We are looking for a number of outstanding individuals to join as a Learning Support & Care Assistants based at our Woodlands Centre at Merrist Wood College.

We have a variety of working patterns (all of which require you to work between the hours of 9am - 3pm), term time only, permanent contract, with the potential to extend.  

30 hours per week
24 hours per week 

Should you have a preference on contract types, working hours/days, please state this on your application.

Job role 

The post holder will be supporting courses which are designed for young adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to gain more independence, learn life and living skills and progress into a supported living environment. Learners are working from pre-entry up to level 1. Topics include: meal preparation, independence skills, enterprise, communication, travel and leisure and money. This will also include:

You will provide support for students with severe and complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD), and tutors to ensure the delivery of an effective programme of further education and to work as part of a co-ordination team. You will also be required to support learners with managing behaviour and accessing the curriculum.

The role requires a great deal of flexibility and some manual handling tasks are also intrinsic to this post.  

Duties include: Physically supporting learners, pushing wheelchairs, walking distances, working outside in all weathers, using escalators/lifts, working with plants/gardening implements, working in catering/kitchen areas, working 1:1 with students, moving around the campuses, moving across the programme as required.  

Personal care is part of the duties of this role and training will be provided in giving medical care and support.   This list is not exhaustive.

The hourly rate offered for these positions is from £9.87 - £10.78ph depending on skills and experience.

(Term time only salary calculator - your pay will be based on your working hours per week, multiplied by the number of weeks worked, plus 6 weeks holiday and will be spread equally over 12 months.

For casual employees you will submit a claim for the actual hours worked and this will be paid in arrears).

What do you need to be successful in this role?

This is a challenging role that requires resilience, motivation, initiative and patience.

You will be able to provide support to students with learning disabilities and/or disabilities; some of which are complex. You will have good communication skills to be able to work with tutors to ensure the delivery of an effective programme of further education and to work as part of a co-ordination team.

Should you have a preference on contract types, working hours/days, please state this on your application.

What are the benefits of this role?

We offer a friendly, supportive and inclusive working environment, where no two days the same, staff are valued and CPD is provided. 

By working in an educational setting, you will have the opportunity to share your skills, develop mentoring and training capabilities and potentially widen your own employment prospects.

You may not have considered using your skills in this way before, so this could take your career and experience in a new direction and may also present opportunities longer term, to provide you with a varied and fulfilling career path. 

What are the benefits of working for Activate Learning Group? 

Activate Learning have recently been recognised for the work we do to inspire special needs students into employment with a coveted education award. The Association of Colleges' Beacon Awards 'Support for Students' prize 2019 recognises our innovative partnership programme for young people with special education needs and disabilities.

We work closely with colleagues from across our colleges, offering learners the opportunity to progress into new vocational areas. Our partnerships with external organisations and employers are central to equipping learners for successful futures

We are pioneering education with an unwavering focus on providing talent for business and transforming lives through our Learning Philosophy. Our student experience is the result of our attention to detail in recruiting, developing, and retaining the right staff who match and promote the values and behaviours of our brand. Our employee experience is a vital part of this process.

Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date, please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Activate Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check at the appropriate level.  

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK as we do not sponsor work permits and work permits from other organisations are unacceptable as proof of right to work in the UK. 

Applications are encouraged from all candidates meeting or exceeding the minimum criteria for the role regardless of age, disability, gender, orientation, race, religion or ethnicity. 

Activate Learning are committed to employing people with disabilities and will ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. If you require any reasonable adjustments either at application or interview stage, please contact the talent team directly. 

If an agency submits an unsolicited CV to any partner or employee of our company, you should be aware that they have no authority to enter into an arrangement with you. Should we require recruitment agency involvement, we will contact the agencies on our preferred suppliers list, and we would ask that you respect the relationships we have already built with these suppliers.