sna interview

af12

hi guys,
im not sure if this is in the right section so apologies in advance if not. I have an interview shortly for an sna job. its been a while since I had an interview for a job, I have lots of experience but am just not good in an interview situation. when asked about the issues surrounding the role of an sna I always get stuck...also personal skills and suitability for the position.. can anyone give me any ideas etc.. I know it probably seems very obvious but I am just so nervous and really want this job.

byhookorbycrook

http://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/NCSE-SNA-Scheme-Information-Pamphlet.FINALwebaccessibleversion.16.01.151.pdf
would be worth reading up on

I have the following set of qs that a friend compiled from qs other SNAs were asked at interview:
Interviewing for SNA – Possible Questions


1. Tell us about your career to date (settling in question)
2. What skills do you have which will enhance the classroom?
3. How do you see the role of the SNA?
4. What will the role of the teacher be in relation to your duties?
5. What do you see as the most important issue in relation to the child/children?
6. How will you relate to parents?
7. What are the anxieties you may have about the position?
8. What do you see as your primary responsibility?
9. Any child needs to be part of a group. What could the SNA do to ensure this?
10. You will need to work with other children in the group, how will you manage this?
11. What do you see as the line of authority for the SNA?
12. If you have issues or questions, how will you address these?
13. How would you handle conflict?
14. What supports do you need for this position?
15. Have you any idea as to how you might keep a record of your work?
16. Are you willing to take courses or undertake reading in relation to the role?
17. If you have a question about the care of the child where will you get the information?
18. Your duties will include toileting and physical care of a child at some stage in your employment. How will you carry out these duties?
19. What could be the issues in relation to toileting?
20. What would you suggest to overcome these problems?
21. If the child with special needs does not need your attention, what are the skills you could use in the classroom?
22. If a parent engages you in conversation in relation to a child or teacher, how would you handle this situation?
23. What is your understanding of confidentiality?
24. You may be required to spend 12 days in the school when the school is closed to carry out assigned duties. How will you arrange these duties with the Principal?
25. Experience in working with children/children with disabilities
26. Qualifications?
27. Future plans for courses and how these might help in work as SNA
28. Interests - how would these help?
29. Duties & Conditions (applicants should have received a copy) is clarification needed? difficulties with any of them esp. time before and after school & extra days either before or end of term
30. What is your understanding of who is responsible for assigning work to SNA?/supervising work of SNA
31. Day to day basis - how do you see yourself carrying out work/ classroom/ playground
32. You are in the playground and see another pupil misbehaving - what do you do?
33. Confidentiality - meet parent/grandparent in supermarket - ask you about pupil.........How would you handle it?
34. What type of work relationship should SNA have with child/class teacher/principal/other staff members/parent of child
35. You are working with a specific child and have formed opinions on how the child can best be helped. What do you do?
36. What is your understanding of appropriate dress in the context of a school?
37. If you have a disagreement with a colleague, how will you solve this?
38. To whom are you ultimately responsible?
39. What are your strengths?
40. What are the difficulties which could arise for you in this position?
41. Why should you be given this position over the other candidates?
42. Any questions in relation to the school? The role?
43. Any other questions


They asked what research I had done on the school?
What experience in taking children with special needs swimming and horse riding?
Working with them in a wood work class.
Working as part of a team?

The questions that most often come up are:
1 a What courses / experience do you have?
2 How would you deal with a difficult child?
3 How would you deal with a child that hasn't been fully toilet trained?
4 How are you at working on your own initiative and with others?
5 Would you be willing to help the other children in the class?
6 The qualities a SNA should have - patience, etc.
7 Would you be willing to do additional courses / training?
8 Would you talk about the child / children outside the school?
9 If you and the class teacher had a serious disagreement how would you handle it?
10 If you had a disagreement with another SNA over the care needs of a pupil what would u do?
11 Do you agree that you have total responsibility discipline for the special needs child?
12 Are you prepared to participate in religious avidities in and out of school hours?
13 Would you discuss what happened in the class in the staff room?
14 Are you prepared to work the 12 days during the summer hols?
15 Are you prepared to do photocopying/washing paint etc for the teacher?
16 If there is a disagreement between 2 children in the yard what do you do? The special needs child is not involved
17 how would I deal with a teen who did not want a SNA?
18 Who would not speak to her peer group or any on else?
19 How do you work as part on a team?
20 What strategy would you put in place to assess the progress of the special needs child?"
"21 What are the main problems that you might have while working with the special needs child? “
“22 If the child is showing extremely difficult behaviour, how will you deal with this situation?
23 " What can you do to add to the role of special needs assistant that will benefit the child or the school???"
24 What would you think is a suitable uniform / type of clothing for Sna’s
25 How would you deal with twins since you only have worked the one child as a time
26 how would you deal with left in charge of the class during break time?
27 If a child is exhibiting challenging behaviour how would you talk them around / distract them / deal with it?


Possible challenges with wheelchair bound student:

Is the child able to push him/herself while you carry the bag, is the chair a power chair- no pushing required, can the chair take the weight of a school bag on the rear handles/ are there tables in all the rooms suitable for wheelchairs to drive up to so the child can sit comfortably at the desk/ are the tables height adjustable/ does the child need to be positioned in the centre of the room in order to see the board and reduce the amount of twisting and turning the child may have to do/ do they require assistance at lunch/opening boxes/cartons/bottles etc/is there a suitable table available for lunch times/ do they need supervision outside in the yard/ can they reach into and access books from their bag themselves/ do they require assistance for toileting- is there a properly fitted disabled access bathroom - hoist/changing table etc. remember two SNAs are required for toileting/manual handling(Child Protection) and must be trained/ will the child be able to take down notes or will you have to scribe/will there be a designated PE program/ will the child do the full curriculum/think about the practical subjects and how the child may manage/will the child be able to access a locker/ how might you help the child interact socially with other students

af12

Thank you so much! I did some research on the school last night and have found i have a lot of previous hands on experience that will be a huge advantage . Fingers crossed i am successful! Thanks again :-)