Learning Support Assistants / Personal Care Assistants (LSA / PCA)

To support students, individually or in group, to develop effective study and organisational skills and to instil, practise and encourage good standards of behaviour.
Please Note This appointment is subject to two verified references, medical clearance, an Enhanced DBS Clearance and Registration and a six month probationary period., We are seeking to expand our team of Learning Support Assistants (LSAs), some of whom also offer personal care, to support our students. All of our students have a severe vision impairment and our aim is for them to become independent learners and to lead independent lives. Our Learning Support Assistants and Personal Care Assistants play an important part in achieving this aim. These roles are full time at 37 hours per week, or part time hours can be negotiated and discussed at interview. Please state on application form whether full time is preferred or whether you are seeking a part time position and the number of hours you could offer., + explain the requirements for effective social skills within a College context,
+ to develop study and organisational skills,
+ to develop and implement strategies to encourage good behaviour.

• To work with students in class, to support them in practising and reinforcing their study, organisational and social skills.


• Many of our students use braille as their medium of work and so a willingness to learn braille is expected. Similarly, many students use access technology such as speech software and here, a willingness to learn how to support these methods of work are expected.


• To keep the student on task and to build motivation, to encourage the inclusion of all students within the class.


• To escort the student from and to the residential house, where required, to support effective preparation for College and for after College activities and to further practise and develop effective social skills.


• To communicate effectively with students' Form Tutors, teachers and Houseparents.


• Where appropriate, to act as liaison between the students and members of staff.


• To be involved in keeping records and evaluation of the student's programme.


• To work as part of the team in relation to an individual student, liaising, advising and consulting where appropriate.


• To be aware of College policies and procedures, including those relating to confidentiality.


• To identify personal in-service needs and to attend appropriate internal and external in-service training.


• To complete a First Aid Course.


• To participate in trips and visits beyond NCW, offering support for students whilst learning beyond the campus.


• To establish supportive relationships with the student concerned and to encourage acceptance and inclusion of all students.


• To assist with lunch and break-time supervision of students on a rota basis.


• To work independently with specific children on specific tasks and activities. To oversee, manage and supervise those students undertaking lesson activities independently on an occasional basis, under the overall responsibility of the teacher.


• To assist with the physical and medical needs of students requiring specialist personal hygiene, self-care (including incontinence) and to manage the physical needs of young people with regard to health and safety as required.


• To attend to the physical and medical needs of students requiring specialist care, for example assisting with one-to-one feeding, administering medication etc.


• To meet the mobility needs of students assisting in the use of a wheelchair/hoist, ensuring compliance with safe lifting procedures and associated training (under the guidance of students' Physiotherapist/ Occupational Therapist or other health professional).


• To assist with the physical and medical needs of students requiring specialist care, for example following physiotherapy, sports therapy or occupational therapy programmes under the direction of appropriate agencies.


• To ensure the use of daily communication between home and College reporting on all areas of care needed throughout the College day (via book or email, as agreed by College and Parent/Carer).


• To assess, monitor and record student progress, health, behaviour and general wellbeing. To feedback any information (including concerns) regarding the well-being, health and educational needs of children to the appropriate senior member of staff ie LSA Co-ordinator, SL: Student Wellbeing, SENCo, Nurse, Principal.


• Any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post and under the reasonable direction of the Principal.


Equal Opportunities Statement:

NCW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is conditional on an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check.

Safeguarding Children:

NCW is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of students at the College. You are responsible for adhering to the College's policies on Child Protection and for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people you come into contact with.

Annual review:

This job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to amendment or modification at any time after consultation with the post holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of NCW in relation to the post holder's professional responsibilities and duties.

This document is to be read in the context of NCW Statement of Purpose, NCW Equal Opportunities Statement, and agreed policies of the NCW and the Conditions of Service as outlined in the individual employee's contract.

Important Information to read prior to applying to work at NCW:

Please note that any offer of employment will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Registration through the DBS and Health clearance which will be arranged by the College.

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to complete and return a criminal history / suitability self-disclosure prior to interview; any relevant information that you disclose will be discussed with you at interview. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as a result of the Exceptions Order 1975 as amended in 2020, and therefore all unspent convictions, cautions and bind-overs, and any convictions or adult cautions that would not be filtered, must be declared on the self-disclosure. Please see the Ministry of Justice website for information about the filtering of offences.

By completing an application form, the applicant confirms they are not disqualified from working in regulated activity with children, or subject to sanctions imposed by a regulatory body, eg Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) or Health and Care Professions council (HCPC). NCW will seek references on short-listed candidates, and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualification, before interview.

If the applicant is currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis, their current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to their suitability to work with children, including any for which the penalty is time expired (that is where a warning could no longer be taken into account in any new disciplinary hearing for example) and whether the applicant has been the subject of any child protection concerns which are founded / upheld. If the applicant is not currently working with children, but has done so in the past, that previous employer will be asked about those issues.

Our green and peaceful campus overlooks the Malvern Hills and has an onsite canteen with discounted lunches available, a state-of-the-art multigym and a full-sized swimming pool which can be used by staff. We also offer a Wellbeing Package and a contributary pension scheme to all staff, and free onsite car parking.