ALS Support Officer

Oldham College is a great career choice for ambitious professionals. With a “good” Ofsted rating, a Silver “TEF” assessment for our higher education provision, one of the best apprenticeship programmes in the region, excellent 16-18 results and truly outstanding GCSE English results, we are already a high performer. 

But we want to deliver much more than this.  Our ambition is to be “The Best Place to Learn and Work” and we have a clear Strategic Plan which sets out what this means and what we will do to deliver it.  We will keep on improving and innovating, and we are investing in new provision, new facilities and new technology. 

We expect a lot from you, so we want ambitious, open minded candidates, who are ready to give their best.  But we give a lot in return, from training to pensions, our own benefits package, and one of the best and most helpful group of colleagues you could ever wish to meet. That’s true, by the way – ask almost anyone who has been here. Or come and see for yourself. 

If you want to be outstanding, and want to help us achieve the same thing, then please apply.

We are looking for:

• Support Officer
• Salary: £18,129.00 - £19,027 Per Annum

Stephanie Firth, Head of Additional Learning Support, says “our award winning ALS department is looking for dedicated SEND professionals to come and join the team. As a Support Officer will have far reaching effects therefore we are looking for someone who is really looking for a chance to make a difference and go the extra mile to ensure our amazing SEND students get the support they need to thrive in this fully inclusive environment.”

Oldham College is a medium sized general further education college, with a turnover of almost £25m. It has one main campus in the centre of town, and this in the third phases of a £40m redevelopment which began in 2012. Higher education is taught on a second, dedicated campus, a short walk away.

The College delivers a full range of work related education and training, including 16-18 programmes of study, T levels, apprenticeships, adult learning and higher education. It has over 5000 full-time students and 600 undergraduates.

The College is in the top quartile for 16-18 programmes of study and English GCSE resits, and in apprenticeship provision, but is the second highest performing provider Greater Manchester. The quality of its higher education provision is better than many established universities.

1. Principal Purpose

1.1 To provide the full range of support for students with complex support needs, enabling them to access the College provision.

1.2 To promote and provide excellent customer service internally and externally in all areas of the role

2.1 To provide Additional Learning Support to students with SEND across the whole range of college provision. To include work placements, enrichment activities and external visits.

2.2 Assist in the preparation of materials, equipment and assistive technology.

2.3 Support students’ support needs, welfare and social well-being in College time.

2.4 Support students with access to facilities within the College, work placements and external visits.

2.5 Attend and participate in meetings when required.

2.6 Experience and skills in manual handling, dysphasia and willing to attend to personal care needs.

2.7 Administer meds, carrying out routines and techniques appropriate to stated needs of the individual.

2.8 Attend training courses considered appropriate by Line Manager.

2.9 To implement, record, review and adapt support strategies throughout the academic year.

2.10 To work closely with curriculum to encourage inclusive teaching practice including delivery of awareness information to staff. Contributing to the personal development of learners and promoting their independence.

2.11 To maintain an up to date system of support records for purposes of quality control and audit.

2.12 Promote inclusive learning experiences throughout the College.

2.13 Develop ways of assisting students to communicate effectively and appropriately to ensure their views are able to be understood.

2.14 To ensure that equal opportunities are promoted and developed in all areas of responsibility.

2.15 This job description is a summary of the key areas of responsibility. It is not a definitive list. You are required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and along with your line manager, make suggestions to vary the scope and application of your responsibilities within a reasonable framework appropriate to this level of post.

2.16 To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children, young persons and/or vulnerable adults for whom you are responsible or come into contact with as part of your role. You will be expected to share the College's commitment in this respect.

When you join our college, our colleagues have access to numerous benefits and facilities: 

• Generous Pension Scheme
• Fantastic Staff Benefits and Rewards platform
• Very generous holiday entitlement
• Employee Assistance Scheme
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity provision
• Staff Development days/week (Jan, July, Aug)
• Free confidential counselling service
• Staff recognition awards
• Subsidised car parking
• On-site Day Nursery
• On-site hair and beauty salon and The Grange Theatre both offering staff discounts
• Support for PGCE & further training needs available

Further details including a Person Specification are included within the attached Job Description.

The role will require you to embed and work to the college’s values; working with Integrity, having Ambition to help our learners succeed and being Inclusive to learners and colleagues alike.

Attachments: JD Support Officer.docx

For further information about the role including job description and application form please visit the vacancies section of our website via the apply link.