Children's Residential Care Background?

Teaching Assistants & Support Staff - Specialist Education Settings

Do you have experience supporting children and young people with complex needs?

Hays Education is looking to speak with experienced and compassionate support staff who have worked within specialist schools, resource bases, ARPs, SEND provisions, and residential children's settings across the Black Country.

We are particularly keen to hear from individuals with experience supporting children and young people with:

• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
• Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Complex medical needs
• Non-verbal communication
• Trauma-informed practice
• SEMH and emotional regulation needs
• Challenging behaviour
• Personal care requirements
• Hoist use and manual handling

Whether your background is as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, Learning Mentor, Support Worker, Residential Care Worker, Children's Support Worker, Classroom Support Assistant, Care Practitioner or similar, we'd love to hear from you.

We Also Want to Hear From You If...

You have worked in:

• Residential children's homes
• Children's care settings
• Short-break or respite services
• Supported living services for young people
• Therapeutic and trauma-informed environments
• Behaviour support services

Many of the skills developed in residential childcare transfer exceptionally well into specialist education settings, particularly when supporting pupils with complex needs, communication difficulties, autism, SEMH, and challenging behaviour.

What We're Looking For

• Experience within specialist education, care, or SEND settings
• Confidence supporting children and young people with complex physical and learning needs
• Experience providing personal care while promoting dignity and independence
• Knowledge of PECS, Makaton, communication aids or other non-verbal communication methods
• Understanding of trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches
• A calm, patient and resilient attitude
• Experience with manual handling, hoists, or medical needs is highly desirable

What We Offer

• Competitive rates of pay
• Opportunities in special schools, ARPs and specialist provisions
• Flexible full-time, part-time and day-to-day roles
• Long-term opportunities with excellent schools
• Honest advice from an experienced recruiter who understands specialist education
• Access to a wide network of SEND settings across Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell
• Refer-a-friend scheme

Many of the schools we support tell us that finding staff with experience in PMLD, personal care, hoisting, complex communication needs, trauma-informed practice and behaviour support can be challenging. As a result, candidates with these backgrounds are consistently in high demand.

Even if you're not actively looking for a new role right now, I'd still welcome a conversation. Recruitment isn't always about filling an immediate vacancy. Sometimes it's simply about building relationships, understanding your career goals, and discussing opportunities that may be right for you in the future.

To find out more, please text Claire Cochrane on for a confidential chat.

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