Are you an experienced Youth Worker looking to take the next step in your career?
Do you have experience supporting vulnerable children or young people who have experienced trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), challenging behaviour, or additional needs?
If you're passionate about making a lasting difference, your experience as a Youth Worker could be the perfect foundation for a rewarding career within specialist education.
We are recruiting dedicated Youth Workers to join a range of specialist SEN, SEMH and Alternative Provision schools across Birmingham. These schools support pupils aged 4-19 who require additional support to access education due to a variety of learning, communication, behavioural and emotional needs.
The schools cater for pupils with:
Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs
ADHD
Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD)
Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
Global Developmental Delay
Complex learning difficulties
Sensory processing differences
Trauma, attachment disorders and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Behaviour that challenges
Many of the pupils you'll support have faced significant barriers throughout their lives. Some may have struggled in mainstream education, experienced instability at home, or have difficulty trusting adults due to previous trauma. Others may communicate non-verbally, require sensory support throughout the day, or need structured routines to help them feel safe and engaged.
As a Youth Worker, you've already developed many of the skills these pupils need from the adults supporting them every day. Your ability to build positive relationships, understand behaviour as communication, encourage engagement and remain calm during challenging situations makes you an excellent candidate for this role.
Your responsibilities will include:
Providing 1:1 and small group support throughout the school day.
Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils who may initially struggle to engage with adults.
Supporting pupils to access learning in both classroom and practical environments.
Using positive behaviour management techniques and trauma-informed approaches to support emotional regulation.
Supporting children during periods of dysregulation using de-escalation strategies.
Encouraging communication, confidence, resilience and independence.
Assisting with social skills, emotional wellbeing and personal development.
Supporting pupils during break times, educational visits and enrichment activities.
Working closely with teachers, SENCOs, therapists, educational psychologists and pastoral teams to deliver personalised support.
Implementing Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) targets and behaviour support plans.
Recording observations, monitoring progress and contributing towards pupil reviews.
Supporting pupils with daily routines, transitions between lessons and creating a consistent, structured learning environment.
Promoting safeguarding, inclusion and positive outcomes for every child.
What we're looking for:
We're particularly interested in hearing from Youth Workers who have experience supporting children or young people with:
Challenging behaviour
SEMH needs
Autism
ADHD
Trauma and attachment difficulties
Youth offending backgrounds
Looked-after children
Emotional or mental health needs
Successful candidates will be patient, resilient, adaptable and passionate about helping young people overcome barriers to learning. You'll understand that behaviour is often a form of communication and will be committed to supporting pupils with empathy, consistency and professionalism.
Why join us?
Working in an SEN school is unlike any other education role. Every day presents new opportunities to positively influence a child's future. Whether you're helping a pupil communicate for the first time, supporting them through emotional challenges, or celebrating milestones that others may take for granted, your contribution will genuinely change lives.
You'll become part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, working alongside experienced teachers, therapists, behaviour specialists and SEN professionals who are committed to providing every child with the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
If you're looking for a meaningful career where your youth work experience is truly valued and where no two days are the same, we'd love to hear from you.
Aspire People Limited provides services as an Education Agency and an Education Employment Business. Aspire People is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects every candidate to share this commitment. Placements are subject, to appropriate Child Protection screening, including checks with former employers and the Disclosure and Barring Checks.