Advisory Support Worker - SENDISS Cognition, Learning and Down Syndrome

Job Introduction

About Us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxfordshire County Council are transforming support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are building a team of health and education professionals (Experts at Hand) to provide earlier intervention and stronger inclusion in schools settings, providing practical support where it is needed, and helping children and young people receive the right support, at the right time. By sharing your expertise and working collaboratively with colleagues across organisations, you'll play a key role in improving outcomes for children, families, and schools across Oxfordshire.

As part of our Experts at Hand programme, you'll join a growing community of specialists dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. Working across education, health and care, we are creating more connected, responsive services that help children and young people access support earlier, whilst building confidence, skills and inclusive practice within schools and settings.

The Cognition, Learning and Down Syndrome team is part of the SEND and Inclusion Support Services (SENDISS) and plays a vital role in helping children and young people overcome barriers to learning. Through specialist advice, practical support and collaborative working, the team helps schools create inclusive environments where children can participate, achieve and develop confidence and independence.

About the Role

As a Cognition, Learning and Down Syndrome Advisory Support Worker, you will be a valued member of a specialist team supporting children and young people across mainstream schools, educational settings and the wider community. Working alongside specialist teachers and school staff, you will help children with cognition and learning needs and/or Down Syndrome access learning, build independence and achieve their potential.

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You will work directly with children and young people, supporting the delivery of individualised strategies and interventions that help them engage in learning and school life. You will contribute to child-centred planning, support key transitions and help ensure that the views of children, young people and their families remain at the heart of decision-making.

A significant part of the role involves working alongside school staff to build confidence and capacity within mainstream settings. You will model effective strategies, share practical approaches and support schools to develop inclusive practice that enables children and young people to participate more fully in learning and everyday school experiences. Using an Assess, Plan, Do, Review approach, you will help deliver support that is purposeful, measurable and focused on positive outcomes.

Working collaboratively with families, schools and professionals, you will contribute to creating environments where children and young people feel understood, included and supported. Through your work, you will help remove barriers to learning and support children and young people to develop the confidence, skills and independence they need to thrive.

This is a term-time only role with regular travel to schools, settings and community locations across Oxfordshire and an office base at Ron Groves House in Kidlington. An Enhanced DBS check, including a check of the Children's Barred List, is required.

About you

You are passionate about inclusion and believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. You understand that the right support, delivered at the right time, can have a significant impact on a child's confidence, wellbeing and educational experience.

You will have recent, relevant experience of supporting children and young people with cognition and learning needs and/or Down Syndrome within mainstream educational settings. You will understand the barriers that some children may face and be committed to helping schools develop practical, inclusive approaches that enable children and young people to participate fully in school life.

Strong relationships are at the heart of this role, so you'll be a confident communicator who can build trust with children, young people, families, school staff and professional partners. You'll listen carefully, communicate sensitively and work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for those you support.

You will be organised, flexible and able to work independently across a variety of settings. You'll be confident managing your workload, prioritising tasks and travelling between schools and educational settings. Most importantly, you'll bring a calm, patient and solution-focused approach, using your skills and experience to help others find practical ways to overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes.

If you're looking for an opportunity to make a genuine difference and want to be part of our community of Experts at Hand, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us and help ensure children and young people across Oxfordshire receive the right support, at the right time, empowering them to participate, achieve and thrive.

To request an informal conversation about this role, please contact Vicki Davison, Lead Teacher for the SENDISS Cognition, Learning and Down Syndrome team, at vicki.davison@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Rewards and benefits

• Term time only contract 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9% 
• Enhanced family friendly policies 
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel 
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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