Job Description

Specialist Support Lead Practitioner: Physical Disabilities & Complex Health Needs

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time, 52 weeks per year

Are you an experienced SEND practitioner with a strong background in supporting people with physical disabilities and complex health needs?

As a Specialist Support Lead Practitioner at New College Swindon, you'll lead our specialist support provision for students with physical disabilities and complex health needs. You'll lead a team of Inclusion Support Assistants and work closely with teaching staff, the College Nurse, health professionals, families and external agencies to ensure students receive safe, personalised and effective support.

This is a specialist leadership role where you'll help reduce barriers to learning, promote independence and ensure students have the support they need to succeed across educational, vocational, community and workplace settings.

What you'll do

• Lead and inspire a team of SEND practitioners supporting students with physical disabilities and complex health needs.
• Carry out initial assessments and identify barriers to learning, participation, communication, mobility, independence and wellbeing.
• Provide specialist advice around moving and handling, positioning, postural management and personal care.
• Coordinate care plans, manual handling plans, medical procedures, PEEPs and enteral feeding plans.
• Support staff to use appropriate strategies, equipment, assistive technology and environmental adaptations.
• Contribute specialist advice to EHC needs assessments and annual reviews.
• Work closely with health, social care and other professionals to provide coordinated support.
• Develop and monitor personalised support programmes and specialist interventions.
• Deliver staff training and share good practice around inclusive practice and supporting students with complex needs.
• Support curriculum teams to create safe, accessible learning and workplace environments.
• Maintain accurate support documentation and records in line with funding and audit requirements.
• Monitor the impact of interventions and contribute to the continued development of the specialist support provision.

What we're looking for

• A degree, or recognised Level 4 or above qualification in a Health and Social Care related subject, with relevant practical experience.
• A teaching qualification, or willingness to undertake one within the first year.
• Level 2 English and Maths.
• Relevant experience of working with young people or adults with physical disabilities, complex health needs, SEND or inclusion.
• Experience in manual handling, personal care, enteral feeding and administering medication.
• Strong knowledge of physical disabilities and complex health needs and their impact on learning and participation.
• Experience of leading or developing specialist teams, including mentoring, coaching or line management.
• Experience developing and coordinating personalised support programmes, care plans, risk assessments and PEEPs.
• Experience working collaboratively with health professionals, social care, families and other agencies.
• Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• A proactive, empathetic and inclusive approach to supporting students.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• The flexibility to work across College campuses and outside normal working hours where required.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of our community.

Please note that this vacancy may close before the published closing date if sufficient applications are received, so if you are interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

To apply, you must have the right to work in the UK. Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

New College Swindon is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete appropriate pre-employment and DBS checks.