Learning Support Assistant 

Summary of Position

The Learning Support Assistant (LSA) will provide high-quality, personalised support to students with learning difficulties, disabilities, or long-term health conditions. Support will ensure students can fully participate in their chosen course of study and engage effectively in all aspects of college life. LSAs will work collaboratively with SERC staff, including Learning Support Managers and teaching teams, to implement tailored reasonable adjustments that address individual learner needs.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one or small-group support in classrooms, workshops, kitchens, salons, or other learning environments.
• Support students on a one-to-one basis outside the classroom (e.g., library, online) where required.
• Assist students in accessing lesson content using appropriate clarification, explanations, equipment, and materials.
• Encourage student engagement, focus, independence, and confidence throughout learning activities.
• Support students to integrate fully into college life and reach their full potential.
• Accompany students and staff on visits, outings, or events as required.
• Signpost students to additional college services (Pastoral Care, Learning Support, Finance, Careers, Students’ Union, etc.).

• Engage with Learning Support Managers, teaching teams, and other professionals to understand individual student needs.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of support strategies based on these needs.
• Provide regular updates on learner progress through SERC’s Learning Support Management Information System.
• Attend meetings, training, and development sessions required for the role.

• Enhanced Access NI clearance prior to starting the role.
• GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade C or above) or equivalent.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

• Ability to work across various SERC campuses and outreach sites.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing support needs within the academic year.
• Willingness to support in-person or online delivery depending on operational requirements.

Person Specification

(E = Essential, D = Desirable) 

Competencies

• Knowledge of directly supporting people with disabilities within an employment, education, or employment & training setting (D)
• The ability to work with a wide cross-section of participants with varying levels of support needs (D)
• Highly competent in using ICT with excellent working knowledge of MS Office Suite to include SharePoint, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint (E)

Technical competencies (qualifications and training)

• Educated to NVQ Level 2 or equivalent to include Maths and English.  (E)
• Good IT skills – to present data using Microsoft packages or suitable alternative (E)

Experience

• Proven experience of working with young people across a wide cross-section of varying levels of needs, enabling them to identify their own goals and the ability to progress them (E)

Skills and Attributes

• Highly organised professional with evidence of developing relationships with participants (E)
• Ability to work flexibly to cope with the varying demands of the role and achieve desired results (E)
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team (E)
• Excellent time management and the ability to prioritise a workload (E)
• Ability to effectively report progress on KPI’s and progress participants through their qualifications within the timeframes set (E)
• Ability to manage a busy workload and prioritise to ensure all requirements are met (E)
• Ability to complete all paperwork, and reports timeously (E)

Personal qualities, communicating and relating to others

• Flexible, adaptable and innovative (D)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (E)
• Youth work Teaching / pastoral care approach to assisting young people to progress through their qualifications while maintaining professional boundaries (D)

Safeguarding

• Be able to display an awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children, young people and adults (E)
• This post requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (E)

Other

Access to transport to carry out the duties of the post (D)

Employee Benefits

The successful post holder will avail of the following benefits: 

• Holiday Arrangements: 20 working days per year plus 12 (pro rata).  
• Pension: Employees are able to join the pension scheme under the new Auto Enrolment Government Scheme. 
• Length of service awards: For those employees who have served for 10 years or more an additional day’s holiday will be granted for each year of service thereafter up to a maximum of 5 additional days.
• Flexible Working Hours: To accommodate personal circumstances, working day to be agreed between line manager and employee and in line with policy.
• Sickness Arrangements: After 6 month’s service, full pay up to 20 working days. Half pay for a further 45 working days. At the conclusion of this period Personal Health Insurance may realise sick pay at 75% of full pay for a period of up to 3 years (subject to the ruling of the PHI Insurers and Clanrye Group).
• Wellbeing Hour: A ‘wellbeing hour’ – one hour’s paid leave per week to partake in a wellbeing activity to help maintain own mental and physical health, to be agreed by line manager.
• Enhanced Family Friendly Rights:  Maternity and paternity leave in accordance with current statutory requirements. 
• CPD:  Opportunity to develop and enhance knowledge and skills through Continuous Professional Development. 
• Sick Pay Arrangements: One week full pay followed by one week at half pay.
• Birthday:  Paid leave on day of birthday or on the following Monday if it falls at the weekend.