Specialist Support Advisor - AAC

• This role is based in Taunton, however, will involve countywide travelling.
• 28 days’ annual leave - pro rata for part time - in addition to 8 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 consist 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 if appropriate.
• Have an 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.
• Following up on intervention plans 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 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 initiative and be flexible in your decision-making process.

You will need a driving licence and access to a car for this role, as you will be travelling countywide.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

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 shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

The salary for this role is Grade 12, ranging from £17,158 to £19,236 per annum for 22.2 hours per week.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Andrea Doyle Inclusion Lead Complex Physical Needs & Sensory Loss on 07977 411024 or andrea.doyle@somerset.gov.uk

Interviews will take place face to face on 12th and 13^th January 2026 in Taunton.

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can’t wait to hear from you.

This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.