Post:  Learning Support Assistant (LSA) – PMLD
Location: Kirkby, Merseyside
Hours:  8:30am – 16:00pm (+ 7 additional Twilight sessions 16:00 – 18:00)
POST    3-day Post (days to be confirmed no weekends)
Contract: Term Time – Permanent
Salary: £NMW – £25,740.00 pro rata (depending on qualifications and experience)

Activate is seeking to recruit Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) with experience of
supporting individuals with learning difficulties, disabilities, and complex needs. Ideally,
candidates will have experience working with young adults aged 19–25 on further education
(FE) study programs or have supported individuals in SEN settings within primary or
secondary education, or within health and social care environments.

As a Learning Support Assistant, you will play a vital role in encouraging learners to actively
participate in their education. You should have experience supporting individuals across a
range of ability levels, from pre-entry through to Level 1, adapting your approach to meet
diverse learning needs.

We are seeking driven and motivated individuals who are passionate about supporting
young people to reach their full potential. and committed to promoting independence. The
role includes supporting students with personal care tasks such as feeding, administering
medication, changing, and other aspects of daily living. You will be dedicated to working with
young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities, assisting them with a variety of
further education (FE) both in the classroom and within community settings.

The role requires confident and capable Learning Support Assistants, ideally with at least
one year’s experience in further education or social care. A relevant LSA qualification is
preferred; however, full training will be provided to work towards a Level 3 LSA Certificate in
Special Needs after a successful probationary period.

Activate is a registered charity which was founded in 2005. We deliver personalised
educational and vocational programmes for young adults with learning difficulties and
disabilities in Knowsley. We have been added to the Section 41 Secretary of State approved
providers list.

Our further education programmes for 19–25-year-olds with learning difficulties and or
disabilities are entirely person centred.  We offer a personalised curriculum for each student
on program.

Our aim as an organisation is to provide groundbreaking education programmes which help
young people with disabilities to develop skills to build confidence, develop employment
skills and encourage independence within the local community.

Due to the nature of work the above post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation
of Offenders Act and appointment will only be confirmed if a satisfactory Enhanced
Disclosure is obtained from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). We are committed to
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expect all staff to share this
commitment.

Full Job Description, Application Form, Diversity Monitoring Form and Privacy Policy can be
downloaded from our website https://activateces.org.uk/vacancies/ Completed application to be
submitted to jobs@activateces.org.uk  before closing date of 08/10/2025.
Reference No: LSAOCT25. Please state how may days you are applying for in the reference
number section.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:
Contract:
Salary:

Learning Support Assistant (PMLD)
Term Time – Permanent
£NMW – £25,740.00 pro rata

JOB LOCATION:

Kirkby, Merseyside

All  employees  must  to  be  flexible  in  their  approach  and  will  be  expected  to  work  at  other
community-based sites.

Reporting to:

Education Lead

Main purpose of this job
To work as part of a team to support the teaching and learning activities and entitlement of all
learners who have severe and complex educational needs.
Support tutors in preparing individual programmes and learning materials appropriate to the
needs of the learners and supporting the tutor in the co-ordination and planning of resources
and the delivery of learning programmes.

Summary of duties and responsibilities:

To support the tutor in the management, planning, delivery and assessment of

1.
curriculum programmes for all learners including support to groups and individuals in the
delivery of these programmes.

To be a key worker for 1 learner or a number of learners in the class/group facilitating

2.
the documentation of assessment/progress and maintaining communication information
between college/home.

To assist the teacher with planning and preparation of resources and programmes

3.
including differentiation for the individual needs of learners in the class/group.

To actively support all students in the full range of curriculum activities across the

4..
college.

To carry out evaluation of progress and electronically record attainment against

5.
learners targets.

To read, understand and acknowledge, input and implement the following information

6.
for the students/groups that you support:

Individual Learning Plans
Behaviour Support Plan
Care Plan
Short and medium term planning for the class/tutor group

-
-
-
-
-           Initial assessments

To support the personal care of all learners, including intimate personal care in some

7.
instances, administration of meds and feeding.

To work with students with autism, multi-sensory impairments, physical disabilities,

8.
mild, moderate and severe learning difficulties and those with non-verbal communication

needs to enhance their communication skills, social skills, ability to think flexibly and to
problem-solve.

To respond to and manage students challenging behaviour, this may include directly

9.
implementing agreed physical interventions and/or supporting work colleagues as
necessary.

10.

To work collaboratively with a range of support services and departments to:

implement therapy programmes as required
professional liaison between education / college and home to ensure consistent

-
-
            management and support of individual learners
-

attend multi-disciplinary meetings around the learner

11.

To be familiar with and work to the organisation’s Behaviour Policy and Procedures.

12.

To attend training on Behaviour Management and any other training required to
ensure good discipline and to safeguard the safety and well-being of yourself, other
staff and students who may have challenging behaviour.

13.      To work collaboratively with parents/carers to ensure a consistent approach to the

delivery of programmes including; behaviour management, communication, shared
targets etc.

14.      To take individual and corporate responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of all

students and colleagues at all times and to report any health and safety concerns to
the line manager or to the Health and Safety representative in your department.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The post holder will be
required to undertake other activities related to achieving the organisations objectives, as
determined by the Manager. This job description may be reviewed when necessary in line
with the development of the organisation.

All staff must be flexible to attend open days/open evenings and some occasional weekends
at various times throughout the year in addition to their ‘normal’ working hours.

LSA Person Specification

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications
Teaching Assistant Diploma/equivalent or commitment to
complete this qualification
Specialist qualification

Knowledge
Knowledge of working in a SEN environment
Knowledge of risk assessing and incident reporting
Knowledge of communication strategies for non-verbal learners  X

X

X

X
X

Skills and Abilities
ICT/Database skills
Motivated and inspired by young people
Excellent administration and organisational skills
Excellent time management
Experience / awareness of Person Centred Thinking and its
application to support learners
Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Able to listen and act on instructions
Ability to prioritise and organise day to day workload
Ability to contribute, follow and evaluate educational
programmes set by the tutor
Ability and commitment to work as part of a supportive and
cohesive team

Experience
Working with young people with LDD
Working with young people with challenging behaviour
1 years LSA experience  or working with young people with
disabilities

Personal Qualities
Ability to remain calm under pressure to create a stable and
supportive learning environment for students.
Good time keeping
Flexible approach to work

Physical and Mental requirements
Regular requirements to move and handle service users, who
have a range of physical abilities, in a variety of settings
The ability to meet the physical demands of the post which
requires substantial walking, standing, lifting, bending, working
on the floor, twisting and pushing wheelchair users around the
college and within the community
Regular requirement to support service users with challenging
behaviour

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X

X
X
X

X

X
X

X

X

X

In addition to the specific criteria laid out above, each applicant will be expected to
demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles of equal opportunities, safeguarding and
autism awareness in relation to the post.