Access to Learning and Work Lead

at  New College Worcester

Job Ref: AC250/0525
Salary: Competitive wage by negotiation for the right candidate
Hours: Full time or part time by agreement

SALARY: COMPETITIVE WAGE BY NEGOTIATION FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE

NCW is seeking a nationally influential Access Technology expert to be our Access to Learning and Work Lead.
This role will include partnering with our outstanding Braille department to achieve best practice in both education and access to work, including advising and networking with national and international technology companies to support outcomes for our amazing students, advocacy, research and development in the field of secondary education and meaningful access to the world of work.
The successful applicant will lead on teaching and learning of Access Technology across the College, including training colleagues to support the effective use of Access Technology appropriate to the needs of our students and to advocate for the accessibility needs of students and VI staff with the NCW community.
The ability to read fully contracted Braille is a requirement of the post. The role would be particularly suited to someone with lived experience of VI, especially if they are a fluent Braillist. Because of the highly specialist nature of this role, we do not expect the successful candidate to be a qualified teacher, but experience of teaching or training would be an advantage.
In return, alongside their salary, the successful applicant will be welcomed into a busy and supportive school community. The teaching of Access Technology will be one-to-one, allowing for the specialist provision and individual attention that each learner will require. 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 to all staff
Candidates are strongly recommended to arrange a tour of the College by emailing office@ncw.co.uk
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application. All applications will be acknowledged by email, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted after the closing date.

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.
To provide false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal if the application has been selected, and possible referral to the police.
For full details on this role, please download the Job Description and Person Specification.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The ability to read fully contracted Braille is a requirement of the post. The role would be particularly suited to someone with lived experience of VI, especially if they are a fluent Braillist. Because of the highly specialist nature of this role, we do not expect the successful candidate to be a qualified teacher, but experience of teaching or training would be an advantage.

MAIN TASKS:

• To be fully competent in using and teaching a range of assistive technology encompassing speech software, magnification and braille technology.
• To assess the access technology needs of students and use professional judgement to advise which technology would suit them best, giving them a range of suitable options for supporting their independence in accessing learning, daily living and future work.
• To teach our students how to use access technology according to their individual needs and priorities.
• To liaise with the timetabling co-ordinator to ensure students are allocated appropriate time to develop their skills.
• To maintain up to date records, including lesson notes, in order to evidence learning.
• To work collaboratively with teaching staff to support students accessing work in class with technology.
• To work collaboratively with the careers and employability team to prepare our students for the workplace and seek opportunities to share good practice in accessibility with employers
• To develop an appropriate ICT skills / access technology curriculum.
• To deliver outreach to other professionals working in the VI Sector.
• To stay abreast of developments in access technology.
• To develop and nurture national links with providers of access technology and facilitate demonstrations of technology to students where appropriate.
• To devise and deliver a training programme that ensures that staff are equipped with the skills they need to support students in using access technology.
• To track and report on the progress of students’ competency in access technology.
• To liaise closely with the Head of Braille with regard to braille competency of students and to support and promote the wider use of braille across the College through the use of braille technology.
• To advise on accessibility of software used across College and electronic documents.
• To assist with the admissions process through assessing the needs of prospective new students and advising on appropriate access technology.
• To assist the transition of new students by procuring their IT equipment and inducting them on its use.
• To prepare students for life beyond NCW, through advising on access technology needs for access to work and DSA applications.
• In addition to one-to-one teaching and intervention, to respond to problems relating to technical issues in lessons and assist the IT Helpdesk in wider technical support.
• To network within the wider VI community in order to develop a broader awareness of developments in access technology, such as navigation apps, and how these can promote independence.
• To contribute to College events where access technology is showcased such as Family Day.
• To lead on seeking or developing accredited nationally recognised qualifications in Access Technology in the workplace