Communication Support Worker

Job title: Communication Support Worker (CSW)

Salary: Grade C1 £29,542 - £32,046 (Term time only: 39 Weeks a year- pro rata) + 5 days CPD

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team (DAHIT)

As a CSW you’ll thrive on working in education and home settings, facilitating communication between deaf children and hearing peers and adults by using BSL (British Sign Language), Sign Supported English and English. You will adapt materials and the delivery of curriculum content to enable access to deaf learners. Within the role you will be given the opportunity to deliver programmes of support and learning as required including specialist programmes set by a Teacher of Deaf Children or Speech and Language Therapist.

It’s not just about signing BSL in classrooms, it's about communication, interaction, compassion, understanding, drive and enthusiasm.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About You

As a CSW, you will bring to the role:

• A Level 3 qualification in BSL, or the ability to demonstrate use of BSL at a level equivalent to Signature level 3
• A passion for deaf education
• The drive and commitment to remove barriers for deaf children and young people (CYP)
• Experience of working with deaf CYP or adults
• Communication skills that will facilitate access to learning and play for deaf CYP
  
  

About The Role

The Service supports the educational needs of deaf children and young people in resource provisions and mainstream settings across Leeds. You may be required to work in any of these settings. Leeds is child friendly; inclusive city, and you will add to the work being undertaken by a broad range of teams delivering the best services to our CYP with Special Educational Needs.

We have to meet a statutory requirement in delivering advice, assessment and support for EHCPs, as well as the daily targeted support for deaf learners within the specialist resource provisions. As a CSW you will offer an essential service to deaf, BSL first language users.

As our next CSW you’ll ensure that deaf learners have full access to mainstream lessons alongside their hearing peers, this will build equality by reducing some of the barriers to learning faced by deaf learners; processing time, multitasking, attention, (concentration, and increased tiredness) working memory and cognitive overload.

The role is integral to our DAHIT team. Our aim is to provide support to CYP, and their families/carers from the earliest days of diagnosis through to leaving school, enabling each child or young person to achieve their full potential.

What We Offer You

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
  
  

How To Apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact, Marie Pearson - City Lead Teacher of Deaf Children and Young People. [email protected] . Mobile 07712 216090

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the

Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose to enable Deaf children in Leeds to achieve the best possible educational and personal outcomes.

Responsibilities

• To facilitate curriculum access for deaf learners including those who are using sign as a means of communication
• To facilitate communication between deaf pupils and hearing peers and adults by using BSL, Sign Supported English and English
• Provide communication support for staff, pupils and parents in a variety of situations
• To adapt materials and the delivery of curriculum content to enable access to deaf learners
• To deliver programmes of support and learning as required including specialist programmes set by a QToD or Speech and Language Therapists
• To monitor, assess and report on curriculum access and progress
• To contribute towards mainstream and specialist curriculum planning
• To liaise effectively with mainstream teaching staff and Sensory Service personnel
• To work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency manner and attend meetings as required
• To promote and support the social and emotional welfare of learners and the achievement of the desired outcomes for children as described in the CYPP
• To assist with training for school staff and children
• To ensure familiarity with pupils individual needs, programmes and required strategies
• To promote a positive view of Deafness and differences in culture.
• To participate in the ongoing evaluation of pupils support programmes.
• To facilitate communication for deaf children participating in extra-curricular and out of school activities.

To liaise effectively and develop partnerships with families

To promote the influence of the voice of the child or young person

To take appropriate steps to promote and ensure the safeguarding of children while following agreed policies and practice

To participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.

To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required by the line manager or DAHIT management

Additionally, as a member of Leeds City Council you will be expected to:

• Undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required by the City Lead Teacher of Deaf Children and Young People.
• Comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
• Actively promote and support Leeds City Council's Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.
  
  

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Essential –

• Level 3 in BSL or equivalent functioning with willingness to undertake Level 3 upon appointment
• Educated to GCSE level C/ level 5 or above in English and Maths
  
  

Desirable –

• BSL/English Interpreting qualification
• CACDP Deaf Awareness
  
  

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Demonstrate an appropriate level of BSL skills to facilitate two-way communication in a sign bilingual environment

Facilitate communication between Deaf pupils and hearing adults and pupils through the use of BSL, English and Sign Supported English.

Can advise others as to the needs of individual Deaf pupils.

Can share information with other professionals in reviews of individual pupil progress.

Contribute to the on-going training of mainstream staff and other professionals

Work with others to monitor, assess and record pupil progress.

Produce quality learning and support materials

Demonstrate effective time management.

Ability to undertake work in homes, nursery, primary and secondary phase as required

Use ICT and technology effectively to promote learning

Understand the potential implications of hearing loss on educational attainment as well as social and emotional development and well-being.

Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to British Sign Language learning, sign bilingualism and communication support, particularly in the acquisition of English and Literacy

To have high expectations of deaf and hearing impaired children

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.

Experience Of

• working with deaf children and young people
• working with children in an educational setting
• working with families
• working as a CSW or BSL interpreter
• advising and supporting colleagues or other professionals
  
  

Essential Behavioural And Other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.