Part-time Teaching Assistant for Travellers (Secondary Students) Term-time Only. Ref No: CYS596

Transcription

1 Part-time Teaching Assistant for Travellers (Secondary Students) Term-time Only Ref No: CYS596 For more information and to apply for this vacancy online, please visit If vacancy is internal only then visit: Thank you for your interest in working with the London Borough of Lewisham. This information pack provides further details about the vacancy and how to apply: You should ensure that your application reaches us by 12:00 noon on the closing date indicated in the advert. We will be in touch with you within 4 weeks of the closing date if you have been shortlisted. If you are not contacted please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. We would like to wish you the best of luck with your application. Recruitment and Personnel Administration Unit London Borough of Lewisham Town Hall Catford London SE6 4RU Tel: Fax: recruitment@lewisham.gov.uk

2 and achieve something amazing Part-time Teaching Assistant for Travellers (Secondary Students) 19,713-21,606 pro rata The Traveller Education Service seeks to ensure that all Gypsy Roma and Traveller children have access to a full curriculum within mainstream schools and that their education should be a positive and enriching experience. Working 16.5 hours per week, over three days, term time only, you will be part of the Lewisham Traveller Education Service, which provides support for children and families from the Gypsy Roma Traveller communities and for schools. The post is peripatetic supporting secondary aged Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils across the borough. We welcome applications from all sections of the community including members of the Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities. For further information and to apply online please visit and search by the reference CYS596. If you do not have web access please telephone between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. This post is subject to a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Closing date: Noon, Friday 14 November

3 JOB DETAILS CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Noon, Friday 14 November 2008 REFERENCE AND JOB TITLE: TENURE: HOURS: LOCATION: DIRECTORATE: CONDITIONS OF SERVICE: CYS596 Part-time Teaching Assistant for Travellers (Secondary Students) Term-time Only (39 weeks pa) 16.5 per week over 3 days Lewisham Bridge School, SE13 Children and Young People National Joint Council for Local Government Services SALARY: SC4 19,713-21,606 pro rata pa approx per hour The Council are currently implementing Single Status across the Authority and as a result some posts are subject to a job evaluation exercise. Current outcomes indicate that it is improbable that the exercise will have a detrimental impact on grades. However, if this is the outcome, pay protection arrangements will be put in place for a limited time. It is normal practice to appoint candidates to the minimum of the salary scale unless matching current salary within salary range. Progression within the above salary scale will be by annual increments payable on 1 April of each year. In order to qualify for an April increment employees must have been in post for at least six months (i.e. appointed on or before 1 October). Prior to employment with the London Borough of Lewisham we will require confirmation that you are eligible to work in the UK. We will do this by requesting original proof of your passport or any other document recognised by the UK Border Agency, your National Insurance number and any work permits you may have. As this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subject to a police check, if invited to an interview you will be required to complete a Disclosure application form and confirm your identity with a passport or photo driving licence and additional documents which confirm your current address. CVs are not usually accepted unless specifically stated on the advert only completed application forms will normally be considered. Applications may be considered from applicants on a job share basis depending on the needs of service delivery and whether these can be met in a job share arrangement.

4 JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Peripatetic Teaching Assistant for Secondary Aged Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils Grade: Scale 4 Responsible to: Traveller Education Service co-ordinator PURPOSE OF JOB: To provide support for the integration of secondary aged Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils within mainstream educational settings. To provide a peripatetic teaching assistant service to the schools and other educational settings in the Borough To assist the school in providing a suitable programme for its Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils Duties and Responsibilities General 1. To work as part of the Lewisham Traveller Education Service (TES) providing support to secondary Gypsy Roma Traveller students in Lewisham. 2. To attend weekly team meetings and participate in termly TES INSET 3. With guidance from the Traveller Education Service co-ordinator, to assist in promoting awareness of the cultural backgrounds and lifestyle of the Gypsy Roma Traveller community so that this can be positively reflected in the classroom. 4. To assist in the review and development of appropriate procedures for students. Specific A. SUPPORTING THE STUDENT 1. To develop an understanding of the needs of the students concerned. 2. To appreciate that the time spent in school may be student s only experience of formal education. 3. To help the students learn as effectively as possible by; Clarifying instructions Motivating and encouraging as required.

