We’re Recruiting: Learning Support Intern

Could you make a real difference to the lives of people with learning and communication needs? Do you have experience of supporting adults with disabilities? If yes, then this role may be perfect for you.

Job Description

Headway Arts is looking for a reliable and motivated person to join our professional team as Learning Support Intern, working 35 hours per week.

As Learning Support Intern you will work alongside colleagues encouraging and supporting the individuals who attend the centre to participate in a variety of arts activities within the centre and the local community. You will work alongside a professional arts worker contributing to the planning, development and implementation of sessions and supporting adults with disabilities in collecting and recording evidence for their learning portfolios.

This is a post which offers a unique and exciting opportunity for an arts/social care graduate (or person with comparative experience) to work as part of a committed and enthusiastic team. This key role offers support to participants and is a flexible role which changes constantly in response to the needs of the participants and the project. The main focus is to enable people to engage in the creative work of Headway Arts by helping them to feel comfortable and relaxed so they can get the most out of their time at Headway ArtSpace, feeling safe and comfortable at all times. An important part of Headway Arts is to gain qualifications which overlay the training but do not interfere with it. The Learning Support intern will support individuals in recording and collating information/evidence for their portfolios. They will also support the artist by focussing people during sessions and supervising the group during their breaks. They support the organisation by assisting with logistics, monitoring and admin for workshops.

The Intern will work closely with the Headway Arts team to provide a welcoming and safe environment for Headway Arts participants with responsibility for:

Supporting learning disabled adults in arts/drama workshops
Supporting participants in their collecting evidence that will lead to qualifications
Offering pastoral care to participants as required
Supporting participants over lunch and break times
Developing systems and practice that will ensure the service offered meets the needs and demands of its participants and their supporters.

The post is a hands-on opportunity to gain a wide range of experiences in the fields of arts and social care and offers the opportunity to work with learning disabled people, those with mental health issues and with their carers/supporters. It will give those wanting a career in social care an insight into working with service users with different issues and challenges.

Specific Duties & Key Responsibilities

Supporting participants in arts/drama workshops.
Help people use the kitchen at breaks/meal times.
Supporting the participants in collecting evidence towards their qualifications.
Pastoral care to Headway Arts participants.
Report regularly to the Senior Management.
Attend regular staff team meetings.
Represent Headway Arts at relevant networks events and other events linked to the role.

Other duties

Contribute proactively to the wider work of Headway Arts as a supportive team member.
Utilise opportunities to extend the work of Headway Arts.
Keep Creative Director/CEO aware of initiatives which could enrich the wider work of Headway Arts.
Observe Health and Safety regulations at all times and ensure adequate supervision is maintained for the Health and Safety of all participants.
Observe Headway Arts’ Equality & Diversity Policy and Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults policy.
Undertake training as necessary and deemed relevant.
Undertake regular Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks as required. Recruitment will be subject to successful DBS Enhanced clearance.

Enhanced DBS Disclosure

Because the person appointed to this post has access to vulnerable people we follow strict procedures in checking our staff. The successful applicant will have to complete an Enhanced DBS check. Having a criminal background does not automatically discount you from being appointed, but you are obliged to disclose all convictions including those considered spent. Failure to disclose convictions is considered gross misconduct and will make a person liable for dismissal. If you want to discuss your eligibility for employment please telephone the Chief Executive, Frances Castle, for a confidential discussion.

The first 6 months of the role will be an internship facilitated by Northumbria University Enterprise and Business Support (NEBS) and supported by the European Regional Development Fund. On successful completion of the internship period there is potential for the role to be extended. It is open to recent graduates of any university in the EU.

This position will start at the beginning of February 2018.

Person requirements

We are looking for a bright and enthusiastic person with a commitment to the arts and a strong drive to increase their experience of arts and social care to join our team.

Active interest and enthusiasm for the arts.
Excellent communication skills including ability to communicate with people of diverse backgrounds & communities.
Methodical and efficient approach with good attention to detail.
A willingness to take on and work with the ideas of others.
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a busy team.
Demonstrable ability to work on own initiative and to organise and prioritise workload.
Ability to recognise the different ways to work with different groups.
A positive attitude and an ability to find creative and flexible solutions.
Willingness to undertake training, for example disability awareness and equality training and Headway Arts methodologies.
Willingness to work evenings & weekends if and when necessary.
Ability to work confidently with computers.
Up to date knowledge of current social media and networking platforms.
A commitment to one’s own professional development.
Educated to degree level.

Accepted degree subjects

Any. You must have graduated from any University with the EU and be a recent graduate (from the academic year ending in 2013).

Salary

£17,000 pro rata

How to apply

Number of vacancies: 1

Please send applications to: admin@headwayarts.co.uk

Write in the email subject line: Learning Support Internship

Or by post to: Headway Arts, Headway ArtSpace, The Old Church, Waterloo Road, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 1BY

Apply in writing (no more than 500 words) telling us about your skills, interests & why you would like to take up this internship
Include an up to date CV
Include 2 References. We will not take up your references unless you are successful.

Closing Date for Applications is Sunday 28th January 2018. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st January, with employment for the right candidate commencing on Thursday 1st February 2018.

Posted on November 30th 2017