Teaching Assistant / Support Worker – Children's Secure Unit

Make a difference where your support matters most.

Protocol Education is recruiting for Teaching Assistants and Support Workers to work within a children's secure unit, supporting young people who require a highly structured, consistent and supportive environment.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who wants to use their skills to help young people who may have experienced significant challenges in their lives. You'll work as part of a dedicated team, helping young people engage with education, develop positive relationships and build the skills they need for the future.

About the role

Working within a secure setting, you'll provide consistent day-to-day support while maintaining clear boundaries and professional relationships.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Supporting young people on a 1:1 and small-group basis
• Assisting with educational activities and learning
• Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Building trusting and professional relationships
• Encouraging young people to engage with education
• Helping develop communication, social and life skills
• Supporting individual development plans
• Maintaining a calm and structured environment
• Working closely with teachers, care staff and other professionals
• Encouraging positive choices and greater independence
• Following safeguarding, security and behaviour procedures at all times

What we're looking for

This environment requires someone who is calm, resilient and consistent.

You'll ideally be:

• Confident working with challenging behaviour
• Patient and understanding
• Able to maintain clear professional boundaries
• Calm under pressure
• Resilient and emotionally consistent
• A strong communicator
• Reliable and dependable
• Comfortable working as part of a wider team
• Committed to safeguarding and the wellbeing of young people

Previous experience in SEND, SEMH, PRU, residential care, youth work, behaviour support, children's services or education would be beneficial.

We'd also welcome applications from people with transferable experience as Teaching Assistants, Support Workers, Youth Workers, Care Workers or Behaviour Mentors.

Why work with Protocol Education?

You'll receive:

• Weekly PAYE pay – no umbrella companies
• FREE access to our CPD Academy
• SEND, Autism, Safeguarding and Behaviour Management training
• A dedicated local consultant
• Access to long-term and permanent opportunities
• Ongoing career support
• Wellbeing guidance throughout your placement

A role that's different from mainstream education

Working in a secure children's setting isn't for everyone. It requires patience, consistency and the ability to remain professional when situations become challenging.

But for the right person, it can be an opportunity to have a genuine and lasting impact on a young person's life.

If you're an experienced Teaching Assistant, Support Worker or someone with a strong background working with children and young people, apply today.

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.

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