About this role
Job summary
PLEASE APPLY ONLINE AT SUFFOLK JOBS DIRECT - JOB NUMBER 25082 AND NOT VIA NHS JOBS
At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Specialist Learning Support Assistant (Medical Needs) in our Inclusion Services, you'll see first-hand the impact of your work on children and young people with complex medical needs across Suffolk. By providing specialist support, youll help pupils access education, build confidence, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment by providing the medical interventions they require.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Main duties of the job
Your role and responsibilities
In this rewarding and varied role, youll work closely with children, families, schools, and healthcare professionals to support pupils with complex medical needs on a one-to-one basis. No two days are the same, but every day brings the opportunity to make a real difference.
Support children and young people aged 2 to 19 with complex medical needs to access education.
Deliver medical interventions in line with individual healthcare plans, such as administering medication, gastrostomy or naso-gastric feeding, oxygen therapy, and tracheostomy care (full training provided).
Assist with moving and handling, personal care, and meeting pupils daily hygiene, nutritional and developmental needs.
Maintain accurate records and contribute to quality assurance processes.
Build positive working relationships with families, schools, care coordinators, and other professionals.
Identify and escalate safeguarding or risk concerns appropriately.
About us
The team
Our Specialist Learning Support Service supports children and young people with complex medical needs to access education across Suffolk. Youll be part of a supportive and knowledgeable team, managed and trained by qualified childrens nurses (Care Coordinators).
Were proud of the care, expertise, and teamwork that underpin everything we do. Training is provided to help you develop specialist medical skills, and youll be supported to grow in confidence and capability within the role.
Community-based and flexible working are part of how we operate, supporting a healthy worklife balance wherever possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
PLEASE APPLY VIA SUFFOLK JOBS DIRECT JOB NUMBER 25082 AND NOT VIA NHS JOBS
Job title
Specialist Learning Support Assistant (Medical Needs)
Job Reference
25082
Grade and Salary
4 £29,542 per annum (pro rata)
This role includes performance related pay progression
Service
Health and Community Services (0-19), Public Health and Communities
Team
Inclusion Services
Location
Countywide Hybrid and community working
Hours per week
28 hours per week (term time only working)
Status
Post 1: Permanent
Post 2: Fixed term/Secondment to cover an absent post holder who is on secondment, expected to end 15 October 2027 subject to change
This role may offer the following flexible working options
Working part time hours (eg different hours/days to those advertised)
Job sharing
Working compressed hours (eg a nine-day fortnight)
Use of flexitime / time off in lieu
Hybrid working options, including some home working
Working adjusted core hours (eg starting later and finishing later or other patterns)
About us
As a modern and effective council, we understand the importance of being flexible and well-connected in the ways we work. We focus our ambitions on doing whats right for people, our partners and our communities - both now and for the future.
Thats why, as one of the largest employers in Suffolk, we believe in empowering everyone. Through career variety and collaborative working, accessible career paths and professional development.
The support and care we offer encourages and enables you to be the best you can be. To make a meaningful impact on the world around you. To achieve a unique sense of pride in what you do, why you do it and where. Reimagine the possibilities.
Main purpose of the job
The Specialist Learning Support Assistant supports pupils with complex medical needs to enable them to access education by providing the medical interventions the pupil requires.
Typical Responsibilities of a role at this level
Effective Practice
Work within the service guidelines, statutory guidance and legal frameworks.
Engage in individual and group supervision with managers and practice leads.
Reporting and Accurate Recording
To maintain up to date records and data using electronic devices and systems as directed and to provide reports as required.
To contribute to ensuring successful completion of Quality Assurance processes within team.
Information, Advice and Signposting
To provide information and signposting for children, young people and families to relevant universal and specialist services in the local area and beyond where appropriate.
Multi-Agency and Partnership Working
Actively build relationships and networks with other professional groups and services in the locality.
Managing Risk and Safeguarding
To identify risk and safeguarding concerns and escalate immediately where appropriate.
To undertake other tasks allocated manager or senior colleagues, in keeping with the responsibilities of the grade:
Work in accordance with the Councils statutory responsibilities, policies and service procedures and comply with equality and diversity policies, procedures and legislation.
