Learning Support Assistant

Pengwern College is a residential further education college providing for students with a range of learning disabilities. Currently there are 65 students in total, 51 from England funded by the LSC, 6 non-residential students and 8 from Wales funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

All learners have a learning difficulty/disability and many have associated medical or sensory impairments. Some learners have more complex needs, and these have increased in recent years. As a consequence a range of specialist staff including an educational psychologist, an occupational therapist and speech & language therapists are employed to enable learners to access the curriculum equally.

The main campus is sited on the outskirts of Rhuddlan, a small friendly town where the learners enjoy all the benefits of rural living while being able to access the brighter lights of Rhyl, the largest town in Denbighshire, with good shopping facilities, the sea, and a lively nightlife. Community based learners live in semi-supported houses in Rhyl and in St Asaph, a place of historical interest with a selection of shops and places of entertainment including a bowling green, public houses etc. which students enjoy visiting occasionally. The remainder of learners live in the community and reside in Prestatyn, a pleasant seaside town with shops, cinema and a range of activities on offer.

The college and all residences are in the county of Denbighshire, an Objective 1 designated area where employers are largely SMEs in the care, retail, travel and tourism sectors. The college is one of the largest employers in the area employing 194 people.

Lisa Duncalf, the current principal, has worked hard to bring the college to its current position where it is achieving good grades in terms of OFSTED and ESTYN inspections.

A strength, which has always existed within the college, is the staff team who are committed to the values and principles of MENCAP and to endeavouring to ensure learners enjoy a good, happy and healthy learning experience in their time with us. Recently two members of staff received awards from the Care Forum for Wales recognising their good practice and achievements.

The college’s ethos is to ‘prepare students for the next stage of their lives’. In order to achieve this aim, learners participate in a holistic learning experience that embraces all aspects of a young person’s life.  The ultimate aim of the programme is to equip learners with the skills and experience to progress into the wider community and area of work.  The college recognises that essential learning, both formal and informal, occurs between 7.30 am and 10.00 pm in the evening, seven days a week.  Learners are supported through their learning journey via a comprehensive tutorial system and access to appropriate specialist support, for example audiology, speech & language therapy and occupational therapy.  Individual progression is recognised and celebrated via a range of appropriate accreditation routes including: Edexcel, OCN, AQA and RARPA.  The college has established links with other agencies and general further education providers, which enable learners to access a range of professional qualifications and experience a range of learning environments.

In year one the primary aim of the programme is to equip young people with the necessary social and life skills to progress within the college.  This is achieved through the core subjects, basic skills and IT, life and social skills which encompasses: cooking, cleaning, personal care, PSHE and travel training. Students experience a range of vocational and subject areas these include: animal care, catering, horticulture, credit union, drama and art which enable the learner to make an informed choice for the future.  The world of work is accessed through work based learning, college services and work experience depending on the learner’s needs, interests and ability.

In the students’ second year the aim of the course is to build on individual progression within the area of life and social skills. The learner is also encouraged to make an informed choice, based on the learning experiences of year one, as to which vocational/subject area they wish to study in-depth. 

In the students’ final year the programme consolidates the learner’s programme and equips the learner to make a successful transition out of the college. The college recognises that in order to achieve its mission statement, students are viewed as individuals.  As a consequence individual learning plans are negotiated with the students which enable students to continue at their own pace throughout their programme of study and work towards accreditation and/or attainment which is appropriate to their long term goals.

Shortlisted candidates will be able to make a visit to the college prior to interview if they wish.