Job title: City Lead Teacher of Deaf Children/Young People
Salary: Leadership scale L9-13 (£63,070-£69,596)
Hours: 32.5 per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: City-wide. Office Base: Technorth, 9 Harrogate Rd, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3NB
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 and ambitions.
About you
As the City Lead for the DAHIT you will bring to the role:
1. 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.
2. Excellent leadership and management skills.
3. 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.
4. Substantial experience of management within an education service for deaf children.
5. Substantial experience of working as a Teacher of Deaf CYP, including working in a peripatetic/advisory role.
6. Able to offer high challenge and high support that promotes a culture of inclusion of children and young people with SEND
7. 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:
8. a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
9. membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
10. flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
11. a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
12. 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.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
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 visaroute 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
13. To raise educational achievement and ensure full inclusion for all Deaf children and young people from time of diagnosis until they leave school.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. To ensure that robust quality assurance processes and outcome measures are in place
18. To lead and manage staff as required by the Head of SEND
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. To provide professional advice to the Local Authority on the provision required to meet the educational needs of deaf learners across Leeds.
22. To work in partnership with relevant professionals and agencies to ensure appropriate multi-agency processes are in place.
23. To ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place for deaf and hearing-impaired children known to the Service.
24. To ensure that the voice of children and families influences Service policy and practice, and that they have confidence in the service provided
25. To ensure that policies and practices take account of national, local and school data, and research findings.
26. To ensure that policies and practices take account of national and local policies and agendas
27. To identify, monitor, evaluate and review the effects of policies, priorities, practice and targets and take appropriate action
28. To deputise for the Head of SEND as required.
29. To respond to NHSP referrals when other appropriate staff are unavailable
30. To promote the influence of the voice of the child or young person
31. To take appropriate steps to promote and ensure the safeguarding of children while following agreed policies and practice.
32. Contribute to statutory processes such as EHCPs, Early Help etc. on request
33. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
34. Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
35. Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
36. Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
37. Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
38. 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
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
42. 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
43. 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
44. Excellent leadership and management skills
45. Excellent teaching skills in planning, delivery, assessment and monitoring
46. Excellent skills in training and advisory work
47. Able to offer high challenge and high support that promotes a culture of inclusion of CYP with SEND in Leeds mainstream settings.
48. Able to identify appropriate evidence informed strategies and interventions in order to promote positive change.
49. Able to identify and take account of the significance of diversity on the lives of people and show application of this understanding in practice.
50. Able to be an advocate for the difference not deficit approach to understanding SEND, work from a strengths-based approach and promote the social model for understanding disability.
Knowledge Required
51. 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.
52. Up to date knowledge of procedures for assessing, advising, teaching and monitoring deaf children and their progress
53. Up to date knowledge of legislation, policy and practice relating to education and particularly special educational needs
54. Up to date knowledge of pedagogy and practice in relation to teaching, learning and assessment strategies for children
55. Of best practice in sign bilingual education and the operation of resourced provision.
56. Of Deaf culture
Experience Required
57. Substantial experience of management within an education service for deaf children
58. Substantial experience of working as a Teacher of the Deaf, including working in a peripatetic/advisory role
59. Of monitoring, analysing and evaluating outcomes for children and service impact
60. Of seeking and listening to the voice of children and families in shaping service delivery
Behavioural and other Characteristics required
61. Have high expectations of all deaf and hearing impaired CYP, and a commitment to ensure they achieve their full potential
62. Committed to working in partnership with all relevant agencies, children and young people and their families
63. Committed to the full inclusion of children with SEN in educational settings
64. Committed to continuous improvement.
65. Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
66. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
67. Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development
68. 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
69. British Sign Language Level 3 or above, or equivalent functioning
Experience Required
70. Of working in or managing a resourced provision for deaf and hearing-impaired Children
71. Of working with sign bilingual children and young people
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