Job description: Special Education Teacher

Aim and purpose of the job

The special education teacher (SET) will work in little groups of children who have learning problems or disabilities. The intention is to develop an individual working program and to stimulate/improve the working of inclusion of these children in collaboration with the school and within the laws of Peru. The goal is to reach an improvement in their learning process with less frustration. The volunteer will be part of the group “psycho pedagogic” under the directive of our psychologist, with whom he/she needs to have a close communication.

Working hours are as follows: Monday through Friday, 8.00 – 18.00 with one hour lunch break from 13.00 – 14.00. On free weekends the working week lasts until Thursday 15.00. Responsibilities

Start a program/schedule together with the psychologists and the therapists for the children with the most urgent need of inclusion at school

Develop personal goals for every child in communication with the members of ‘health services’ for the outcome

Observe and stay in contact with the school responsible and pass on the needed information to the therapists

Search for proactive solutions with the psychologist and/or house director when problems at school or at home occur at any given point

Plan and realize the classes

Develop and maintain an efficient report system

Work with children with developmental disorders, ADHD, dyslexic, dyscalculia, behavior problems and emotional problems, etc.

Stay in close contact with the other therapists to discuss work methods

Attend the regular reunions of ‘health service’ and therapy meetings when requested by the supervisor

Collaborate with the other therapists to plan activities, therapy sessions and treatment to reach the outcome of the child

Communicate with the caregivers about the children’s behavior, general development and improvement in therapies. Pass on suggestions to improve the development of the children

Invite the caregivers to the therapy sessions to educate them on how to improve the learning process of these children

Support and train the caregivers to introduce teaching methods

Improve the therapy equipment such as therapeutic toys etc. in close cooperation with the home’s administration. Take responsibility for the material

Participate in trainings to which you are invited

Minimum qualifications

24 years or older

Fluent Spanish; a basic level of English language skills is recommended but not obligatory

Diploma and/or license as special education teacher with specialization

Intermediate computer skills (word, excel, internet, email)

Basic administrative skills

Previous experience as special education teacher is preferred but not necessary

Enjoys working with children

Understanding of the situation of the children (respecting their history and seeing their history as a reason for the inappropriate behaviours)

Flexibility, patience and creativity

Reliability and responsibility

Ability to give individual therapies or in groups

Ability to reflect on therapy sessions and to improve and reach the goals

Ability to communicate and work together with different specialists and the caregivers

Experience with the education of children who display inappropriate behaviours

Strong organizational skills and ability to organize and follow work routines and schedules independently

Ability to give training to the caregivers if needed

Readiness to work in a work environment that is in part characterized by frequently changing colleagues with different professional backgrounds

Ability to communicate in a respectful way the needs of the children in the home and school

Practice the secret of the professional Other responsibilities

Each volunteer chooses a home in NPH-Peru (group of children of the same age living together) at the beginning of their year. This has been described as the most fulfilling part of volunteering, the bond and relationships formed with their home. This time is during the week daily for one hour and in the weekend during the afternoons. All NPH volunteers receive room and board, access to medical care and a monthly stipend. Volunteers pay for their transportation to and from the home and medical insurance.