Fairfield Trust Job Description and Person Specification

Job title:  Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)

Work base:  Fairfield College, Dilton Marsh

Team: Education

Hours of work: 33.25 hours per week (Term Time Only)

Salary: £20,238.68 per annum

 Safeguarding

Fairfield Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and all
staff are expected to share this commitment. You will be expected to report any concerns relating
to the safeguarding of young people in accordance with agreed procedures. If your own conduct
in relation to the safeguarding of young people gives cause for concern, Fairfield Trust agreed
child and adult protection procedures will be followed.

All posts involving direct contact with young people, children and vulnerable groups are  exempt
from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exception Order 1975
(2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’.  These are not
subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.  Guidance and criteria on
the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website

This role involves regulated activity, a DBS check will be required before appointment is confirmed.

 Job context and purpose

Fairfield  Trust  is  a  local  independent  Charity,  the  core  business  areas  are:  an  independent
specialist college for young people with additional needs; residential and independence services,
a pub and an animal park.

The Trust’s mission is: To enable young people to live and work without barriers

Our 5 agreed values are:
Teamwork: We hold ourselves and each other to account, and are better when we work together
Compassion: We act with trust, honesty and kindness in everything we do
Inclusion: We treat each other fairly and with respect
Innovation: We encourage thoughtful, creative and aspirational ideas
Pride: We encourage each other to be proud of who we are and what we do

For the role of Higher Level Teaching Assistant, you will have experience of supporting young
people with mild, moderate, profound or severe learning and/or physical disabilities.

You should have a track record of achieving excellent outcomes in supporting and caring for
young people with learning disabilities in an educational setting.

Additionally, you will have experience of leading taught sessions and group activities.

This is a term time only position.

Fairfield Trust is an independent education provider and as such, it is often usual to have approx. 2
weeks additional leave over the summer (compared to most Wiltshire schools).

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Main duties

  Provide a safe, caring and supportive environment for students with learning disabilities in

structured sessions

  Contribute to the development and implementation of learning support strategies, facilitating

individuals or groups to fully access and participate in sessions and the wider college
community

  Provide support to individuals to enable them to learn new skills in a classroom setting and

around the college site

  Manage some aspects of personal care (when required) with both dignity and respect for
people with learning disabilities in line with Fairfield Trust standards, polices and relevant
individual care plans
Support and understand each individual student’s needs and be familiar with these as
identified in their ILP and EHCP, and be prepared to undertake training, where necessary
  Deliver some bespoke interventions or taught sessions and group work to identified groups of



students or to cover absence

  Administer medication to students according to procedures, policies and risk assessments,

monitor student’s health needs and report health issues appropriately

  Work as part of the college staff team, attending meetings and working with colleagues to

ensure students have a positive and fulfilling experience at college



  Keep the required written and computer records for student progress, behaviour and support
and contribute to student progress by recording in both electronic and hard format, student
progress and achievement, identifying areas for development
Support students to develop skills for life (literacy, numeracy and communication) within
practical situations
Support students to develop social skills and interact with other students and support the social
and emotional development of students and their interactions with others, reporting any issues
as necessary in line with current college policies and legislation



  Handle responsibly and sensitively any confidential information of a personal nature relating to

students

  Work at all times within the framework provided by the college’s policies and procedures and

current legislation, ensuring all written and electronic records and documentation are
accurately maintained

  Attend regular staff meetings and compulsory training days and participate in activities to

ensure that the college continues to maintain the standards required by its funding bodies, the
Commission for Social Care Inspection and Ofsted

  Participate in observations and annual appraisals to promote good practice and inform

professional development

  Where appropriate driving licences are held and training is provided; escort students to

external visits/work experience

  Actively promote inclusive practice within the college setting, this includes challenging

discrimination and advocating for the rights of the young people

  Encourage students to engage in and participate in learning activities as directed by the Tutor

and to act independently as appropriate and provide the support needed to do this

  Carry out administrative duties, such as preparing classroom resources under the guidance of





the Additional Learning Support Manager, Tutors, Pastoral Manager or Behaviour and
Intervention Leads
To assist with/provide extra-curricular activities under guidance from the Additional Learning
Support Manager
To work with the Pastoral Manager and Behaviour and Intervention Leads in identifying
challenging behaviours, implementing effective strategies, in line with college policies,
procedures and any training provided

  Assist other staff in delivering programmes of work devised by other professionals including (but
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not limited to) physio programmes and positioning of students, speech and language therapy
programmes, occupational therapy programmes

  Providing appropriate levels of intervention with regards to incidents of challenging behaviour



within an SLD, PMLD, ASD setting, following full training
To support students on work placements, work based learning or external placements as
directed

  Undertake continuing professional development as directed by your line manager
  Any other duties that may reasonably be requested.

