Help Young People Build Brighter Futures
At Barnardo's, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to achieve their potential, develop independence and move confidently towards adulthood, employment and a fulfilling future.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, compassionate and resilient Teaching Assistant to join our Employment, Training & Skills Centre in Bradford. This is a rewarding opportunity to support young people aged 16–19, and up to 25 for those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), to overcome barriers, develop confidence and gain the skills needed to progress into employment, apprenticeships, further education and independent adult lives.
Many of the young people who attend our centre face challenges that impact their education, emotional wellbeing and future aspirations. Whilst some learners have identified Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or EHCPs, many do not have a formal diagnosis but nevertheless require additional support to engage, achieve and progress.
Our programmes are designed not only to achieve qualifications, but to prepare young people for their next steps. Everything we do is underpinned by Preparation for Adulthood principles, supporting learners to develop:
1. Employment skills and career aspirations
2. Independent living skills
3. Confidence and resilience
4. Community participation and social inclusion
5. Health and wellbeing
6. Positive destinations into work, apprenticeships and further learning
If you are passionate about helping young people build brighter futures and believe in their potential regardless of the challenges they face, we would love to hear from you.
About the Role
As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with tutors, our Pastoral Coach and wider centre team to provide tailored support that enables learners to access learning, achieve qualifications and develop the skills needed for adulthood and employment.
You will support learners across a range of vocational and academic programmes, including:
7. Childcare and Early Years
8. Health and Social Care
9. Business Administration
10. Customer Service / Retail
11. Mathematics (GCSE and Functional Skills)
12. English (GCSE and Functional Skills)
The role is varied and no two days are the same. You may be:
13. Supporting learners within classroom sessions alongside tutors
14. Delivering targeted interventions in small groups
15. Providing one-to-one learner support
16. Supporting learners with SEND, SEMH needs and additional learning barriers
17. Assisting learners to develop confidence, resilience and independence
18. Helping learners manage anxiety, emotional wellbeing and engagement with learning
19. Supporting learners to develop employability, communication and workplace skills
20. Encouraging learners to take ownership of their learning and future career goals
21. Supporting the implementation of EHCP outcomes and Preparation for Adulthood targets
22. Working with tutors to adapt learning activities and resources
23. Contributing to learner reviews, support records and progress monitoring
24. Promoting positive behaviour, attendance, punctuality and professional standards
25. Supporting learners to become work-ready and progress successfully into positive destinations
About You
We are looking for someone who genuinely lives and breathes Barnardo's values and understands the importance of helping young people achieve their ambitions.
You will be passionate about inclusion and committed to ensuring that every learner, regardless of background or need, has the opportunity to develop the skills, confidence and independence needed for adult life.
Essential
26. Experience working with young people aged 16–25
27. Experience supporting learners with SEND and additional learning needs
28. A strong understanding of barriers faced by vulnerable young people
29. Experience supporting learners' emotional wellbeing and personal development
30. Knowledge of strategies that support learner engagement, confidence and independence
31. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
32. The ability to motivate and inspire young people to achieve their goals
33. A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
34. A positive, flexible and proactive approach to supporting learners
Desirable
35. Teaching Assistant qualification or relevant support qualification
36. Experience supporting learners with EHCPs
37. Experience within Further Education, alternative provision or post-16 settings
38. Knowledge of neurodiversity, SEMH needs and trauma-informed practice
39. Understanding of Preparation for Adulthood outcomes and supported progression pathways
40. Experience supporting learners into employment, apprenticeships or further learning
Why Join Barnardo's?
For over 150 years, Barnardo's has helped children and young people overcome barriers and achieve positive futures.
At our Bradford centre, you will play a vital role in helping young people gain qualifications, develop life skills, improve their wellbeing and take meaningful steps towards employment, independence and adulthood.
Every day brings the opportunity to make a lasting difference to a young person's future.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible
Pay & Reward Framework
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's . We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
Benefits
Workplace Offer: What it means for you
Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.
Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)
41. Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
42. Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
43. The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
44. A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
45. Service related sick pay from day 1
46. Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
47. Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
48. Cycle2work scheme
49. Interest free season ticket loans
50. Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
51. 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
52. Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
53. Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
54. Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's