) and approx. 400 students in the Sixth Form.
• Highly regarded for outstanding pupil behaviour and a purposeful learning environment
• An exciting opportunity to be part of creating the deaf provision from the start.
• Professional development opportunities to support your career advancement.
• Access to excellent modern facilities that enhance the learning experience.
• An ambitious and supportive multicultural community that keeps our child-centred philosophy at the heart of everything that we do.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment focused on "Learning Together, Achieving Together."

Medical and well-being support for all staff, provided at no cost.

Qualifications and Experience:

Please refer to the detailed Job Description and Person Specification to ensure you demonstrate in your application the skills and experience required for the post.  Visits to the school, or a telephone call with Vicky Bradley, SENDCO, are welcomed and can be accommodated up until Wednesday 8th May 2024.  If you would like to arrange either of these options then please contact Liz Thompson (Headteacher's PA) at Ethompson@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk who will be happy to assist.

Location: The school is centrally located in the London Borough of Redbridge. There are excellent transport links to central and outer London, with Newbury Park station (zone 4 on the Central Line) only a four minute walk away.

Application Deadline: 9.00AM on Friday 10th May 2024.  Early applications are welcome.  However please note that we may call candidates to interview before the advert closes.

Interview Dates: Week beginning 13th May 2024.  Details regarding interviews will be confirmed with short listed candidates.

Safeguarding:

Oaks Park High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. As such, all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.  Shortlisted candidates are required prior to interview, to disclose any unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Non disclosure may lead to termination of employment.  However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily prevent you from employment depending on the offence(s).  

Shortlisted candidates will also be required to bring their current DBS certificate with them to interview.  References from the previous and current employer (Headteacher if the candidate currently works in a school) will be requested and appointments can only be made upon receipt of satisfactory references and a newly applied for Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check from the Disclosure and Barring Services.