Maintaining customer confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act and SCC guidance.
Participate in performance appraisal and consultation with team managers as required.
Participating in training and development opportunities, in order to improve personal knowledge, skills and effectiveness.
About the team
The Specialist Learning Support Service supports children and young people aged between 2 and 19 years old with complex medical needs to access education by providing medical interventions.
The service is managed, supervised, and trained by Care Coordinators who are qualified childrens nurses
The Specialist Learning Support Assistants support children and young people on a one-to-one basis providing medical interventions to enable them to access education
Relevant training will be provided to achieve expertise in the management of the medical needs of the pupil. This will be according to the child and young persons individual health care plan.
They work under the direction of a teacher in a whole class, group, or individual situation.
There will be a need to interpret information or situations and to solve them as per school and Suffolk County Council policies and to refer more complex medical issues to the Care Coordinators.
Specialist Learning Support Assistants, once trained, have a requirement to supervise others and may demonstrate tasks to new colleagues or give advice and guidance to them
What you will be expected to deliver in the role
Deliver medical interventions according to the child/young persons individual care plan as necessary. These may include gastrostomy feeding, naso-gastric feeding, administration of emergency and regular medication, oral suction, care of a tracheostomy tube, wound care, administration of oxygen, monitoring oxygen saturation levels.
Significant moving and handling of pupils per their needs using appropriate equipment as per individualised risk assessment and meeting their daily hygiene, nutritional, respiratory, and developmental needs in the school and community setting.
Share responsibility for emergency management of the pupil they are allocated to with the senior management team of the school in which they are working.
Liaise with therapy staff on a regular basis and regarding the individual therapy goals of that pupil.
Administer medication in line with individual school policy.
Liaise with teaching staff on a regular basis and regarding the Individual Education Plan.
Receive training and assist pupils with communication e.g. Makaton, switches, symbols, and/or communication aid programming.
Attend training in relevant medical competencies and mandatory training.
Supervise new team members and demonstrate tasks or give advice and guidance to others.
Day to day tasks may include:
Travelling with a child/young person from their home to school in order to provide any interventions required full training is given for this
Administering medication
Providing artificial feeding and/or other interventions such as oral suction or oxygen
Transferring non-mobile children and young people between different types of equipment such as seating
Although this list provides examples of what you will be doing its not intended to be exhaustive and you will have personal objectives linked to our People Plans and Strategies that will be discussed and agreed with your line manager when you start.
Person Profile what you will bring to the team
Qualifications and professional membership
Suitable practitioner level qualification at Level 3 or 2 years equivalent experience
in healthcare.
Evidence of continuing professional development
Values and personal qualities
Demonstrates personal values and behaviours aligned to our corporate WE ASPIRE values
Passionate about making a positive difference for Suffolk
Committed to listening to children and families and to working collaboratively with them to address concerns
Specialist knowledge skills and experience
Accurate and specific information recording and record keeping skills
Experience of solution focused approaches in practice
Relevant experience of working directly with children, young people and their families
Evidence of the ability and commitment to support and motivate children, young people and their families
Good organisational skills
The ability to work independently whilst being aware of when to seek further guidance
Demonstrate a willingness to undertake training as required to update knowledge and skills
Demonstrate the ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and guidance as appropriate to role (desirable)
Knowledge of associated agencies and their working practices (desirable)
Experience of working alongside parents who may have mental health, learning or physical disability or sensory impairment (desirable)
Experience of working with a wide range of agencies and communities (desirable)
Additional requirements
The ability to work in a variety of locations and clients homes including rural areas
A DBS check will be undertaken for the successful candidate
If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you dont meet all the criteria, please apply. Wed appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
Travel requirements
Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
a suitable Level 3 qualification or at least 2 years equivalent experience in healthcare an awareness and understanding of medical conditions such as epilepsy. experience of working directly with children or young people and their families good organisational skills and the ability to keep clear and accurate records the confidence to work independently, while knowing when to seek guidance a willingness to undertake specialist and mandatory training
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Suffolk County Council
Address 8 Russell Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2BX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://careers.suffolk.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)