Job Description

Location: Blackpool, Lancashire

Setting: Specialist SEMH School (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health)

Contract Type: Full-Time, Term-Time Only (Monday - Friday)

Start Date: September 2026

Are you a resilient, patient, and empathetic individual looking to make a genuine difference in the lives of vulnerable young people?

We are actively recruiting an Unqualified Teaching Assistant to join a highly supportive, specialist SEMH school in Blackpool starting in September 2026. This provision supports children and young people who have faced trauma, display challenging behaviours, or struggle to engage in mainstream education.

You do not need previous classroom experience or a formal Teaching Assistant qualification. We are looking for the right personality-someone with life experience, a calm demeanour, and the ability to act as a consistent, positive role model.

• Classroom Support: Work alongside the class teacher to keep students focused, motivated, and engaged in their daily lessons and activities.

• Behaviour Mentoring: Use a calm, fair, and trauma-informed approach to help students regulate their emotions and de-escalate challenging situations.

• Relationship Building: Act as a trusted mentor, building strong, professional relationships with students who may initially be distrustful of authority.

• 1-to-1 & Small Group Work: Provide tailored support to individual students who require extra guidance with their social skills or academic tasks.

• Resilience & Patience: You must have a "thick skin" and understand that challenging behaviour is often a form of communication.

• Strong Presence: The ability to establish clear boundaries while maintaining a warm, approachable, and non-judgemental attitude.

• Transferable Experience: Backgrounds in youth work, care, sports coaching, the military, or simply raising your own family can be highly valuable in this environment.

• Reliability: A strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to supporting the emotional well-being of young people in Blackpool.

• A Rewarding Career Path: The perfect entry-level opportunity to start a long-term career in Special Educational Needs (SEN) and alternative education.

• Comprehensive Training: Access to specialised professional development, including positive behaviour management (e.g., Team Teach), safeguarding, and trauma-informed practice.

• Work-Life Balance: Term-time only working hours aligned with the school day, leaving your evenings, weekends, and holidays free.

• Supportive Environment: Work within a tight-knit team of specialised educators, therapists, and support staff who always have each other's backs.

If you are ready for a challenging but incredibly rewarding role this September, we want to hear from you.

To Apply: Please submit your CV along with a brief outline of why you are passionate about supporting young people with SEMH needs.

This school is strictly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and thorough pre-employment vetting.