Specialist Support Advisor - AAC

About The Job

Some key information

• This role is based in Taunton, however, will involve countywide travelling.
• 28 days’ annual leave - pro rata for part time - plus bank holidays.
• All year round– 22.2 Hours per week.
• Permanent contract
• Support children to help them meet their full potential

The Access and Assistive Technology Team (AAT) are offering an exciting opportunity to be part of an experienced and growing service as an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Specialist Support Advisor.

This team is part of the Specialist Support Services within the Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching Team in Somerset Council and consists of a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Specialist Support Advisors. All team members demonstrate a ‘can do’ attitude and an ethos to offer best practice to the CYP we work with. We work hard to help children find their voice whilst keeping the child at the centre of our work and provide strategies to enable them to meet their full potential.

Our work addresses the holistic SEND needs of children, young people, and their families across Somerset, supporting them with communication access in both educational settings and the wider community.

We work very closely with our fellow professional colleagues in Education, Health, and Social Care.

We’re working to improve the lives of children and young people here in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. Your day‑to‑day work will involve:

• Working with children and young people who have complex physical needs and are not able to produce speech, to use supportive communication strategies.
• Working in a variety of environments including mainstream and specialist schools, early years settings, colleges, and the child or young person’s home where appropriate.
• The opportunity to learn about all forms of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) including communication books, specialist technology such as eye gaze and use of switches to control electronic devices.
• Reinforcing and following up on intervention plans/activities under the guidance of the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:

• Have previously worked in educational, therapeutic, or health‑based settings supporting children or young people with complex physical needs or communication difficulties.
• Have highly effective written, communication and learning skills.
• Have a passion to support children and young people with a wide range of SEND to effectively communicate, access learning and develop their independence.
• Have good knowledge of IT and the will to expand your skills in Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices and technology to support CYP with SEND to access alternative methods of communication and learning.
• Show enthusiasm to ‘make a difference’ and be a team player.
• Work from your own initiative and be flexible in your decision‑making process.
• Can manage a varied workload, balancing visits, preparation and follow‑up tasks across multiple settings.

You will need a driving licence and access to a car for this role.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work‑life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in…