Sperrin Integrated College
Guidance for Applicants
The following notes should be read in full before an application form is completed and submitted.
1.0
APPLICATION FORMS
Completed application forms and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Questionnaire should be POSTED OR DELIVERED
IN PERSON to Sperrin Integrated College to be received by the specified time and date. Receipts will be issued for all
forms delivered in person. APPLICATION FORMS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING TIME AND DATE WILL
NOT BE CONSIDERED. The Equal Opportunities Questionnaire should be placed in an envelope addressed to the
Monitoring Officer and enclosed with the application form.
Applicants should note, when returning application forms, that the correct postage for the weight and size of the
envelope is required otherwise it may be delayed, possibly not meeting the closing date and therefore, be refused. The
College will not be responsible for paying excess postage.
2.0
CHILD PROTECTION: PRE EMPLOYMENT CHECK
Posts involving work in education establishments are subject to the provisions of the Safeguarding
of Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007. The College will be required to obtain an Enhanced
Disclosure Certificate from AccessNI which provides details of any criminal background. Please
note that you will be required to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate which is
currently £33.
If you are recommended for appointment, you will be required to complete a Disclosure
Certificate Application Form which must be returned to the Principal accompanied by the
relevant documents to verify your identity. You must also at this point send payment of £30
to the College. On receipt of the application form the College will request an Enhanced
Disclosure Certificate which will be issued by Access NI to the College and you at the same
time.
The Disclosure Certificate Application Form and Identity Verification Form are available
from the College.
Rehabilitation of Offenders
College posts which involve working with young people are exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Order. Appointments to such posts will be subject to the satisfactory completion of criminal background
checks by Access NI. It should be noted that having a criminal record does not necessarily debar you from
employment. Each individual case is considered on its merits taking all relevant factors into account.
3.0
COMPLETION OF APPLICATION FORM
It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that the application form is fully and correctly completed and signed and
that all relevant information in support of their application is included. Applicants are strongly advised to carefully
consider the job description and the criteria for the post and to ensure that their application includes all pertinent details
and demonstrates clearly how they meet the criteria for the post.
It should be noted that shortlisting will be based solely upon the information provided by the applicant on the form.
Members of the shortlisting panel are not permitted to take into consideration information known to them personally
about any applicant.
4.0
QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must ensure that full and accurate details of qualifications including subject, level of qualification,
examining body, grade and year are provided. If you are currently studying for a qualification or have a result pending,
please ensure that you indicate this clearly on the form. A formal offer of employment is conditional on receipt of
original documentary proof of qualifications.
5.0
PRESENT/PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT DETAILS
When listing current and previous employment details, applicants must ensure that dates are correct and that the
information is provided in date order with the most recent first. Applicants must provide an explanation for gaps in
employment history. Applicants for posts in regulated positions ie posts involving work in educational institutions or
involving access to children/young people, may be required to explain gaps in their employment history during the
interview process.
The advertised qualifications and experience requirements are the minimum levels required for the post. On receipt of
significant numbers of applications, enhanced/desirable shortlisting criteria may have to be applied in order to reach a
manageable number of candidates.
6.0
REFERENCES
Applicants are required to provide details of two persons to whom references may be made regarding their suitability
for appointment. At least one of the referees should be a present or previous employer who can comment on their
suitability to work with children/young people. If you are applying for your first post and do not have a previous
employer, a University tutor or Principal of a school where you undertook teaching practice or placement is also
acceptable. The referees cannot be members of the selection panel for this post or members of the Board of Governors
of the College. Prior consent of referees must be obtained. It should be noted that appointment to regulated positions
will be conditional on receipt of satisfactory references.
7.0
CANVASSING
Canvassing means contact or communication at any time in any manner (direct, indirect, oral or written, specific or
general) with a Member or Officer of the Board of Governors which could be deemed or perceived to be for the purpose
of advancing that application. Any applicant who is found to have approached a panel member for a post with a view to
seeking favourable treatment will be disqualified.
8.0
DATA PROTECTION
Applicants must ensure that the details provided on the application form are correct. The data provided will be
processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The information will be used to:
 Process your application
 Form the basis of the computerised and manual record of the recruitment and monitoring
 Form the basis of a computerised and manual employment record if appointed
All forms and associated documentation will be treated in the strictest confidence. However, in the case of an applicant
taking a legal case against the College it may be necessary to disclose information to the parties involved. The
documents may also be disclosed to the Equality Commission during the course of investigations resulting from claims
of discrimination.
9.0
INTERVIEW ARRANGEMENTS
Candidates will be required to provide photographic evidence of their identity at interview. This can be a driving
licence, passport, electoral identity card or national identity card if the person is a foreign national. You may be refused
an interview if you do not comply with this requirement.