5 Assisting in weak areas e.g. reading, spelling, handwriting, presentation etc. Helping students to concentrate on and finish work Encouraging regular attendance 4. To establish a supportive and trusting relationship with students and be sensitive to contentious issues 5. To have a high level of interpersonal skills 6. To facilitate integration into the learning process for students 7. To encourage acceptance and integration of Gypsy Roma Traveller students. B. SUPPORTING THE TEACHER 1. To assist in the development of a suitable programme of support for Gypsy Roma Traveller students. 2. To keep a record in class of the work done with a Gypsy Roma Traveller student. 3. To participate in the monitoring and evaluation of a students progress. 4. To report to the class teacher, and/or co-ordinator if there are any specific concerns about a student s progress. 5. To report to the class teacher, and/or co-ordinator, any concerns about the student s well being. C. SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL 1. To contribute to students progress. 2. To attend, if within the working hours, any relevant in-service training. 3. To be aware of school procedures. 4. To have an understanding of safeguarding/child protection issues

6 PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Peripatetic Teaching Assistant for Secondary Aged Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils Grade: Scale 4 Note to Candidates The Person Specification is a picture of the skills, knowledge and experience needed to carry out the job. It has been used to draw up the advert and will also be used in the shortlisting and interview process for this post. Those categories marked S will be used especially for the purpose of shortlisting. If you are a disabled person, but are unable to meet some of the job requirements specifically because of your disability, please address this in your application. If you meet all the other criteria you will be shortlisted and we will explore jointly with you if there are ways in which the job can be changed to enable you to meet the requirements. EXPERIENCE Experience of working: with students in both one to one and group situations in an educational setting S1 alongside a teacher S2 in a team S3 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Sound knowledge of the National Curriculum S4 Good oral communication skills Good level of literacy High level of interpersonal skills Ability to establish and maintain good relationships with students and adults. Ability to deal confidently with difficult situations which might arise in school.

7 Ability to be flexible A willingness to travel around the Borough to visit schools. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Commitment to implement the Council s Equal Opportunities Policy. Awareness of Equal Opportunities issues. Ability to recognise and respond effectively to the needs of minority groups and interests. To be able to build relationships with schools, teachers and students To be able to work with disadvantaged students who may have complex and sensitive needs S5 S6 S7 S8

8 Your Application and our Recruitment Process Your application form is very important - the information you provide in your application form is the only information we will use in deciding whether or not you will be shortlisted for the selection process. The information listed here will provide guidelines on how to complete your application. Lewisham Council s Equality and Diversity Policy means that we want to ensure that every applicant is treated fairly. This means that we are not able to consider previous applications or personal knowledge of you. Making an application Every vacancy advertised is based on a person specification which describes the skills, experience and abilities we are looking for. Please look at this carefully so that you know what the job involves and what is required. Ask yourself why you are interested in the job and how you meet our requirements. Your supporting statement must address how you meet all requirements listed in the person specification at shortlisting stage (marked S on the person specification).your supporting statement needs to show the relevant skills, interests and experience you have gained. Give examples of the work you have been involved in and write in a positive way. Always remember to write about your individual responsibilities, e.g. I was responsible for ; I introduced Always gear your application to the specific job and ensure it is relevant to the person specification. If you are completing the online application from, it will be automatically e- mailed back to us on completion. You will receive notification that your form has been received. If you are handwriting your form please complete your form in black ink or type it and forward it before the closing date to the address at the top of the application form. Always keep a copy for your reference. Shortlisting and interviews If you are successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to an interview. At the interview, the panel will ask questions which are intended to allow you to expand on your application and to demonstrate the extent to which you meet the requirements of the post. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the job and conditions of service.

9 As part of the recruitment and selection process you may be asked to complete written or online tests and assessments. Details of the tests will be provided to you before you attend your interview. Applicants with a disability If you have a disability and are unable to meet some of the job requirements specifically because of your disability, please tell us about this in your application. If you meet all other criteria, you will be shortlisted and we will explore jointly with you if there are ways in which the job can be changed to enable you to meet the requirements. This could include adjustment to premises and equipment or job duties. If you are offered a job, this will be subject to a number of clearances such as satisfactory medical and references; eligibility to work in the UK; CRB check if the job involves working with children or vulnerable adults; proof of qualifications; amongst others. Fair recruitment We try to ensure that every stage in our recruitment process is fair, properly carried out and that people aren t discriminated against. If you are not successful at either the shortlisting or the interview stage of the process and would like to know the reasons why, you should contact the RPAU in the first instance and they will be able to refer you on to the relevant manager to discuss this. If you have worked for Lewisham Council before but had to retire early due to ill health or were made redundant, you will not usually be re-employed for a period of 2 years after you left. Employees enjoy a range of excellent benefits which are generous in many areas compared with other sectors. These apply to everyone whether temporary or permanent. A few differences still exist amongst different employee groups but these are being phased out as part of the move towards a single status workforce. Location Lewisham is an up-and-coming place with something for everyone. It stretches from the River Thames in the north down to Crystal Palace and Beckenham Place parks in the south. More and more people are choosing to live and work in Lewisham, thanks to the unique mix of urban cultural life and suburban

