City Lead Teacher of Deaf CYP

Leeds Safe Roads Partnership; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job description

Job title: City Lead Teacher of Deaf Children/Young People

Contract: Permanent

Are you a skilled Qualified Teacher of Deaf Children/Young People (QToD) passionate about securing an inclusive and enabling environment for all deaf children and young people and seeking a position to lead an established and highly regarded team of professionals working in both peripatetic and resource position roles?

Leeds is seeking to appoint to the position of City Lead for the Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team (DAHIT). This role involves working city wide leading a team that is integral to the Learning Inclusion service. You will be working in partnership with a broad range of partners including children and young people (0-25years), their families, practitioners in settings from early years to post-16, and education, health and social care professionals.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About you

As the City Lead for the DAHIT you will bring to the role:

• British Sign Language Level 3 or equivalent standard, OR at a standard equivalent to Level 2 with a willingness to undertake Level 3 upon appointment.
• Excellent leadership and management skills.
• Up to date knowledge of research and best practice in Deaf education, specifically in including and raising the achievement of deaf children and young people.
• Substantial experience of management within an education service for deaf children.
• Substantial experience of working as a Teacher of Deaf CYP, including working in a peripatetic/advisory role.
• Able to offer high challenge and high support that promotes a culture of inclusion of children and young people with SEND
• Manage inter-agency and partnership working, providing effective links and the ability to maintain relationships with colleagues and partners at a range of levels to maximise impact for children and young people.

About the role

You will work as part of the SEND inclusion teams’ management team providing day to day professional and operational leadership of the Deaf and Hearing Impairment team. Together with a team of dedicated, highly regarded colleagues in DAHIT you will lead and manage the operation of the service in relation to deafness and hearing impairment and ensure that appropriate policies and practice are in place. DAHIT provides support for children and young people from birth and throughout a young person’s education until the age of 25. DAHIT provides the local authority’s offer for both a city-wide peripatetic and resource provision (primary and secondary) service.

As our next City Lead of DAHIT you will play a key role in developing the strategic direction of the Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team and the whole Sensory Service, in conjunction with the Head of Service and other Service managers.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Keith Atkin, Head of SEND, 0113 3782888, or email [e-mail] .

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates . Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose Under the general direction of the Head of SEND provide a high quality and comprehensive service to schools, settings and families to raise the achievement of deaf children and young people (CYP) within the most inclusive environment, in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.

Responsibilities

• To raise educational achievement and ensure full inclusion for all Deaf children and young people from time of diagnosis until they leave school.
• To lead and manage the operation of the service in relation to deafness and hearing impairment and ensure that appropriate policies and practice are in place.
• To play a key role in developing the strategic direction of the Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team and the whole Sensory Service, in conjunction with the Head of Service and other Service managers.
• To ensure there is a consistent, high quality, child-centred, flexible and responsive education service for all deaf and hearing-impaired children and young people across Leeds.
• To ensure that robust quality assurance processes and outcome measures are in place
• To lead and manage staff as required by the Head of SEND
• To provide professional leadership direction and motivation to staff working in the Deaf and Hearing Impairment, particularly those for whom the postholder has direct responsibility.
• To provide professional leadership and guidance to the Senior Deaf Instructor and Senior Communication Support Worker in relation to the city-wide work they undertake.
• To provide professional advice to the Local Authority on the provision required to meet the educational needs of deaf learners across Leeds.
• To work in partnership with relevant professionals and agencies to ensure appropriate multi-agency processes are in place.
• To ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place for deaf and hearing-impaired children known to the Service.
• To ensure that the voice of children and families influences Service policy and practice, and that they have confidence in the service provided
• To ensure that policies and practices take account of national, local and school data, and research findings.
• To ensure that policies and practices take account of national and local policies and agendas
• To identify, monitor, evaluate and review the effects of policies, priorities, practice and targets and take appropriate action
• To deputise for the Head of SEND as required.
• To respond to NHSP referrals when other appropriate staff are unavailable
• To promote the influence of the voice of the child or young person
• To take appropriate steps to promote and ensure the safeguarding of children while following agreed policies and practice.
• Contribute to statutory processes such as EHCPs, Early Help etc. on request
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Qualifications

Qualified teacher status Mandatory qualification for Teacher of the Deaf

Personal Specification

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following: application form, test, interview, and certificate.

Essential Requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills Required

• British Sign Language Level 3 or equivalent standard, OR at a standard equivalent to Level 2 with a willingness to undertake Level 3 upon appointment
• Excellent leadership and management skills
• Excellent teaching skills in planning, delivery, assessment and monitoring
• Excellent skills in training and advisory work
• Able to offer high challenge and high support that promotes a culture of inclusion of CYP with SEND in Leeds mainstream settings.
• Able to identify appropriate evidence informed strategies and interventions in order to promote positive change.
• Able to identify and take account of the significance of diversity on the lives of people and show application of this understanding in practice.
• Able to be an advocate for the difference not deficit approach to understanding SEND, work from a strengths-based approachand promote the social model for understanding disability.

Knowledge Required

• Up to date knowledge of research and best practice in Deaf education, specifically in including and raising the achievement of deaf children and young people.
• Up to date knowledge of procedures for assessing, advising, teaching and monitoring deaf children and their progress
• Up to date knowledge of legislation, policy and practice relating to education and particularly special educational needs
• Up to date knowledge of pedagogy and practice in relation to teaching, learning and assessment strategies for children
• Of best practice in sign bilingual education and the operation of resourced provision.

Experience Required

• Substantial experience of management within an education service for deaf children
• Substantial experience of working as a Teacher of the Deaf, including working in a peripatetic/advisory role
• Of monitoring, analysing and evaluating outcomes for children and service impact
• Of seeking and listening to the voice of children and families in shaping service delivery

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

• Have high expectations of all deaf and hearing impaired CYP, and a commitment to ensure they achieve their full potential
• Committed to working in partnership with all relevant agencies, children and young people and their families
• Committed to the full inclusion of children with SEN in educational settings
• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

Desirable Requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Skills Required

• British Sign Language Level 3 or above, or equivalent functioning

Experience Required

• Of working in or managing a resourced provision for deaf and hearing-impaired Children
• Of working with sign bilingual children and young people