Salary: OHCAT Business Support, outer London PayScale, Grade: 1C/3 Actual: £23,413.78 - £24,769.31 (FTE £27,343- £28,926.00)
Location: The Link School, Satellite Site, Lancastrian Road, Wallington, SM6 9GN
Working Pattern: Term Time Only, 36 hours per week, 44.65 week per year
The Link School specialises in meeting the needs of 160 students from 4-19 with Speech, Language and Communication difficulties including autistic spectrum conditions and Pathological Demand Avoidance. In addition to the Primary and Secondary sites, it also has a satellite provision which provides a safe and nurturing environment for autistic young people who show demand avoidant profiles.
Situated in the London Borough of Sutton all four sites are easily accessible by public transport and well placed to draw upon a wide range of leisure, recreational and educational facilities having easy access to Surrey and London.
The school provides a warm, safe, friendly and nurturing environment, which helps pupils to learn, express their ideas, communicate, develop friendships and grow in confidence and self- esteem.
Staff provide pupils with an outstanding education based on strong practitioner research and the holistic curriculum offer that promotes strong personal and social education as well as cognitive development. It is a rewarding and inspirational place to work. To find out more about us visit our school website
We are looking to recruit Special Support Assistants to join a newly formed class in our specialist flagship school-based satellite and outreach service for young people with ASD and Pathological Demand avoidance.
You will need a genuine belief in person centred learning with an ability to build strong relationships of trust with young people with high level anxieties as well as an ability to engage young people through their motivations and interests. It would be an advantage to have interests and skills that can be used in learner individual programmes, for example, sports, Information Technology and gaming or creative hobbies.
Do you feel you can
• build a rapport?
• recognise dysregulation and mindfully offer support?
• offer choices?
• wait for and encourage initiation?
• interpretate behaviours as a communication?
• provide guidance for interpreting the feelings and opinions of others?
• be creative and resourceful?
• negotiate and suggest?
• use indirect praise?
If so, then this might be the next exciting opportunity for you to explore and work with a team of like-minded colleagues who want to provide the best outcomes for our students.
Initial and on-going training to work as part of the team for these learners will be provided
Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.
The Link School is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and pupils with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please our website
For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Robert Richards via email to arrange a time to speak with the Principal.
To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.Our Trust
The Link School is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our school website
Rewards & Benefits:
• Enhanced parental leave schemes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loans
• Employee referral scheme
• Membership to Discounts for Teachers
• Discounted gym membership subscription including digital fitness
• Comprehensive training and development
• Access to counselling advice and support via Health Assured
• Commitment to wellbeing supported by our occupational health service and mental-health first aiders
• Scope for career progression across eight college centres, 14 academy schools and shared services team
• Pension scheme - the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) both of which have life cover and financial protection for your family.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.
For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Robert Richards, School Business manager via email
To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
Closing Date: Thursday 17th July 2025
Interviews will take place during the week commencing: 21st July 2025