Pupil Support Assistant Level 3

Proposed Interview Date: Week Commencing Monday 29 January 2024

Closing Date: Sunday 28 January 2024

Contract Type: Temporary until 14 August 2024

Salary: FC6 £28,251.00 to £31,179.34 (Pro Rata)

Working Pattern: 33.5 Hours per week, 39 weeks per year

Location: Rosslyn School

Purpose and Values of Education & Children’s Services Directorate

The Education & Children’s Services Directorate is committed to Improving Life Chances for All through a wide range of direct services which support our children, young people, families and the wider Fife community. Our approach to improvement is rooted in our core values: Compassion, Ambition, Respect and Equity which reflect the ethos, culture and practice principles of all staff across the directorate. We strive to ensure that our attitudes and behaviour reflect these core values in all our dealings with children, young people, their families, and the wider community in partnership with those who support them.

Supporting Statement

As part of your application, you must provide us with a Supporting Statement which outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site. Without a Supporting Statement, your application will not be progressed. Please upload your Supporting Statement at the section marked ‘upload resumé’. Your Supporting Statement must not be a CV. More information is available on our Career site at www.fife.gov.uk/jobs/supportingstatement

Please consider and demonstrate the following when completing your Supporting Statement:

Ways in which you have demonstrated that you can work effectively as part of a team.

(Consider the following: how you have built positive relationships build on trust and respect; how you communicate with others; how you use your initiative to meet targets and achieve goals)

Ways in which you have worked with others to meet all learners needs?

(Consider the following: how you have shared information, followed plans, supported learners, worked with others?)

Ways in which you have built and sustained positive relationships that have led to positive outcomes for learners

(Consider the following: how have you have demonstrated care and commitment when actively engaging with learners about their wellbeing; how have you established positive and purposeful relationships within your school community; how have you worked collaboratively with others to improve outcomes for learners?)

Job Details

We are looking for a committed Pupil Support Assistant (3) who is passionate about improving life chances for all, so that children and young people can achieve their full potential. As a Pupil Support Assistant (3), you will work under the direction and supervision of a class teacher or member of the school’s leadership team to assist teaching staff in supporting pupils with significant learning or health needs to access the curriculum and to ensure they participate in an inclusive school experience.

As a PSA 3 you will be required to;

• support the pupils associated health and care needs.
• in the case of teacher absence, you will continue to implement the planned learning programme for a short period (up to and including 3 days).
• support pupils/children individually or in class or in small groups in identified areas of learning and personal development.
• contribute information to update planning and review process for individual pupils/children including additional planning such as Child’s Plan.
• contribute to a stimulating learning environment and programme by supporting the work of the teacher and assisting in the timetabling and organisation
• contribute to written records of the progress of Pupil Support programmes
• offer a high level of care to enable the pupil/child to function to their full potential e.g. gastrostomy/peg feeding, administration of medication, toileting, catheterisation
• organise and participate in lunchtime clubs/learning support clubs as appropriate to school and pupil needs.
• use specialist equipment (such as specialist IT) to enable pupils with severe physical impairment to access learning and teaching
• use specialist skills in a variety of communication methods to facilitate pupils’ access to the lesson/subject and classroom interactions. This may include the use of sign language, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication equipment bilingual input or the interpretation of verbal and written instructions.
• support pupil/child mobility (as defined by moving and handling training)

A link to the role profile is included below, where you will find more information about the role, with specific reference to essential and desirable criteria for applicants.

Qualification, Registration and Skill Requirements

• You are required to have good levels of interpersonal skills and abilities which will enable you to work as a member of a team to ensure positive outcomes for all children and young people.
• Experience of supporting young people with additional support needs
• Educated to SCQF level 7 which includes HNC Childhood Practice, SVQ Social Services Children and Young People or equivalent
• You must have the ability to register with SSSC within 6 months of taking up employment in this role (Early Learning Centres/Primary and Special schools only) and must complete the required Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL) over the registration period
• Good IT Skills

Before confirming your appointment, you will be required to obtain Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland and become a member of the relevant PVG scheme.

Until 29 th February 2024, you may be eligible for a fee waiver if you join the childcare profession sector (certain roles only) for the first time and the role requires PVG membership. This is a great time to consider a change of career into day care of children as, if eligible, this initiative could personally save you up to £59.00. You will also save money on your SSSC fees as these will now be paid for all roles and grades by the Scottish Government.

Further Information

• Role Profile - When preparing your supporting statement, review the role profile and think about how you meet the essential criteria Role Profile
• How We Work Matters - Our employees are expected to display and promote certain behaviours in the workplace. See our How We Work Matters behaviour framework for more information.
• Employee Benefits - Employees have access to a benefits package that offers discounts on a wide range of products and services
• Directorate Information - Council Department information
• Social Media - Search for more 'Fife Council Jobs' on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @FCJobsOfficial.

For further information, please contact: Jackie Urquhart at Rosslynse.enquiries@fife.gov.uk