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:

Employment skills and career aspirations
Independent living skills
Confidence and resilience
Community participation and social inclusion
Health and wellbeing
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:

Childcare and Early Years
Health and Social Care
Business Administration
Customer Service / Retail
Mathematics (GCSE and Functional Skills)
English (GCSE and Functional Skills)

The role is varied and no two days are the same. You may be:

Supporting learners within classroom sessions alongside tutors
Delivering targeted interventions in small groups
Providing one-to-one learner support
Supporting learners with SEND, SEMH needs and additional learning barriers
Assisting learners to develop confidence, resilience and independence
Helping learners manage anxiety, emotional wellbeing and engagement with learning
Supporting learners to develop employability, communication and workplace skills
Encouraging learners to take ownership of their learning and future career goals
Supporting the implementation of EHCP outcomes and Preparation for Adulthood targets
Working with tutors to adapt learning activities and resources
Contributing to learner reviews, support records and progress monitoring
Promoting positive behaviour, attendance, punctuality and professional standards
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

Experience working with young people aged 16–25
Experience supporting learners with SEND and additional learning needs
A strong understanding of barriers faced by vulnerable young people
Experience supporting learners' emotional wellbeing and personal development
Knowledge of strategies that support learner engagement, confidence and independence
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
The ability to motivate and inspire young people ...

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