Council seeks language assistants to help new residents.
The Highland Council is seeking three members of staff to provide language support to families new to the Scottish language and culture.
The posts of Community based Bilingual Language Assistants are currently being advertised by the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service. Applicants are being sought who are fluent in English and at least one other language such as Eastern European languages, Chinese and Bengali.
The successful candidates, once appointed will supplement four bilingual language assistants who are currently employed across the Highland Council area.
Dr Margaret Crombie Highland Council’s Support for Learning Manager said: “There has been an increase in the number of families relocating from other countries to Highland with significant numbers from Eastern Europe. Accessing services, such as housing, medical services, and education can prove difficult, particularly during the initial settling-in period. The Council is keen to provide further language support to families new to the Scottish language and culture.”
“We hope to add to our current Bilingual Language Assistant service throughout Highland; with bases in Inverness, Dingwall and Fort William. Full and part-time applications are welcome. Due to the nature of these posts, the flexibility of successful candidates is essential.”
Once appointed the new Bilingual Language Assistants will help new residents settling-in who are at the early stages of learning English language. Their jobs will be carried out within the policies and procedures of The Highland Council, NHS Highland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and associated Wellbeing Alliance partners.
Funding for these temporary Bilingual Language Assistants (2.5 posts) - which will be fixed term posts to January 2008 - is being provided by The Highland Council and the New European Structural Fund.
Application packs are available from Highland Council tel 01349 868640 (24 hours) quoting reference number D/86/07. Informal enquiries about the posts should be made to: Dr Margaret Crombie (Support for Learning Manager) tel: 01349 868205; or e-mail: margaret.crombie@highland.gov.uk or Nicola Adam: tel: 01349 868267.
Full details of the posts can be found on the Council’s website