10 tranquility. The area offers as much peace and quiet or hustle and bustle as you require. It all depends where you look. For much-needed chill out time, there are award winning parks and open spaces to explore. The Laban Dance Centre, Horniman Museum and Broadway Theatre offer a culture fix. On the other hand, if you re looking to let off steam, then there are plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes. Lewisham is one of London s bestconnected areas offering frequent trains to and from Waterloo East, London Bridge, Charing Cross, Blackfriars, Victoria and Cannon Street. The East London line connects New Cross to Surrey Quays and Whitechapel, while the Docklands Light Railway connects travellers to Canary Wharf, Tower Hill, Bank and the London Tube network. Eurostar trains to France and Belgium are available from Waterloo International offering an escape to the continent within two hours. Why work for us If you want to affect real change and help build something truly special then Lewisham is the place to be. We are a Council that values people who are adaptable, innovative and seek to make a positive change. You can choose from hundreds of occupations from lawyer to nursery worker, occupational therapist to street warden. No matter where you start within the Council, you ll be given the tools you need to build a promising career. Nick Johnson: National Management Trainee - One thing that surprised me was how involved the Council is in the regeneration process, and in improving the borough for everyone living and working here. I live in Deptford and there s a feel good factor about the place. The more I get to know Lewisham, the more I like it. Terry Lynsdale: Manager Jobnet / Opening Doors - We work closely with employers throughout Lewisham and keep a close eye on the vacancies they have. When we re satisfied that we ve found the right job for a particular person we put them forward and they take it from there. In the long term, Terry s team is helping to regenerate Lewisham, by getting people to return to work and to support the local economy. Career progression Lewisham council is dedicated to continuous improvement, including the development of employees. We are a Council that values people who are adaptable, innovative and seek to make a positive change. Hard work will be rewarded with genuine chances for career progression and some of the best training opportunities around.

11 Aodan O Connell: Project Officer E-Gov - 'Lewisham is leading the way in local govenment when it comes to getting the borough online. For people living here it means better access to new services, and that s a real positive. We have to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and the end user, because it doesn t make sense introducing technology that people can t use.' Nadine Anderson: Learning and Development Commissioning Manager - 'The Council recognise that to improve services, every member of staff needs the chance to fulfil his or her potential. My job is to identify the areas in which people need to progress, at which point I ensure that the right training is made available. It could be anything, from IT to presentation skills; the great thing about it is the variety. I m involved in every area of what Lewisham does.' Work-life balance The council believe that time away from work is just as important as the hours you spend serving the community. This is why we try to be as flexible as possible in giving you the work-life balance you need to enjoy your time in the borough. Housing is more affordable here than in most areas in London, and when you add this to the generous holiday entitlement and the final salary pension scheme we offer, you can see why so many people are choosing to work with us. Lorna Thomas: Drug Strategy Team The main reason why I joined Lewisham was because of the quality of life on offer here. I live 15 minutes from work and this gives me more time to spend with my son. I did the long hours in the city and I just wanted something different.' Reuben Lodge: Intake Team As a local resident, Reuben enjoys the convenience of working nearby. 'You want to improve your own quality of life, and that s why I chose Lewisham in the first place. I know the area, and it s easy for me to get back home after work to pursue other interests.' Benefits Salary and allowances are detailed in the job advert (a copy of which is in this pack) and also on our website Increments within each salary scale are paid from 1st April in any year to employeeswhose start date falls between 1st April and 1st October. Final salary pension scheme - All employees may join the Local Government Pension Scheme which is regarded as one of most generous currently available. Employees contribute at the rate of 6% of gross salary and full tax relief is automatically given; employers contribute 17.75%. The scheme provides excellent benefits in the form of an index linked retirement pension and tax-free lump sum based on final year s salary, together with ill-health, redundancy and death benefits. Pension contributions can be transferred to or from Lewisham s Scheme provided Inland Revenue requirements are met. The Scheme is contracted out of the Government State Earnings Related Scheme (SERPS).

