For some pupils, the right support can change everything. A steady presence. A calm voice. Someone who shows up, every day, and doesn’t give up on them. We’re working with a Pupil Referral Unit in Hartlepool that’s looking for a Behaviour Support Assistant to join their team. This is a setting where relationships come first, progress can take time, and every bit of trust you build really counts. The pupils here have SEMH needs and may present with challenging behaviour, so the team are looking for someone who can stay level-headed, consistent and genuinely invested in helping young people find their footing. About the role: You’ll work closely with pupils on a one-to-one basis and in small groups, supporting them to stay engaged with learning and manage their emotions in a more positive, constructive way. Your role will be key in creating a safe, structured environment where pupils feel understood, respected and ready to take small steps forward. You’ll work alongside teachers and pastoral staff to put behaviour strategies and personalised approaches into practice. What you’ll be doing: Supporting pupils with SEMH needs and behavioural challenges Working 1:1 with pupils who need consistent guidance and encouragement Using calm, clear approaches to de-escalate situations Helping pupils build confidence, resilience and coping strategies Supporting behaviour plans and personalised learning approaches Working closely with teaching and pastoral teams to improve engagement What we’re looking for: Experience in a PRU, alternative provision or SEN/SEMH setting is ideal Backgrounds in youth work, care, coaching or education are highly relevant Confidence in managing challenging behaviour A calm, patient and resilient approach Someone who genuinely wants to make a positive impact Thrive Training: Not Thrive trained yet? No problem at all. Protocol Education offers free Thrive training, giving you the tools to better support pupils’ emotional development and behaviour. It’s a valuable addition to your skillset, especially in specialist settings like PRUs. If you’re looking for a role where patience, consistency and care really do make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our website or give us a ring on to have a friendly chat about the role. All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details. All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date. Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants. We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service. Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.