Band 6 - 7 Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner, Orchard Hill College

Salary: Band 7: Professional Pay scale Spine point 31-36, FTE £42,078 - £47,482 per annum; Band 6: Professional Pay scale Spine point 25 – 30, FTE £34,722 - £41,116 per annum

Location: This post covers all of our centres and so is likely, but not necessarily all of the time, be located one day per week at each of the 4 regions below:

1. Wyvern House; Uxbridge, UB8 

2. Carshalton College, Nightingale Road, SM5 2EJ

3. 17 Beaconsfield Road, New Malden, KT3 3HY

4. Lomond House, 50 Camberwell Green, SE5 7AL

Hours: 36 hours per week, full time (This includes 40 days holiday, and we are happy to consider Term Time Only or Term Time + 4 weeks working patterns, or part time  job shares, as part of our flexible working offer).  

We are a specialist FE college, committed to providing meaningful work, community, and relational experiences for our students right at the heart of their own inner and outer London communities.  Our curriculum functionally follows the Preparing for Adulthood outcomes of good health (physical and mental); employment; friends, relationships & community, and independent living.  We provide educational opportunities for a wide range of students, including those with PMLD, Autistic students, students with a mild LD entering work and some who may display their distress through behaviours of concern.  

Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, November 2019) offering life-changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We have eight vibrant community-based College Centres across London and Surrey where committed, specialist teams deliver a range of programmes to meet the needs of over 400 students.

Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual, and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community.  As a transition service between paediatric and adult services, we have a unique opportunity to support students into meaningful and capable future services, based around their specific needs and interests.  

We are looking for a PBS practitioner, with a recognised qualification in PBS and experience of working with people with learning disabilities aged 16 - 25 years.  You will be part of the existing college team of S&LTs, OTs, Physios, Creative Arts therapists, and the nursing team as well as the multi-disciplinary college wide PBS practitioners who practice as lecturers, leaders, and members of the therapy team.  

You will work across the 4 regional hubs, supporting teams with functional thinking and reflection and basic functional assessments with staff and home carers for a specific caseload of students.  Alongside the therapy team, you will support the ongoing development of capable environments and support with de-briefs with students and staff, alongside contributing specialist strategies into student's PBS plans.  

The College is also an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013, which is home to 15 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex, and Berkshire. To find out more about Orchard Hill College please visit https://orchardhill.ac.uk/.  

The PBS team are passionate about:

• Embedding the PBS framework into all levels of the organisation

• Supporting human rights and promoting respect, dignity & inclusion

• Advocating for student voice and choice and promoting independence

• Embedding trauma informed practice

• Person centred active support and practice leadership

• Enabling environments and positive social interactions

• Reducing restrictive practices

• Staff training and coaching

• Improving quality of life for all!

As a family friendly employer, we are happy to consider applications for part time working including term time, or job shares.  You are welcome to speak to our HR Department for further information prior to application.  

We can offer you warm team support, opportunities for internal and external supervision, the opportunity to really influence the development of PBS in the college and the following organisational perks.

• Warm team support and opportunities for internal and external supervision

• The opportunity to really influence the development Positive Behaviour Support within the college and working with the PBS Alliance schools and colleges networks

• A programme of continuing professional development 

• A supportive team and opportunities to work creatively in a transdisciplinary way with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, creative arts therapies, nurses, speech and language therapists, therapy assistants and health care assistants. 

• A wide range of clinical experience including establishing capable environments; conducting functional assessments; supporting students into work; working with PMLD students; supporting strategic developments in restraint reduction and delivering on the STOMP campaign

• Workplace research

• 40 days annual leave for full time staff

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

Orchard Hill College is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and students with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit https://www.ohcat.org/work-for-us/.

For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Jane Johnson; Head of Integrated Services via email at JJohnson@orchardhill.ac.uk or via telephone on 07909 843928 . 

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact jobs@orchardhill.ac.uk.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role. Failure to show evidence will result in your application not being shortlisted for interview.

Please note that CV applications will not be considered.

Closing Date:   Monday 27th June, 2022

Interviews will take place on: Thursday 7th July 2022

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.