Location: Blackpool, Lancashire (FY)
Salary: Aligned with NJC Pay Scale (Paid to scale from Day 1 based on experience)
Contract Type: Full-Time
Start Date: September 2026 (or sooner for the right candidate)
Are you a resilient, empathetic, and passionate individual looking to support youth with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs?
We are recruiting a dedicated SEMH Teaching Assistant to join a forward-thinking secondary school environment right here in Blackpool. Whether you are an experienced SEN TA, a community youth worker, or a psychology graduate looking to build your career in education, this is a highly rewarding opportunity to make a measurable difference.
We believe that exceptional support staff deserve fair, transparent compensation. That's why this position offers official NJC (National Joint Council) scale pay from Day 1 ensuring your expertise and hard work are fully valued right from the start.
Key Responsibilities:
Targeted SEMH Support: Provide tailored emotional, social, and academic mentoring to secondary students facing complex SEMH or behavioural barriers.
De-escalation & Crisis Management: Use positive behaviour strategies to create a calm, safe, and productive learning environment.
1:1 & Small Group Interventions: Lead targeted sessions outside the classroom to boost emotional regulation, resilience, and student self-esteem.
Collaborative Tracking: Partner closely with the school SENDCo, class teachers, and inclusion teams to monitor, adapt, and report on student progress.
What We Look For:
Experience with SEMH/SEN: Background in a school, alternative provision, youth centre, PRU (Pupil Referral Unit), or residential care setting is highly valued.
The Right Mindset: High levels of emotional intelligence, deep empathy, and the resilience needed to support students on their toughest days.
Strong Communication: An innate ability to build trust and rapport quickly with hard-to-reach secondary students.
Local Availability: Based in or around the Blackpool area and ready for a September 2026 intake (or an immediate transitional start).
Why Choose This Role?
Honest, Scaled Pay: No flat agency rates. You are mapped directly to the NJC Pay Scale from your very first day.
Career Progression: Direct pathways into permanent school contracts, behaviour management roles, or specialist pastoral paths.
Comprehensive Support: Access to ongoing safeguarding, trauma-informed practices, and specialised behaviour de-escalation training.
How to Apply:
If you have the heart, the stamina, and the dedication to transform an educational journey for a vulnerable young person in Blackpool, we want to hear from you.
Click 'Apply Now' or send your CV directly to (url removed) to secure an interview