Supervision/management of people

Supervise students as necessary on and off site during the working day

Contacts and relationships

The post holder will:

  Report to the Education Manager

  Work with the Pastoral Manager, Tutors, Additional Learning Support Manager, Behaviour

and Intervention Leads and the wider college staff

What we offer - Employee Benefits

There is a pension scheme available for eligible staff
Free entry to Fairfield Animal Centre for 2 adults & 2 children



  10% discount at The Weavers pub
  Discounted staff lunches in the Student Canteen (College Site)
  Corporate Eye Care Scheme


Training & Development opportunities

Information technology

Daily use of computers that require excellent IT skills and will include using, SchoolPod, Word, Excel
and web-based software.

Knowledge of educational management information systems (MIS).

Financial responsibility

Always ensure effective use of resources and value for money is secured for the Trust.

Health and Safety

To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of anyone else who may be affected
by your acts or omissions. You will be responsible for risk assessing, reviewing and monitoring all
aspects of your work.

Equality and Diversity

You are required neither to discriminate against nor harass or victimise:  colleagues, suppliers or
third parties at work.  You are further required to report incidents of discrimination at work, either
to the Principal or anonymously to the Chair of Trustees.

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 Records management

You are responsible for ensuring that all information sources for which you have responsibility
are maintained in-line with guidance.  This applies to all electronic and hard copy information.

You should also ensure that access permissions are maintained to limit access to sensitive
information.  You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive data, whether
held electronically or in hard copy, and promptly reporting all breaches, or potential breaches
of security to the Head of HR.

Other duties

You may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the job.
The particular duties and responsibilities attached to jobs may vary from time to time without
changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed.  Such
variations are a common occurrence and would not in themselves justify the re-evaluation of a
job.  In cases, however, where a permanent and substantial change in the duties and
responsibilities of a job occurs, consistent with a higher level of responsibility, then the job would
be eligible for re-evaluation.

Authority to work in the UK

You must have the legal authority to work in the UK.  You must have the relevant approval to
work in the UK from the UK Border Agency or relevant documentation.  Copies of all documents
provided by you as proof of identity are retained for our records, by providing these proofs the
Trust will treat this as your consent for this to happen.

Person Specification

The person specification details the essential and desirable personal criteria which the job holder
should possess in order to be able to successfully perform the job.

Alignment
With our values

Commitment to demonstrating the
organisations values and behaviours in their
work:

Essential

Desirable

Teamwork: We hold ourselves and each other to
account, and are better when we work
together
Compassion: We act with trust, honesty and
kindness in everything we do
Inclusion: We treat each other fairly and with
respect
Innovation: We encourage thoughtful, creative
and aspirational ideas
Pride: We encourage each other to be proud of
who we are and what we do

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Qualifications or
equivalent level of
skill or knowledge

 HLTA Qualification or equivalent, such as

CTLLS or Award in Education and Training at
Level 4

 GCSE Maths & English Grade C / 4 and above
or equivalent, or a willingness to undertake

  Teaching or training
qualification Level 5
  Specialist training or
qualifications in a
related subject
  Assessors D32/A1

qualification

Experience of

  Planning and leading sessions or covering staff

  Supporting young

absence

  Working with people with multiple physical

and learning disabilities

  Understanding the need for recording

outcomes and progress against set targets

people with
complex needs in an
educational setting
  Managing personal

care with both
dignity and respect

Management of
people

members of the team

  Ability to offer guidance and support to

  Willingness to

undertake training, if
necessary

  Willingness to

complete further
training

  To have a full driving

licence and a
willingness to drive
college vehicles

Skills

  To be highly personable with very good

communication skills

  To be highly self-motivated and an

enthusiastic self-starter with an entrepreneurial
outlook

  To be highly numerate and have ability to use

systems to track learner progress

  To show an understanding of the importance

of working within strict Health and Safety
guidelines

  Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary

team and on own initiative

  To be honest, trustworthy and reliable
  Highly motivated and able to motivate others
  Able to work with a variety of colleagues and

clients from different professions and
backgrounds

 Literate and numerate with good written and

spoken English

 ILT literate

Personal qualities
and motivation

Literacy, numeracy
and IT

Safeguarding

 Displays a commitment to the protection and

  Up-to-date

safeguarding of young people
 Takes action and raises concerns
 Forms appropriate relationships and maintains

professional boundaries at work
 Works within organisational policies,

procedures and guidance at all times

knowledge of
relevant legislation
and guidance in
relation to the
safeguarding of
young people

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Suitability of shortlisted candidates will be assessed at interview using a combination of values-
based recruitment techniques; a formal interview and/or a supervised observation or practical
session where applicable.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process, please speak to a
member of the HR team.

The closing date for this post is Wednesday 5th November 2025 at 09.00am

Interviews will take place on Thursday 13th November 2025

We would welcome applications made via the Trust Application Form, available on our website;
https://fairfieldtrust.org.uk/jobs/

Please note that we will not accept CVs

We reserve the right to close the advert early if sufficient applications have been received.

Fairfield Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer
A charity for the advancement of education for young people with learning disabilities

This job description and person specification created July 2025

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