Communication Support Worker
What is the work like?
Communication support workers (CSWs) work in colleges, universities and some schools, helping deaf students to communicate with their teachers or tutors and other students.
As a CSW your duties would include:
- supporting students by interpreting between spoken English and British Sign Language (BSL), lipspeaking and notetaking.
- working alongside other professionals, such as teachers and BSL interpreters
- helping students understand and produce written material in class
- adapting learning materials so that students understand them more easily
- suggesting ways that the school or college environment can be improved to make it easier for students to use hearing aids or lipread.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
For most jobs you would need the Edexcel Professional Development Award in Communication Support Work with Deaf Learners. This involves one year's part-time study. See the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) website for a list of colleges and universities approved to provide the course – you should contact them to find out if it is available.
Before studying for the qualification you would normally need:
- the CACDP Stage 2 Certificate in British Sign Language (BSL)
- at least four GCSEs (A-C), including English
- to be over 19 years old.
You may be accepted for training without the minimum GCSE requirements if you have previous relevant experience of working with deaf people.
If you have at least a Stage 2 Certificate in BSL and experience of working or volunteering with deaf or hearing impaired children, you may be able to find a job and complete qualifications whilst working.
For support work in a university you may need a degree or specialist subject knowledge.
The CACDP, the National Association for the Tertiary Education of Deaf People (NATED) and the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD) are proposing replacement of the Edexcel Professional Development Award in Communication Support Work with Deaf Learners with a two-part qualification. This would consist of:
- an Edexcel qualification in educational support work with deaf learners in schools or further education
- a CACDP qualification in Facilitating Communication.
The CACDP has already developed new Level 3 Certificates. These include:
- CACDP Certificate in Facilitating Communication with Deaf People (Lipspeaking Skills)
- CACDP Certificate in Facilitating Communication with Deaf People (Notetaking Skills).
Contact West Kent College for details of the new Foundation Degree in Professional Studies - Communication Support Worker for Deaf People.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you start work as a communication support worker you would usually be expected to upgrade your British Sign Language qualifications to NVQ level 3 and beyond, and improve your sign language interpreting skills.
You can also take additional CACDP qualifications that are relevant to your job. See the CACDP website for a full list of courses.
Where can I go for more information?
Block 4
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3UZ
Tel: 0191 383 1155
Textphone: 0191 383 7915
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Communication support workers can earn from around £17,000 to over £26,000 a year.
Many CSWs are employed part-time, for part of the year, so they would receive a proportion of full-time salaries (known as 'pro-rata' payment).
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would usually work 25 to 30 hours a week during college or university term time (typically 30 to 40 weeks a year). Part-time and sessional work is common, especially as many deaf learners may only attend college on a part-time basis.
Your working environment would vary, depending on the type of courses you are supporting – you could work in classrooms, lecture theatres or laboratories, or outdoors on farms, building sites, and other working environments. You might need to travel between college sites.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent communication skills in English (spoken and written) and BSL (British Sign Language)
- flexibility and adaptability
- the ability to work effectively with learners, tutors, lecturers and other professionals
- willingness to carry out research, for example, to familiarise yourself with specialised vocabulary
- an awareness and understanding of deaf culture and issues in the education of deaf people
- impartiality
- respect for learners’ confidentiality
- commitment to equal opportunities
- IT skills.
What opportunities are there?
You would find most opportunities in colleges of further education and universities. You could also be employed by schools, local education authorities, vocational training centres or freelance agencies.
As an experienced communication support worker, you could move into a management position within sensory impairment or disability services. With further training, you could progress to become a sign language interpreter or teacher of the deaf.
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