DescriptionEmployerLocation
Position: Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
About Us
Inspire South West is a Community Interest Company specialising in working with young people and families to achieve lasting change.
About the Position
A thoughtful and playful Higher Level Teaching Assistant is sought to work with Neurodivergent and Complex Students.
Salary: £27,100 per annum (pro rata for part-time hours)
Working Hours: Flexible (up to 32 hours per week)
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Barnstaple area (community and base EOTAS delivery)
Reports to: CEO, Inspire South West
Closing date: 21st November 2025
A Note on Inclusion
We actively welcome applications from neurodivergent candidates. Inspire South West is a neurodivergent-affirming employer, committed to equity, belonging, and representation.
We also welcome applications from people with qualifications or experience in other fields who are interested in attaining HLTA status. Inspire South West can provide structured support to help the right person grow into the role.
About the Role
We are seeking a lively, creative, and emotionally intelligent person to support two students within a bespoke Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) package — a child and a young adult. The young adult will turn 18 next year, and practice will need to reflect both child and adult safeguarding, consent, and dignity.
This is not a classroom-based or clipboard-style post. You’ll work 1:1 and at times 2:1 with students, supporting access to both learning and enrichment activities in the community and at base. Success depends on connection, movement, imagination, and consistency.
As sessions are community-based, driving is an essential part of the role, including transporting students and co-workers to and from activities, education provisions, and therapeutic sessions. Candidates must hold a full UK driving licence, have access to a reliable car, and maintain appropriate business insurance for work purposes.
You will work closely with a student-centred team, which includes Inspire South West staff and parents/carers, maintaining open communication and shared planning to ensure consistent, responsive support.
Key Responsibilities as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant
1. Plan and deliver bespoke learning and enrichment activities under the guidance of the teaching and therapy team.
2. Support emotional regulation, communication, and engagement using trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming approaches.
3. Work flexibly across home, community, and base settings, maintaining clear communication with colleagues and families.
4. Provide 1:1 and 2:1 support, ensuring safety and consistency during sessions and transport to community-based activities and provisions.
5. Model calm, relational practice in moments of stress or dysregulation.
6. Contribute to planning, record-keeping, and reflective supervision.
7. Ensure safety and wellbeing during all sessions, including driving and transitions.
Person Specification
Essential:
8. Warm, empathetic, and emotionally steady.
9. Student-centred and ego-free — you collaborate, you don’t control.
10. Physically energetic and able to join in with active learning.
11. Creative, curious, and playful — comfortable with games, role play, and laughter.
12. Reliable, consistent, and calm under pressure.
13. Full UK driving licence and use of a car.
Desirable:
14. Experience supporting autistic and PDA-profile students in community-based learning.
15. Confidence working within both child and adult safeguarding frameworks.
16. HLTA qualification, or willingness to work towards it.
Why Join Inspire South West?
17. Be part of an innovative, student-centred EOTAS package.
18. Work within a supportive, neurodivergent-affirming organisation.
19. Access professional development and structured support to attain HLTA status if applicable.
20. A role that is physically active, emotionally rich, and deeply rewarding — helping two remarkable students build confidence, skills, and identity.
How to Apply
Please send your CV and a covering letter and an application form will be sent to you for completion.
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Emma Lee-Tubby (HR Manager) at Tamar HR to schedule a call.
Safeguarding Statement
Inspire Southwest is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.