Mental Health Teaching Assistant – Autism Base (Secondary School)
Location: Barry, South Wales
Start Date: April 2026
⏰ Hours: Monday – Friday | 08:15am – 3:15pm (Full-Time)
Pay: £93 per day
Contract: April 2026 – July 2026
➡️ Strong potential to extend through the 2026/2027 academic year (until July 2027)
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Looking to build a career in Psychology, Mental Health or SEN?
This is more than just a job — it’s a chance to gain hands-on, meaningful experience supporting young people who truly benefit from your care, patience and guidance.
We are recruiting for a Mental Health Teaching Assistant to work within a specialised Autism base in a supportive secondary school in Barry. This role is perfect for:
✔ Psychology graduates
✔ SEN Teaching Assistants
✔ Care or support workers
✔ Sports coaches or youth workers
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The Role – Make a Real Impact
You will support small groups of pupils with Autism, learning difficulties, and mental health needs such as anxiety. Every day is varied, rewarding, and relationship-focused.
You will:
✨ Support learning across subjects (up to GCSE level)
✨ Help pupils manage anxiety and build emotional resilience
✨ Deliver fun and engaging activities – games, arts & crafts, life skills
✨ Encourage confidence, independence, and social development
✨ Build strong, trusting relationships that make a lasting difference
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What We’re Looking For
We want someone who brings the right energy and mindset:
Calm, patient, and understanding
Passionate about mental health and additional needs
Resilient and adaptable
Able to connect with young people and build rapport
Stand-out applicants will have:
* Experience with Autism or SEN
* A background in mental health, care, or support work
* Experience working with children or young people (schools, coaching, youth work)
* A Psychology degree (or related field)
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Why This Role Stands Out
Incredible experience for careers in Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Teaching or Therapy
Work in a specialist, supportive environment with experienced staff
Build real, transferable skills in behaviour support and mental health
Opportunity to secure a long-term role through to July 2027
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❤️ This Isn’t Just a Job…
It’s a chance to be the person who helps a young person feel safe, understood, and capable.
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Apply now to start in April 2026 and take the next step in your career.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for 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.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with 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 all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
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