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Student Support Worker
Learning for Living and Work
Hourly Rate: £12.64 per hour
Contract Type: Variable Hours - Approximately 37 hrs per week

Reference: REC2026 | Closing Date: Tuesday, 17th June 2025

Variable Hours

This role is offered on a Variable Hours contract for services, giving you the flexibility to choose whether to accept work offered to you. We’ll provide an approximate number of hours you may asked to work, however there is no obligation for work to be offered, and there’s no obligation for you to accept the work offered.

The Opportunity

In this rewarding role, you’ll help our learners with learning difficulties and disabilities achieve their goals and grow in independence. You’ll deliver personalised curriculum and pastoral support, ensuring every learner can access the full range of opportunities at Barnsley College.

Working with individuals and small groups, you’ll encourage engagement, participation, and social inclusion across a variety of settings – from classrooms and workshops to breakout spaces and the wider community.

You’ll support our learners in developing their confidence, building positive relationships, and navigating their environment with ease. You’ll also help to strengthen essential skills in literacy, numeracy, and communication. On occasion, you may assist with personal care needs – always with dignity and respect – and full training will be provided where required.

A key part of your role will be promoting independence. You’ll help our learners gain life skills, solve problems, make informed decisions, and take steps towards employment or further education. Your support will empower them to move forward with confidence.

You’ll also ensure our learners feel comfortable and supported in using our College facilities and resources, helping to build motivation, resilience, and positive behaviours. Through your encouragement, they’ll be able to overcome challenges and flourish.

Beyond the classroom, you’ll help learners broaden their horizons by supporting community visits, outreach projects, and activities across different College sites – giving them opportunities to apply their skills in real-world settings.

About You

You’re someone who genuinely cares about helping others succeed. You bring patience, empathy, and a supportive approach to everything you do. You enjoy working in a people-focused role and understand the importance of creating inclusive, engaging, and accessible learning environments.

You have relevant experience in education, support, or care, and you’ve worked directly with learners who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Your background in Further Education means you understand the challenges and opportunities that come with supporting diverse learners in a college setting.

You’re confident supporting students on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, and you know how to motivate and encourage them to reach their goals, build independence, and develop essential life skills. You’re flexible and responsive, able to adapt to different environments—from classrooms to community-based settings.

Above all, you bring a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and a strong commitment to helping learners build confidence and achieve their potential—both in and beyond the classroom.

Below is a list of some of the key skills, qualifications and experience we are seeking for this exciting opportunity.

Required

* Relevant Level 2 qualification

* GCSEs in Maths and English (or equivalent)

* Teaching qualification or willingness to work towards a Level 5 PGCE

* Level 2 Health and Social Care or willingness to achieve

* Relevant work experience

* Experience supporting learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities

* Experience in Further Education

Reasons to join us

* We invest in our people through funded CPD opportunities, regular staff development training and paid volunteering days

* Career advancement opportunities with tailored support for staff to progress

* 24/7 access to same day appointments with a GP

* Exclusive discounts and cashback for retail, dining and leisure

* Discounted college gym membership with onsite facilities

* Supporting employee mental health through access to free counselling services and the Foundations App

* Free Microsoft Office 365 for personal use on up to five machines

* Access to discounted hair and beauty therapies at our onsite salon

* On site subsidised Starbucks and food outlets offering a variety of dining options

* Our shared purpose - We believe in transforming the lives of both our learners and staff

Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 17th June 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early depending on the level of interest.

Barnsley College is committed to creating a dynamic and diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all candidates regardless of their gender, disability, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or faith. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure from DBS.

Please be aware that it is a Criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children