Youth Support Assistant

Full time role working in an alternative provision with emotionally vulnerable 14-16 year olds. You MUST be able to drive and have access to a car.

An alternative provision in Cardiff CF5, is looking for a male teaching assistant to work within one of their sites with highly vulnerable teenagers. The children are 14-16 years old and struggle with self esteem and confidence issues which impact them heavily. The kids find it difficult to leave their homes and interact with other people, so this provision is a safe zone for them to learn and develop social skills.

To give you an indication of how sheltered these pupils are, some of them have never been on a bus or train, or are aware that there is water in Cardiff. As your role develops, you will help them understand social interactions when making purchases at shops and coffee shops. These simple activities can be overwhelming to the pupils, but with some reassurance and guidance, they will hopefully gain some experience with everyday life.

The provision is set up in a community leisure centre as the kids struggle in mainstream school environments. As a result, there is a more casual atmosphere where you are not expected to discipline the pupils or lecture them. Preferably, you will help them talk through their issues and provide a safe place for them to escape to everyday. There are two classes which are made up of six pupils, one teacher and one LSA each.

• January start
• Permanent role
• 5 days a week
• Good daily rate
• Varied role

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• A calm and patient demeanour is necessary, you will need to reassure and build rapport
• Decent ability with numeracy and literacy. Some of the kids are high achievers so their needs are purely emotional
• Be adaptable and able to improvise last minute – a day can consist of cooking lessons, literacy and numeracy boosters, arts and crafts and exercise
• Be able to work between 9-4 everyday Mon-Fri

DESIRED QUALITIES

The provision have said that anyone who struggled in schools themselves would be desirable, as they can showcase that there is more to life than school

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see teachingpersonnel.com/faqs for details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

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