Interviews will not be rescheduled to accommodate candidates who are unable to attend on the agreed date due to
reasons such as holidays, as this may be viewed as preferential treatment. If a candidate fails to present him or herself
for interview, it will be deemed that they have withdrawn from the selection process.
If a candidate is unavoidably detained enroute to interview they should contact the College immediately. Provided
contact is made prior to their final deliberations the panel may agree, after consideration of the circumstances, to allow
the candidate to attend. This decision will be at the absolute discretion of the panel. Any candidate who contacts the
panel after deliberations have commenced will not be considered for interview.
If you have a disability and you require special arrangements for interview, you should ensure that you provide details
of your needs on the application form. Similarly, if you require an interpreter, you should include this requirement on
the form in the relevant information section.
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10.0
NOTIFICATION OF UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
All candidates selected for interview will be informed whether successful or not. Unsuccessful candidates will be
notified in writing.
11.0
NOTIFICATION OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
Successful candidates will receive a formal written offer of employment from the College.
It is recommended that candidates should take no action to terminate their current employment until they are in
receipt of a formal written offer of employment from the College.
Any offers for employment will be subject to the following:





Completion of a Health Declaration Form. Upon receipt of such the Board of Governors may, at its discretion,
require a candidate to attend a medical examination
Issue of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Certificate for posts involving regulated activity.
Documentary evidence of eligibility to work in the UK
Receipt of Birth Certificate
Receipt of original documentary evidence of qualifications
A confirmed offer of employment will only be issued following all procedural and pre-employment checks.
Revised APRIL 2011
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CONFIDENTIAL
SUPPORT STAFF APPLICATION FORM
APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH
Sperrin Integrated College
39 Pound Road
Magherafelt
BT45 6NR
VACANCY APPLIED FOR: Learning Support
OFFICE Ref No: LSA/
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION:
Assistant – Bank Staff
/
Monday 8 June at 4pm.
Applicants should refer to Guidance for Applicants before completing this form. All information
given will be treated in confidence. Candidates must complete all sections. To facilitate
photocopying, please complete in black ink or typescript.
PERSONAL DETAILS
National Insurance
No:
1.
Full Name:
Mr/Mrs/Miss
2.
Address:
Postcode:
Home Phone Number:
Mobile Phone Number:
Work Phone Number:
E Mail address:
3.
Next of Kin (or person to be contacted
in the event of illness or accident)
Emergency Contact Phone Number:
Relationship
4
EDUCATION
1. Secondary School
Qualifications
Date
2. Further Education
Qualifications
Date
3. Additional relevant courses
Course Details
Date
5
4.
Membership of Professional Bodies
5.
Membership of Associations
Level
Level
Date
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Please state below particulars of present and previous employment. Begin with your present
employer and work backwards. Indicate all periods of unemployment.
Name,
Address and
Telephone
Number of
Employer
Type of Work, Duties and
Responsibilities
Date of
Employment
Month/Year
(From/To)
Current
Salary or
Salary on
Leaving
Reason for
Leaving
(Continue on separate sheet if necessary)
6
Please provide information below to explain any gaps in your employment history which
have not been included above.
NOTICE
How much notice are you required to give
your present employer ?
If appointed, when could you commence
work ?
SET OUT BELOW WHY YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS
POST (Continue on additional sheets if necessary)
Addressing the Personnel Specification use this section to outline the skills and experience you
have gained, (either in paid work, unpaid/voluntary work, work at home, through your studies,
through your leisure activities), which you think are relevant to the job for which you are applying,
and which you believe makes you suitable for the post. Your narrative must also provide evidence
as to how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this post.
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8
CHILD PROTECTION
(Please note this post is a ‘regulated position’ as defined under the Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (NI) Order 2007)
Is there any reason as to why you would not be suitable to work with
children/young people in an educational institution?
YES/NO
REFERENCES
Two references should be supplied, one should be your present/previous employer and one from
your last post where you were working with children or young people; these may be different
people depending on your experience. Testimonials should not be submitted. References should
not be supplied by relatives.
1.
2.
Name:
Name:
Address:
Address:
Postcode:
Postcode:
Tel No:
Tel No:
E Mail Address:
E Mail Address:
Occupation:
Contact prior to interview: YES/NO
Occupation:
Contact prior to interview: YES/NO
The references of short-listed candidates may be sought prior to
interview. Please state if you do not wish a referee to be contacted in
advance.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Note – This employment may require you to use your own motor vehicle.
1.
Do you hold a clean current driving licence ?
2.
Have you ever been refused motor insurance
YES/NO
?
YES/NO
If yes please give dates and details
3.
Have you had any convictions for driving offences ?
YES/NO
If yes please give dates and details
4.
