Learning Support Worker
A Day in the Life of….a Learning Support Worker
The role of a Learning Support Worker is an exciting adventure where every day brings with it something new and interesting. At JigsawPlus the day begins at 9am and ends at 5pm with learners attending between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Activities vary throughout the day and these depend on the person you’re working with, as everyone works from an individualised curriculum based upon specific needs and interests. Time may be spent teaching functional skills such as reading, writing, spelling and mathematics or communication training. There will also be times where you will provide support to access the local community, taking part in activities that promote health and wellbeing, hobbies and pastimes.
Alongside supporting the achievement of academic programmes the role of a LSW goes much further, providing support with medications, personal care, understanding emotions, forming friendships and managing behaviours.
In order to fulfil the role JigsawPlus offers an extensive training programme. Staff receive practical training in first aid, epilepsy, medication administration and PROACT-SCIPr-UK; and academic training in Applied Behaviour Analysis which underpins the teaching practices at Jigsaw.
(JigsawPlus member of Staff)
Career Progression
JigsawPlus offers structured career, training and salary progression whereby it is possible to gain additional qualifications (including core industry competencies through to specific CABAS teaching qualifications and Masters Degree) as well as offering an engaging programme of wellbeing activities and other benefits available to staff. More on all this can be found by visiting the staff training page on this site.
More comments from our Support Workers
“I like helping the learners to become more confident and independent.”
“I love seeing the progress over time that the learners make, e.g. when I took a learner climbing for the first time, he was very anxious about the height of the climbing wall, on the fourth visit he was climbing confidently and had completely conquered the feat that he had had initially.”
“The camaraderie of the staff team is what I love.”
“I like supporting the learners on-site and off-site, helping them to learn and to become more independent. I think all the training provided is very interesting and valuable as it helps me to become more useful as a member of staff and more knowledgeable and experienced in life.”
“The role of a Learning Support Worker is an exciting adventure where every day brings with it something new and interesting.”
Comments from our Learners
“I like working on money skills with my friend and I love working in the Co-op and the Café.”
“I like working hard with my Support Workers and going on different trips and I enjoy doing work experience at the Café.”
A personal view of JigsawPlus…
Surrounded and supported by a fantastic and diverse team of colleagues, team leaders, mentors and managers, all with the shared passion to make positive, life-changing differences to our learners lives every day means working for JigsawPlus is a truly unique experience. To support learners in living the fullest, happiest, healthiest lives possible, no two days are ever the same – boredom does not exist at JigsawPlus! Our working days, Monday-Friday, 9-5, could include teaching essential skills, eg. how to do a food shop, cooking and food safety, to work experience across a range of industries; archery, swimming, gardening or horse riding to name but a few. Be prepared for anything! With great training opportunities, career progression and a team of people who genuinely care not just about our learners but us, the staff, too. Jigsaw is a satisfying and rewarding charity to work for. An unusual feat nowadays.”
(JigsawPlus Learning Support Worker)
Interested?
If you’d like to know more, please visit the current vacancies page on this website where you will find all current openings across Jigsaw Trust along with full Job Descriptions and Application Forms. Alternatively, for an initial, informal conversation, please contact a member of our team on [email protected] or call 01483 277366.