Support Workers
If you require support in education or employment,
for example a dyslexia tutor,a mobility trainer,
a non-medical helper, a notetaker, a reader or any other
support worker, Learner Support can provide
you with a choice of screened personnel.
For further information about support in education
please refer to the publication
'The Needs of students with disabilities in
further and higher education'. (opens in new window)The publication is available from
SKILL (opens in new window): National Bureau for Students with Disabilities.
For information about support in employment please
refer to the Job Centre Plus: Access to Work web pages. (opens in new window)
Support Worker is a general term to describe
someone who provides support to a disabled or dyslexic client
within education or the workplace. This support is
sometimes referred to as a 'non-medical helper' and
is different from other types of medical support and
personal care. The client supported by a non-medical
helper may have a physical or sensory impairment,
specific learning difficulties (eg dyslexia) or a
mental ill health condition. Some clients require a
non-medical helper for a few hours a week,
whilst others may require more.
Non-medical helpers provide a range of
support based on individual requirements.
This might include:
- Braille transcriptions
- Dyslexia support
- Learning Mentor
- Library support
- Mobility training
- Note taking
- Photocopying
- Practical support eg in laboratory work
- Proof reading
- Reading onto tape
- Specialist tuition
- Time management guidance and advice
We have agency workers to carry out the
following roles. Full job descriptions are
available if required.
Role
Personal Support Assistant
Library Support Assistant
Note Taker
Proof Reader
Reader
Support Key Worker
Subject Support Worker
Specialist Disability Support Worker
Specialist Technology Trainer
Support and Guidance Mentor
Dyslexia Support Tutor
Study Support Tutor
Specialist Support Tutor
To allow us to match you with support workers,
we require as much information
as possible about your requirements.
It would be helpful if you could tell us
- Where you are studying or working.
- The full name of your course of study or type of employment.
- The length of your course.
- Any recommendations which have been made
in relation to your support.
For example you may have had a
full needs assessment at an Access Centre (opens in new window)
or other assessment centre, eg Access
to Work. (opens in new window)
Details will be stored on our database until
a client and support worker are matched.
Client requirements are compared with the profiles of
agency workers. We will guide you through
the selection process.
Once a decision has been made we will provide the client
and the support worker with the administrative paperwork
required, for example job descriptions, time sheets,
guidance and information leaflets.
Learner Support is the point of contact in relation
to any queries. Clients and support workers are
most welcome to contact us to discuss support.
Learner Support is the support worker's first point of
contact in relation to any queries.
The non-medical helper or support worker will be
provided with guidance and advice in relation to
day to day working, including a 'Handbook for
Support Workers' and with a 'Code of practice
for support workers'.
The support worker will be provided with a
Contract for Services and time sheets. Payment
for services will be made through Learner Support.
We will require confirmation that you have
funding already available to meet the costs of
your support, for example a letter or document
from your LEA
or funding
body (opens in new window) or a copy of the
agreement from Access to Work.
Jobcentre
Plus - Access to Work (opens in new window)
If you do not have funding available, or you
have not had a needs assessment, then you
may wish to discuss your support requirements
with the disability support staff at your university
or college, or staff in your place of employment.
Contact details may be found
in the university's disability statement or in
Skill's publication 'Into Higher Education' (opens in new window) or on the
Access
to Work website (opens in new window).
If your support requirements change, you should
discuss this with the disability support staff at your
university, or your Access to Work advisor (details will
be available through the JobCentre
Plus website (opens in new window)).
You may also want to read the information leaflet
'The Needs of Students with Disabilities in
Further and Higher Education'. (opens in new window)
You are most welcome to contact Learner Support
with any enquiries.
Contact us
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