SEMH Teaching Assistant / SEN TA (NJC Scale From Day 1)

Location: Blackpool, Lancashire (FY)

Salary: Aligned with NJC Pay Scale (Paid to scale from Day 1 based on experience)

Contract Type: Full-Time

Start Date: September 2026 (or sooner for the right candidate)

Are you a resilient, empathetic, and passionate individual looking to support youth with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs?

We are recruiting a dedicated SEMH Teaching Assistant to join a forward-thinking secondary school environment right here in Blackpool. Whether you are an experienced SEN TA, a community youth worker, or a psychology graduate looking to build your career in education, this is a highly rewarding opportunity to make a measurable difference.

We believe that exceptional support staff deserve fair, transparent compensation. That's why this position offers official NJC (National Joint Council) scale pay from Day 1 ensuring your expertise and hard work are fully valued right from the start.

Key Responsibilities:

Targeted SEMH Support: Provide tailored emotional, social, and academic mentoring to secondary students facing complex SEMH or behavioural barriers.

De-escalation & Crisis Management: Use positive behaviour strategies to create a calm, safe, and productive learning environment.

1:1 & Small Group Interventions: Lead targeted sessions outside the classroom to boost emotional regulation, resilience, and student self-esteem.

Collaborative Tracking: Partner closely with the school SENDCo, class teachers, and inclusion teams to monitor, adapt, and report on student progress.

What We Look For:

Experience with SEMH/SEN: Background in a school, alternative provision, youth centre, PRU (Pupil Referral Unit), or residential care setting is highly valued.

The Right Mindset: High levels of emotional intelligence, deep empathy, and the resilience needed to support students on their toughest days.

Strong Communication: An innate ability to build trust and rapport quickly with hard-to-reach secondary students.

Local Availability: Based in or around the Blackpool area and ready for a September 2026 intake (or an immediate transitional start).

Why Choose This Role?

Honest, Scaled Pay: No flat agency rates. You are mapped directly to the NJC Pay Scale from your very first day.

Career Progression: Direct pathways into permanent school contracts, behaviour management roles, or specialist pastoral paths.

Comprehensive Support: Access to ongoing safeguarding, trauma-informed practices, and specialised behaviour de-escalation training.

How to Apply:

If you have the heart, the stamina, and the dedication to transform an educational journey for a vulnerable young person in Blackpool, we want to hear from you.

Click 'Apply Now' or send your CV directly to (url removed) to secure an interview
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed