To provide high-quality support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and medical conditions, ensuring they can fully access learning, participate in college life and achieve their academic potential. The postholder will coordinate medical support arrangements, manage a caseload of students with additional learning needs, contribute to safeguarding processes and work collaboratively with staff, parents, schools and external agencies to deliver effective and inclusive support.

Key Responsibilities

SEND Support and Student Coaching

• Manage and provide support for a caseload of students with additional learning needs, through regular one-to-one appointments and targeted interventions.

• Work closely with teaching staff to identify and remove barriers to learning and to implement effective support strategies.

• Create, implement and regularly review support arrangements to ensure students receive appropriate and effective support.

• Monitor student progress, evaluate the impact of interventions and contribute to strategies that promote student success, independence and engagement.

• Remain up to date with current SEND legislation, policy developments and best practice, ensuring these inform College provision.

Medical Coordination

• Coordinate support for students whose medical conditions impact upon their learning and participation in college life.

• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date records relating to student medical needs and support plans.

• Liaise with students, parents/carers, teaching staff, healthcare professionals and external agencies to ensure appropriate support is in place.

• Provide advice and guidance to staff regarding the implementation of medical support arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

Risk Assessment and Student Safety

• Undertake and review risk assessments relating to students' needs, including educational visits and College activities.

• Support teaching staff to implement and review Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) to ensure students can be evacuated safely in an emergency.

• Support the College's commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all learners.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

• Undertake the role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL).

• Assist in the management of safeguarding, welfare and wellbeing referrals from students, parents and staff.

• Ensure that appropriate action is taken in emergency or crisis situations, in line with College policies and statutory safeguarding requirements.

• Maintain accurate safeguarding records and ensure appropriate information is shared with relevant staff and agencies.

• Support the Director of Learning (Safeguarding) in return-to-study safety assessment meetings and in the implementation and monitoring of crisis management plans.

• Attend and contribute to Safeguarding Team meetings and training activities.

Transition and Progression Support

• Attend school transition meetings and build effective relationships with SENCOs, students and parents/carers.

• Support the transition of Year 11 students with SEND and medical needs

• Contribute to Taster Days, Welcome Days and other transition events, ensuring prospective students receive appropriate support and guidance.

• Work closely with the Progress Team (Careers) to support students' access to work experience, progression planning and preparation for post-college destinations.

• Complete and review associated risk assessments to facilitate safe and meaningful work experience opportunities.

Staff Development and Collaboration

• Contribute to the planning and delivery of training and awareness sessions for College staff on SEND, neurodiversity and inclusive practice.

• Provide guidance and support to colleagues regarding effective strategies for supporting students with additional needs.

• Work collaboratively with curriculum teams, Student Services and external agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to student support.

Enrichment and Inclusion

• Plan and deliver weekly enrichment activities designed to support neurodiverse learners and promote confidence, independence and social engagement.

• Coordinate and facilitate a social club for students with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), helping to develop peer relationships, belonging and wellbeing.

• Support and promote the College's therapy dog provision, facilitating structured therapeutic sessions and dog-walking enrichment activities that enhance student wellbeing, engagement and positive mental health.

• Contribute to the development of an inclusive College culture in which all students feel valued, supported and able to succeed.

General Responsibilities

• Promote and uphold the values, ethos and strategic priorities of Queen Mary's College.

• Ensure compliance with College policies, safeguarding requirements, equality legislation and data protection regulations.

• Participate in continuing professional development and performance review processes.

• Maintain professional confidentiality and exercise sound judgement in managing sensitive information.

• Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required, commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post.

Key Relationships

• Students and Parents/Carers

• Director of Learning

• Additional Learning Support Team

• Safeguarding Team

• Curriculum and Teaching Staff

• School SENCOs

• Healthcare Professionals

• Progress Team (Careers)

• External Agencies and Support Services

Person Specification

The ideal person for this role is someone skilled in working with young people with special needs and adept at with understanding medical information. Someone who has flexibility around the expectations of the role, compliance related matters and can balance these against the needs of the students they are supporting. Kindness, patience and compassion are important factors in delivering this role as well as being part of a multi-disciplinary team.

The successful candidate will be able to give a clear demonstration of the following requirements:

• Comfortable with supporting students with a range of medical needs 

• Good level of general education;

• Knowledgeable about specific disabilities, medical terms and best practice support;

• Interested in general aspects of medical and social care;

• Ability to interact effectively with a broad spectrum of disabilities, underlying medical issues and a genuine empathy and affinity for this particular age group;

• Commitment to the philosophy of inclusion for students with barriers to learning, learning difficulties, disabilities and underlying health needs;

• Discrete and professional in terms of confidentiality;

• Self-motivated and with strong initiative;

• Well organised and committed to providing high-quality support;

• Ability to understand and carry out reasonable instructions;

• Good communication skills with both staff and students;

• Willing to attend training courses to enhance professional expertise and breadth of experience;

• Good level of general fitness to allow for the wide range of support tasks undertaken;

• A willingness and ability to support learning in curriculum areas

• A solid and demonstrable understanding of equalities, diversity and inclusion more widely in education

• Comfortable with handling trained therapy dogs and an understanding of the benefits of animals in supporting engagement and wellbeing 

• Confident and current IT skills

This role is central to Queen Mary's College's commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and student success. Through the provision of specialist SEND, medical and pastoral support, the postholder will help ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate fully in College life, overcome barriers to learning and achieve their personal and academic goals.