Sponsored Editorial

Are you seeking to take that next step in your career in education? Valence School has some exciting recruitment opportunities!

Based on the outskirts of Westerham, close to Sevenoaks in Kent, Valence School is looking to recruit new staff to fulfil a range of full-time and part-time, term time roles.

As a day and residential KCC Foundation Special School and part of the Kent Special Educational Needs Trust (KsENT), Valence caters for young people aged between four and 19 with physical disabilities, complex medical needs and associated learning and communication difficulties.

Valence School’s team of 200 staff take great pride in providing specialist teaching, social care, therapy and nursing care to an exceptionally high standard.

The school boasts a large site set within beautiful grounds with first-class facilities.

Due to the continued growth and development of the school this year, Valence is looking to recruit new staff to join its team. There’s even a £1,000 'golden hello' for certain permanent posts (prorated for part-time).

Working with children with special needs goes hand-in-hand with unique challenges and opportunities.

Helping and supporting the children truly makes every day fulfilling, especially when knowing that the work that you do at the school makes a positive impact on their lives.

Your role will help each child grow, gain skills and work towards independence.

What does working at Valence School offer?

Valence School is a supportive, collaborative and friendly environment and a rewarding place to work. Whether working directly with students or in a school support role, every member of staff participates in enabling students to learn and aspire to achieve meaningful independence. Staff make a real and positive impact on the lives of the young people at Valence.

The school offers professional and continuous training and supportive career progression, as well as generous pension schemes and life cover.

As a member of the team, you can enjoy a variety of school and staff social events. Staff wellbeing sessions are held at the end of each term and an employee assistance support is also provided.

Other benefits include free on-site parking, subsidised meals and discounted high street reloadable cards and vouchers, with discounts from over 1,200 national and local retailers such as M&S, Argos, John Lewis, Amazon and Boots.

Current positions

Currently, term-time recruitment opportunities at Valence School include Student Support, Teaching and General Support posts.

The Student Support role, for example, offers between 16 to 40 hours per week, working term time, with various set shifts available – morning, day or evening between 7am and 10pm. For 39 working weeks, you can receive an hourly rate of £10.75, plus 6.4 weeks of paid holiday and a 'golden hello' payment of £1,000.

As a Student Support Assistant, you will:

• Support students within the class and/or residential provision
• Promote a caring environment and provide a high standard of personal care, including washing, toileting, bathing and mealtime assistance
• Ensure that communication with students, staff and other departments is effective and contributes to Valence’s high standards of care and personal development for students
• Maintain excellent standards of safety and good practice in relation to safeguarding, health and safety issues, implementing students’ care plans and appropriately using the recording and reporting processes
• Recognise the potential of individual students and champion their needs

The role will include a substantial amount of moving, handling and personal care; although experience of complex physical and medical needs is not essential, as Valence School provides comprehensive training, an aspiration to enable students to learn and achieve meaningful independence certainly is.

Successful candidates will be supported to complete the fully-funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or Supporting Teaching & Learning, if not already achieved.

You will have a set shift pattern and in addition, there is the option to work eight weekend (Saturday or Sunday) 12-hour shifts per year with an enhanced additional shift allowance of £8 per hour (total of £18.75ph).

Find out more about working at Valence School

For many of the new posts, Valence is recruiting on a rolling basis, which means that they will be recruited on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible via the school’s application form.

For safeguarding, two employment references are taken up before the interview and online checks are undertaken for shortlisted candidates. Successful applicants will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

All posts are subject to pre-employment checks, including medical clearance and evidence of eligibility to work in the UK. Evidence of qualifications must be provided along with a full employment history from leaving full-time education. Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.

To find out more about the recruitment opportunities at Valence School, contact the HR team by calling 01959 567841 or emailing vacancies@valence.kent.sch.uk. Informal tours of the school can be arranged.

If any of the current vacancies are not suitable at the moment, but you would like to work with Valence School, you can register your details and be the first to hear of any new opportunities.