Animal Care & Outdoor Learning Instructor

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four ?

Our colleagues' wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we're always looking for new ways to improve everyone's work/life balance. We're taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we'll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group - so there's never been a more exciting time to join !

Job Title: Animal Care & Outdoor Learning Instructor

Location: Ryecroft School, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 7BH

Salary: Up to £26,000.00 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for an Animal Care & Outdoor Learning Instructor to join our close-knit team at Ryecroft School, part of Options Autism.

About the Role

We are looking for a motivated and professional individual with a profound respect for wildlife to plan, prepare and deliver practical and theory Animal Care lessons and learning programmes to our students. The lessons will be based on subject and accreditation requirements and the individual needs of pupils.

Some general responsibilities of the role include:

• Planning, organising and managing practical and theory animal care lessons for pupils.
• Proving to be an inspiring instructor and developing the provision for active learning
• Providing personal support to enable pupils to reach their potential both academically and emotionally
• Assisting the staff team in supporting pupils with their behaviour
• Supporting elsewhere in the school, including on offsite activities when not instructing animal care lessons.
• Sharing the school's values and ethos to create a highly personalised curriculum to meet individuals' needs in an environment that is nurturing and holistic.

For a full list of Duties and Responsibilities, please see the Job Description

About Us

Our New Options School - Ryecroft School has capacity for 60 pupils, opened in September 2024 and caters for pupils with Autism and complex needs.

The school is located in Walsall. Walsall is a market town in the West Midlands County. It is located 9 miles north-west of Birmingham, 7 miles east of Wolverhampton and 9 miles from Lichfield.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that's not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit