Communication Support Worker

Job Title: Communication Support Worker (CSW)

Salary: C1 £ 28,598 - £31,022 (Term time only: 39 Weeks a year - pro rata) + 5 days CPD

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team (DAHIT)

As a CSW you’ll thrive on working in education and home settings, facilitating communication between deaf children and hearing peers and adults by using BSL (British Sign Language), Sign Supported English and English. You will adapt materials and the delivery of curriculum content to enable access to deaf learners. Within the role you will be given the opportunity to deliver programmes of support and learning as required including specialist programmes set by a Teacher of the Deaf or Speech and Language Therapist.

It’s not just about signing BSL in classrooms, its about communication, interaction, compassion, understanding, drive and enthusiasm.

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.

• A Level 3 qualification in BSL, or the ability to demonstrate use of BSL at a level equivalent to Signature level 3
• A passion for deaf education
• The drive and commitment to remove barriers for deaf children and young people (CYP)
• Experience of working with deaf CYP or adults
• Communication skills that will facilitate access to learning and play for deaf CYP

The Service supports the educational needs of deaf children and young people in resource provisions and mainstream settings across Leeds. You may be required to work in any of these settings. Leeds is child friendly; inclusive city, and you will add to the work being undertaken by a broad range of teams delivering the best services to our CYP with Special Educational Needs.

We have to meet a statutory requirement in delivering advice, assessment and support for EHCPs, as well as the daily targeted support for the deaf learners within the specialist resource provisions. As a CSW you will offer an essential service to deaf, BSL first language users.

As our next CSW you’ll ensure that deaf learners have full access to mainstream lessons alongside their hearing peers, this will build equality by reducing some of the barriers to learning faced by deaf learners; processing time, multitasking, attention (concentration, and increased tiredness) working memory and cognitive overload.

The role is integral to our DAHIT team. Our aim is to provide support to CYP, and their families/carers from the earliest days of diagnosis through to leaving school, enabling each child or young person to achieve their full potential.

• 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

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for 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 Kim Davis – City Lead Teacher of Deaf Children and Young People.  Mobile

23:59pm April 2nd

April 28th

June 1st (or alternative date to be discussed at interview)

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…