Communication Support Worker

To provide specialist communication support for deaf and hearing-impaired students and other students with communication needs, enabling them to access learning, assessments, enrichment activities and wider college life. The postholder will use British Sign Language (BSL), Sign Supported English (SSE) and other appropriate communication strategies to facilitate effective two-way communication between students, staff and peers.

In addition to providing specialist communication support, the postholder will undertake Learning Support Assistant duties as required, supporting students with additional learning needs and/or disabilities to access their study programmes, develop independence, achieve their goals and progress successfully. The postholder must be able to maintain effective communication access for students across all aspects of the college day, including during personal care, medical procedures, enrichment activities, educational visits and emergency situations.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

1. Provide specialist communication support for deaf and hearing-impaired students within classroom, workshop, practical and community-based learning environments using BSL, SSE and other agreed communication methods.

2. Facilitate effective two-way communication between students, teaching staff, support staff, peers and external professionals to ensure full participation in learning and college life.

3. Support students to understand teaching, learning materials, assessment requirements, instructions, discussions and wider college communications, adapting language where appropriate to meet individual needs.

4. Work collaboratively with curriculum staff to identify and implement reasonable adjustments and inclusive strategies that promote student participation, independence and achievement.

5. Prepare, adapt and support the development of accessible learning resources and communication materials where required.

6. Provide support for students during tutorials, examinations, work experience placements, enrichment activities, educational visits, transition activities and other college events as required.

7. Undertake Learning Support Assistant duties, including providing one-to-one and small group support for students with learning difficulties, disabilities and additional support needs.

8. Maintain accurate and timely records relating to student support, progress, communication needs and interventions in line with college procedures.

9. Liaise with curriculum teams, parents/carers, external agencies and other professionals, where appropriate, to support student progress and successful outcomes.

10. Promote student independence by encouraging self-advocacy, communication, confidence and the development of effective learning and life skills.

11. Attend annual reviews, transition meetings and other multi-agency meetings as required.

12. Support students with personal care requirements where appropriately trained and directed, or facilitate effective communication during personal care undertaken by other staff members to ensure dignity, choice and student involvement.

13. Attend staff development activities and maintain professional knowledge of deaf awareness, communication support practice, assistive technology and inclusive education.

Application Requirements

To ensure compliance with safeguarding guidelines, all applicants must complete the application form in full. This includes providing:

• A full employment history from the time you left full-time education, with details of any gaps in employment explained.
• Information on all relevant education and qualifications.

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered. Your co-operation helps us maintain the highest standards of safety and care for children and young people.

Benefits

Click here to view MidKent College benefits.

About MidKent College

A GOOD local College for Maidstone and Medway

Every year over 6000 students from Medway, Maidstone and beyond choose MidKent College to continue their studies and prepare for their future career.

Our sparkling campuses in Maidstone and Medway boast some of the best vocational training facilities in the country as well as staff and student social zones and more. Our University Centre Maidstone campus provides a valuable higher education and professional training centre for Maidstone, including South East Institute of Technology and the College's Home Energy Centre. Additionally, in September 2024 we proudly opened Medway School of Arts in Chatham's Historic Dockyard.

All of our campuses benefit from ongoing investment programmes so that we can provide fantastic learning environments for our students.

For over 100 years we've been providing high-quality technical training and apprenticeships in a range of subject areas.

In October 2024 Ofsted rated the College as 'Good'.

Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to the safeguarding of all our students and staff. This means everyone who works here is required to actively protect them from preventable harm. Our recruitment and selection process includes background checks which will be undertaken on the successful applicant, including an enhanced DBS, and in your application you are required to demonstrate how you meet the Colleges requirements on safeguarding.

The background checks will be carried-out in accordance with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Code of Practice. The DBS helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. We operate in accordance with the DBS Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy. You can access both of these documents at https://www.midkent.ac.uk/about-us/policy-and-privacy-information

MidKent College is committed to safeguarding and the Prevent Agenda and to promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff to share this commitment. MKC complies fully with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Code of Practice regarding the correct handling, storage, retention and disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure information, and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.

Since the post for which you are applying may involve unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults, it will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children or young people. Candidates who are preliminarily offered a position for such posts will be required to disclose details, cautions (including final warnings or reprimands), or convictions which are not "protected" as defined by the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020 or any other matters that may be relevant to their suitability to work for the College including sanctions relating to work with children in any country outside of the UK.

Please note that the College is unable to consider an application further if the candidate declines to complete the Disclosure form.

Commitment to Equal Opportunities

As a proud user of the disability confident scheme the College is committed to equal opportunities and celebrates the diversity of staff and students. As part of our commitment to the scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy.

We welcome applications from anyone wishing to work flexibly and those considering a return to work from a career break.