Are you free to remain in and take up employment in the UK ?
YES/NO
5.
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence, cautioned or bound over
or is a charge pending ?
YES/NO
If yes please give dates and details
HEALTH
Whether you have been in employment or not, on how many days and occasions over the past 2
years have you been unfit for work.
FROM
TO
NUMBER OF
DAYS
REASONS FOR ABSENCE
Please give details of any illness you suffer from or have suffered from which could affect your
capacity to work.
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Sperrin Integrated College reserves the right to verify the above information with your current or
previous employer, and any offer of employment may be subject to satisfactory medical
examination.
If required, are you willing to undergo a medical examination ?
YES/NO
1.
YES/NO
(a) Have you ever suffered from any chest complaint, back complaint, hernia,
dermatitis (or similar skin infection) or any other serious illness, or undergone a
serious operation ?
If yes please give dates and details
b.
Have you had prolonged absence (more than 1 week) due to illness during past
two years?
YES/NO
If yes please give dates and details
2.
Please give details of any illness you suffer from or have suffered from that affect your ability
to do this job.
3.
Do you have any particular requirements to enable you to attend interview ?
YES/NO
If yes please give dates and details
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Note: Sperrin Integrated College reserves the right to only interview on the basis of
information supplied by candidates who meet the criteria established for the post and/or as
supplied by the Candidate. Curriculum Vitae will not be accepted.
Note: All successful candidates will be subject to an Access NI check prior to employment.
The charge for this process is the responsibility of the candidate.
WARNING: An employee found to have knowingly given false or inaccurate
information or to have willingly failed to disclose any relevant fact, will be
dismissed.
DECLARATION
I declare to the best of my knowledge and belief all the information recorded in this
application form is true.
Signed:___________________________________________________Date:__________
Please return completed Application Form to:
Ms H Love
Sperrin Integrated College
39 Pound Road
Magherafelt
BT45 6NR
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Equal Opportunities Monitoring Questionnaire - Non Teaching
Guidance notes are on the reverse of this form
Ref No: LSA/
/15
NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER - please
specify:………………………………………………………..
AGE – Please enter your date of birth:
__ __/__ __/__ __ __ __ (eg.05/08/1948)
SEX –

I am:
Male
Female 
DISABILITY
I have: No disability 
A physical impairment, such as difficulty using arms or, mobility requiring a wheelchair or crutches 
A sensory impairment, such as blind/visual impairment or deaf/hearing impairment 
A mental health condition, such as depression or schizophrenia 
A learning disability, such as Down’s syndrome, dyslexia or cognitive impairment such as autism 
A long standing illness, such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease or epilepsy 
Other …………………………………………………………………………...
MARITAL STATUS
I
Single (never married) 
Married (living with spouse)  Married (separated) 
am: Civil partnership (same sex) 
Divorced  Widowed 
Other...................................................................................................
RACE, COLOUR OR ETHNIC/NATIONAL ORIGINS
I am:
White 
Chinese 
Irish Traveller 
Bangladeshi 
Indian 
Pakistani 
Black African 
Black Caribbean  Black 
Other ..........................................
Mixed Ethnic Group .................................Other.........................................
NATIONALITY – Please specify:………………………………………………………………………
DEPENDANTS/CARING RESPONSIBILITIES –
Please indicate if you have dependants or persons you have caring responsibility for (if anyone):
No dependants or caring responsibilities  Child or children 
Disabled person(s) 
Elderly person(s)  Other:……………………………………………………………….
SEXUAL ORIENTATION – My sexual orientation is towards:
Persons of a different sex to me, I am a heterosexual man or woman 
Persons of the same sex as me, I am a gay man or lesbian 
Persons of both sexes, I am a bisexual man or woman 
ADVERTISING – Please name any newspapers and/or websites where you learned of this job:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
DO NOT SEPARATE THIS FORM FROM THE JOB APPLICATION FORM
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GUIDANCE AND SUMMARY OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
Sperrin Integrated College is an Equal Opportunities Employer. It is the policy of Sperrin
Integrated College to provide equality of opportunity to all persons regardless of their sex,
pregnancy or maternity related issues, race, age sexual orientation, whether they are
married or in a civil partnership, whether they are disabled, or whether they have
undergone, are undergoing, or intend to undergo gender reassignment.
We do not discriminate on any of the grounds listed above.
In this questionnaire we are asking you to provide us with some personal information
about yourself. We are doing this to demonstrate our commitment to promoting equality of
opportunity in employment. The information which you provide will assist us in measuring
and developing the effectiveness of our equal opportunities policy and to develop any
affirmative action policies.
You are not obliged to answer the questions on this form and you will not suffer any
penalty if you choose not to do so.
