Job title: Specialist Children and Families officer
Salary: SO1 £34,434 - £36,363 pro rata
Hours: 37.5 per week, term time + 10 days.
Contract: Permanent
Location: Tech North
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Visual Impairment Team as a Specialist Children and Families Officer. You’ll be part of a great team delivering high quality support to Children and Young People across the city in their homes, early years settings, mainstream schools and SILC provision.
We enjoy fantastic working relationships with families, schools and education settings along with other professional colleagues.
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 Specialist Children and Families Officer you will bring to the role:
- A minimum Level 3 or equivalent qualification in childcare, child development or related area
- An ability to work in different settings e.g. homes, nurseries, schools
- Knowledge and understanding of Child Development
- Awareness of the potential barriers to learning for children with VI/MSI
- An understanding of basic health and safety issues and to use own initiative regarding the safety of pupils, and to make day‑to day decisions regarding the general welfare of pupils.
About the role
You will need to be an enthusiastic, motivated professional with excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, the ability to work independently and contribute to the wider team within the Service. Being well organised and as a peripatetic team being willing to travel is essential.
As our next Specialist Children and families Officer you’ll be building the team’s capacity in meeting the needs of learners with vision impairment,
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 guidancefor 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 contact Ellen Maher, City Lead Teacher of the Visually Impaired Tel. 07891 270446, email ellen.maher@leeds.gov.uk
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 visaroute 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 children with visual or multi-sensory impairment in Leeds to achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes as identified in the Children and Young People’s Plan.
Responsibilities
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.
To work under the guidance of a specialist teacher to improve outcomes for Visually Impaired (VI) or Multi-Sensory Impaired (MSI) learners age 0 –
Specifically to:
- Provide appropriate support and individual teaching, develop programmes of work and contribute to assessment and planning.
- Provide early intervention from the time of diagnosis
- Visit children and families in the home and in settings in order to implement programmes promoting the stimulation, teaching and training of young visually impaired children.
- Model programmes and good practice for families and staff in settings to promote inclusion, learning, independence and progress in children with VI/MSI
- Assist in the transition of a child and to model good practice in the new setting
- Work collaboratively with staff in a variety of early years and school settings, to raise achievement and inclusion of children with VI/MSI.
- Work in partnership with other professionals supporting the family and setting
- Monitor and record the progress of children in line with programmes of work and to use this information with the Teacher of the Visually Impaired to inform future programmes and practice
- To develop and produce materials to stimulate vision and learning for young children with VI/MSI; including visually enhanced materials and tactile materials.
- Work with the child with VI/MSI and other children in small groups to promote inclusion
- Participate in extra-curricular and out of school activities which offer extended opportunities for children and families and promote the social and emotional development of children with VI/MSI
- Assist in school trips, and in the preparation and follow up work. so that a child with VI/MSI has maximum opportunities for inclusion.
- Attend meetings as required including review meetings, and contribute to the discussion of the child’s progress and wellbeing
- Assist in the provision of training to settings
- Take appropriate steps to promote and ensure the safeguarding of children while following agreed policies and practice
- Participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required by the Area Lead Teacher of VI.
- 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.
Qualifications Minimum Level 3 or equivalent qualification in childcare, child development or related area is essential
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
Skills required
- The ability to implement appropriate individual programmes for each pupil under the direction of the QTVI/MSI, and to assist with the assessment and planning of the programmes.
- Ability to work in different settings e.g. homes, nurseries, schools
- An understanding of basic health and safety issues and to use own initiative regarding the safety of pupils, and to make day‑to day decisions regarding the general welfare of pupils
- Good ICT skills
Knowledge required
- Minimum Level 3 or equivalent qualification in childcare, child development or related area
- Knowledge and understanding of Child Development
- Of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and/or National Curriculum
- Awareness of the potential barriers to learning for children with VI/MSI
- Of Braille code or a commitment to learn it
Experience required
- Of working with children with SEN in a primary school or early years setting
- Of implementing and monitoring programmes of work for children with SEN
- Of working in partnership with families of children with SEN or disabilities
Behavioural & Other Related Characteristics required
- have high expectations of children with VI/MSI
- Committed to working in partnership with all relevant agencies, children and young people and their families
- Committed to the full inclusion of children with SEN in educational settings
Essential Behavioural & 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 policies and procedures.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
Skills required
- Skills in delivering portage work
Knowledge required
- Of strategies for stimulating vision and encouraging learning in children with VI/MSI
- Of the impact of visual impairment on development and learning in young children and suitable intervention strategies
- Of the Braille code
Experience required
- Of working with children with visual impairment in an educational capacity
- Of working with children with multi-sensory impairment
- Of working with children with complex learning needs
- Of working with pre-school children and their parents
- Of working with babies and young children in home settings
- Of multi-agency partnership working