12 Annual leave - Generous annual leave (in addition to statutory and public holidays) from 23 days to 34 days depending on length of service Leave for part-time and job share employees is calculated on a pro-rata basis according to the hours worked. Flexible working - The Council positively encourages flexible working and work life balance aimed at supporting individual employee requirements within the context of meeting service delivery needs. A range of schemes are in place including flexitime, part time work, term time work, career breaks, homeworking and jobsharing. Occupational sick pay ranges from 1 month s full pay, during 1st year of service to 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay.after 5 years service Family friendly policies - the Council offers excellent maternity benefits with up to 26 weeks paid leave after 1 year in post and 1 year s unpaid leave after the birth of the child;10 days paid paternity leave; adoption leave and a subsidised workplace nursery, as well as childcare vouchers Special leave is also available to deal with family emergencies. Interest free employee loans - employees can take advantage of interest free season ticket, computer and bicycle loans Childcare Vouchers - All working parents with children aged under 16, are eligible for Childcare Vouchers. Tax efficient savings of up to 1196 per parent, per child (as at August 07) are available to eligible Council staff. Employee credit union - Crownsavers is a credit union which offers easy ways to save via payroll deduction and borrowing facilities at interest rates below those of commercial banks. Learning and development - The Council believes in lifelong learning and is committed to develop the potential of all its employees, not only for their current jobs, but also for their future employability.. Training in Lewisham not only means short courses or qualification training. It also includes workshops and seminars, job shadowing, mentoring, secondments and coaching. All employees are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, to share their learning, and help to create opportunities for others to learn.

13 Membership of a trade union/employee groups - The Council, as a good employer, supports the system of collective bargaining and believes in the principle of solving employee relations issues by discussion and consultation. All employees have the right to join a Trade Union and take part in its activities as well as the employee groups such as the Black Staff Forum and the Disabled Workers Forum Smoke-free working environment - Smoking is not permitted in Council buildings. Conditions Notice - the minimum period of notice depends on grade. It ranges from one to three months Probation - confirmation of appointment is subject to a satisfactory probation period of 6 months Retirements although Council policy currently is that all employees must retire by the age of 65, employees may request to work up to the age of 70 subject to service delivery needs and continued satisfactory performance and medical fitness. Code of conduct - all employees are subject to the Council s Code of Conduct which outlines the responsibilities of all employees in this area. Health and safety policy - the Council aims to ensure a safe working environment for all its employees through the implementation and monitoring of its health and safety policy, providing training and guidance of safe working practices where appropriate. Council policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders Lewisham Council is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability or offending background. We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience against the job requirements As an organisation using the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, the London Borough of Lewisham complies fully with the CRB Code of Practice (a copy of which can be

14 seen on the CRB website using the link and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any person who is the subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information revealed. A Disclosure is only requested after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned. For those positions where a Disclosure is required, all recruitment packs will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event of the individual being offered the position. Where a Disclosure is to form part of the recruitment process, successful applicants will be required to complete a CRB form and provide evidence of identity to the satisfaction of the Council. Access to disclosure of criminal convictions will be restricted to those officers nominated for this purpose. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of any offences. In reaching decisions about suitability for appointment, the following will be taken into consideration: Whether the conviction or other matter revealed is relevant to the position in question The seriousness of any offence or other matter revealed The length of time since the offence or other matter occurred Whether the application has a pattern of offending behaviour or other relevant matters Whether the applicant's circumstances have changed since the offending behaviour or the other relevant matters, and The circumstances surrounding the offence and the explanation(s) offered by the convicted person We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment. Information contained in Disclosures will not be shared with any other person(s) or bodies other than those provided for under the CRB Code of Practice. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 This Act formally recognises the principle that people who have been convicted of an offence should not as a result be discriminated against for the rest of their lives.

15 It puts this principle into practice by setting time periods after which particular convictions are spent, and do not have to be disclosed by the individual. Information on spent convictions can be obtained using the following link: However, the provisions about spent convictions do not apply to a large number of occupations. In general terms, these exemptions cover posts involving work with children or vulnerable adults, as well as other sensitive work. For further information please contact the Recruitment & Personnel Administration Unit on 'Creating an inclusive Lewisham' A core value of Lewisham Council is to 'draw on the diversity of our communities to create a more inclusive Lewisham'. We believe that freedom from discrimination and equality of opportunity are fundamental rights and that each person should be valued regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age. Social inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do as a Council in our roles as an employer, a provider of services and a community leader. We will develop and promote policies, services and actions that will contribute to making a real difference We will: -Develop and provide services for all according to need without prejudice or bias -Work in partnership with all sections of the community -Celebrate the variety of lifestyles and cultures within our borough -Monitor and review our policies and procedures using an equalities perspective supported by equalities impact assessments -Employ a workforce that represents the makeup of the borough s population -Provide an accessible and safe working environment that values and respects the identity and culture of each individual -Provide clear, meaningful information about Council services in formats and styles which best meet people s needs -Work with others to provide an environment free from harassment and violence -Find ways to involve all parts of the community in our decision-making processes