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Work Experience Placement Officer - Full-time - Special Needs Position

Ripplevale School and College - Rochester, Rochester

  • Ref:MED887-6006-183S
  • Posted:02/03/2026
  • Pay:£30,000 – £38,000 pa, depending on experience
  • Start Date:ASAP
  • App Close Date:16/03/2026 at 15:00
  • Interviews:TBC

Advert

Work Experience Placement Officer (Specialist in SEND – Autism Focus, with Teaching Experience Preferred)
  • Department: Careers, Employability, Student Progression and Work-Related Learning
  • Reports to: Assistant Head Teacher (Careers, Employability and Attendance)
  • Location: Ripplevale school and college – Specialist SEN College (Autism), with regular travel to employer sites, community partners, and supported placement venues
  • Contract Type: Full-time, permanent
  • Salary: £30,000 – £38,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications – reflecting specialist SEND context

Your new school
Ripplevale School and College, is a thriving independent special school, for 170 students aged 6 to 25 years old, located in the historic town of Rochester. As part of the Ripplevale family of schools, we provide a holistic, child centred approach to meeting the needs of our students, most of whom have an Education and Health Care Plan. Identified needs may include Autism Spectrum Disorder, dyslexia, speech, language and communication difficulties, DCD, sensory, and high levels of anxiety.

Your new role

We are seeking a compassionate, experienced, and proactive Work Experience Placement Officer to champion meaningful work experience, supported internships, industry placements, and work-related learning for our students with autism at this specialist SEN college. The role is central to preparing autistic young people for adult life and securing positive onward destinations – including sustained paid employment, supported employment, apprenticeships, vocational training, further/higher education (with appropriate adjustments), independent living programmes, or day services – tailored to individual strengths, interests, sensory needs, communication styles, and EHCP outcomes.

 
The successful candidate will bring teaching experience (ideally in SEND/autism settings), deep understanding of both vocational routes (e.g., supported internships, traineeships, entry-level vocational qualifications, apprenticeships with adjustments) and traditional academic routes (e.g., adapted further education, higher education access with DSA support, or specialist programmes), and preferably prior experience as an Internal Verifier (IV) (or Internal Verified Assessor/IVA status) and/or External Verifier (EV) (or External Verified Assessor/EVA status). This quality assurance background is highly valued for ensuring rigorous, person-centred placement standards, supporting employer training in autism-aware supervision, and contributing to vocational programme excellence.


Early Application Encouraged
Due to the high volume of interest in this position, we may close the vacancy before the stated deadline. To ensure your application is considered, we strongly recommend applying as soon as possible.

Safeguarding recruitment statement
Ripplevale School Rochester is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check is required for all successful applicants. Ripplevale School Rochester is required to conduct online searches about you as part of their shortlisting process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance.

Information about the school

Ripplevale Rochester is an independent specialist provision for students aged 6 to 25 who have been diagnosed with various needs, which may include ASD, dyslexia, speech, language and communication difficulties, DCD, sensory, social, emotional and other learning difficulties along with high levels of anxiety. The school is set in an historic Medway town and enjoys the outstanding community facilities and links that the towns of Chatham and Rochester have to offer.

Ripplevale provides a holistic child centred approach to education underpinned by our team of 98 Teachers, Teaching assistants, Administrators and Therapists, all working in a caring and nurturing environment, with a common belief that all students have the opportunity to make progress and experience success everyday, in a safe, caring, nurturing and secure environment.

Our site boasts well-resourced classrooms, small class sizes, music and drama facilities, Science labs, Therapy rooms, amazing vocational teaching areas such as our hair and beauty studios, a coffee shop, catering kitchens, as well as numerous areas for children to have fun and enjoy social times. Staff are both welcoming and friendly at this independent school and there is a collaborative approach where resources and best practices are shared.

Job Contact Information

  • Name:Brett Coventry
  • Address:13 New Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1BG
  • Telephone: 020 3818 7040
  • Email: ripplevale@hays.com

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.