Education Advocate

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential skills

a)   Degree in Education, Law or Human Rights or 5 years relevant experience in providing advice, advocacy or support to those with special educational needs.

b)   Effective organisational skills, including experience of managing your own workload autonomously without close supervision

c)   Good computer skills including experience of Microsoft applications

d)   Ability to work empathetically and effectively with parents/carers/guardians of children with special educational needs

e)   Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively to build relationships families and external organisations

f)    Effective time management skills with the ability to work effectively to deadlines and under pressure

g)   Excellent presentation and literacy skills, with the ability to convey complex information in plain English to a range of audiences.

h)   A commitment to the charity’s vision

i)     A full clean driving licence and own car (N.B. if someone with a disability is excluded from holding a driving licence then alternative methods of travel are acceptable) 

j)     A willingness to travel and to work unsocial hours, including weekends and evenings.

Desirable skills and experience

a)   Knowledge of the services and facilities available to children with sight loss and their families in Northern Ireland

b)   Good knowledge of Education (NI) Order 1996, as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability (NI) Order 2005 along with the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs and its Supplement and the Disability Discrimination Code of Practice for Schools. 

c)   Experience of working with visually impaired children, young people and their families

d)   Ability to understand the broad range of issues facing visually impaired children young people and their families

e)   Experience of advising parents/carers/guardians of children with special educational needs, including using advocacy skills in an environment such as a Law Centre, advice unit, or firm of solicitors or equivalent

f)    Experience of planning and co-ordinating training with people such as parents/carers/guardians of children with sight loss and education professionals.

g)   Knowledge of the functions and duties of local education and health authorities and of the voluntary sector

This post will be subject to satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure check from Access NI.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate how they will effectively meet the travel requirements of the post.