Access to this information will be strictly controlled and monitoring will involve the use of
statistical summaries of information in which the identity of individuals will not appear. The
information will only be used for monitoring and to comply with its obligations relating to
monitoring, investigations or proceedings relating to the requirements of the Fair
Employment and Treatment Order and other equality legislation which is applicable in
Northern Ireland.
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SPERRIN INTEGRATED COLLEGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST TITLE:
Classroom Assistant – Special Educational Needs (Pts 14-17)
Classroom Assistant – General (Pts 6 – 13)
RESPONSIBLE TO:
The Principal through Learning Support Coordinator
JOB PURPOSE:
Under the direction of the Learning Support Coordinator/Class Teacher assist with the educational
support and the care of the pupil(s) with special educational needs who is/are in the teacher’s care
in or outside the classroom.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The precise duties of the post will be determined by the Principal/Learning Support Coordinator.
Ability and experience to assist with First Aid and School Nurse procedures will be an advantage.
1.
SPECIAL CLASSROOM SUPPORT
1.1
1.6
1.7
Assist the teacher with the support and care of pupil(s) with special educational needs e.g.
enable access to the curriculum, attend to personal needs including dietary, feeding,
toileting etc.
Develop an understanding of the specific needs of the pupils(s) to be supported.
Assist with authorised programmes (e.g. Individual Educational Plan (IEP), Behavioural
Plan), participate in the evaluation of the support and encourage pupil(s) participation in
such programmes.
To contribute to the inclusion of the pupil in mainstream schools under the directions of the
Learning Support Coordinator/Class Teacher.
Assist with operational difficulties and non invasive medical/clinical difficulties pertaining to
pupil(s) disabilities.
Support in implementing behavioural management programmes as directed.
Assist pupil(s) in moving around school and on and off transport.
2.
GENERAL CLASSROOM SUPPORT
2.1
Assist pupil(s) learn as effectively as possible both in group situations and on their own by
assisting with the management of the learning environment through:
 Clarifying and explaining instruction;
 Ensuring the pupils are able to use equipment and materials provided;
 Assisting in motivating, encouraging and prompting the pupil(s) as required;
 Assisting in areas requiring reinforcement or development;
 Promoting the independence of pupils to enhance learning;
 Helping pupil(s) stay on work set;
 Meeting physical, medical, social and emotional needs as required whilst
encouraging independence.
2.2
Be aware of school policies, procedures and of confidential issues linked to
home/pupil/teacher/school work and to keep confidences appropriately.
Establish a supportive relationship with the pupils concerned.
Prepare and produce appropriate resources to support pupil(s) and take care of material for
play sessions.
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
2.3
2.4
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2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
Supervise groups of pupils, or individual pupils on specified activities including talking and
listening, using ICT, extra curricular activities, and other duties, as directed by the Learning
Support Coordinator/Class Teacher.
Under the direction of the teacher, and following an appropriate risk assessment, assist
with off-site activities.
Provide continuity of care of e.g. supervising play and cloakrooms including hand washing,
toileting etc.
Provide supervision/support including the administration of prescribed medicines and drugs
for children who are ill and deal with minor cuts and grazes.
Ensure as far as possible a safe environment for pupils.
Report to the Learning Support Coordinator/Class Teacher any signs or symptoms
displayed which may suggest that a pupil requires expert or immediate attention.
3.
ADMINISTRATION
3.1
3.2
Assist with classroom administration.
Assist the Learning Support Coordinator/Class Teacher with the implementation of the
system for recording the pupil(s) progress.
Contribute to the maintenance of pupil(s) records.
Provide regular feedback about the pupil(s) to the Learning Support Coordinator/Class
Teacher.
Duplicate written and digital materials, assist with production of charts and displays, record
radio and television programmes, catalogue and process books and resources.
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.
OTHER DUTIES
4.1
4.2
4.3
Attend relevant in-service training.
Assist work placement students with practical tasks.
Such other duties as may be assigned by the Principal/Learning Support Coordinator/Class
Teacher within the level of this post.
It is acknowledged that the contents of this generic job description are not subject to appeal.
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SPERRIN INTEGRATED COLLEGE
Personnel Specification
Classroom Assistant (Special Educational Needs)
FACTOR
Qualifications
ESSENTIAL
NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in
a relevant childcare
qualification.
DESIRABLE
NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a relevant
childcare qualification
5 GCSEs including English and Maths or
equivalent.
Recognised/Accredited First Aid
qualification.
RGN or equivalent qualification with
experience.
Experience
Experience of working with
young people ideally 11-18
age range.
Previous work in a school.
Minimum 1 years experience working
with children.
Special Needs Experience with children.
Voluntary Sector Experience.
The College reserves the right to enhance these criteria.
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