Job Description

Who are we?

TCHC Group has been creating opportunities since 2004, supporting young people and adults to learn, achieve and progress. We’re an ethical, friendly, and disability-confident employer that believes in working together to make a difference.

TCHC is a disability confident, committed employer.

Who are we looking for?

TCHC is looking for an inspiring individual with a real passion for supporting young people in education.

Can you engage and build positive relationships with young people who may have learning differences?

Do you feel that young people deserve an opportunity to develop their skills and abilities and have the best chance to succeed?

Are you enthusiastic, determined, and resilient, and have effective communication skills?

Can you solve problems by thinking of solutions?

Are you someone who can work in different settings to support learners, both practical and classroom-based?

Job Title: Learning Support Assistant

Location: Thurrock

Contract: Fixed Term Time Contract 2025-26

Working Hours: 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, inclusive of a daily unpaid lunch break. 37.5 hours per week (TERM TIME only)

Reports to: Centre Manager

Salary: £21,923.08 per annum (full-time equivalent £25,000)

What are we looking for?

TCHC is looking for a Learning Support Assistant who will be creative and engaging to ensure individual learners achieve their qualifications and develop their skills while learning. Working with individuals who may present challenges, your support will be patient while demonstrating empathy by engaging with individual learners to enable progress towards their aspirations in all subjects.

Qualifications:

• Qualifications & Education – Holds or is willing to work towards a Level 2 Learner Support Certificate, with Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English.
• Experience & Knowledge – Experienced in supporting individuals in educational settings, particularly 16 -19 aged learners and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, with a good understanding of inclusive learning.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

• Implement a range of highly effective strategies to support the diverse additional learning needs within the centre, whilst promoting independence, and tailor these for each individual in line with their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), support plan, initial assessment and individual targets
• Assist teaching staff in delivering outstanding teaching and learning, to ensure learners achieve their planned outcomes and reach their potential
• Interpret instructions effectively to support learners in following these and assist with communication challenges, to ensure equal access for all
• Maintain accurate, timely departmental records and contribute to the setting and monitoring of individual targets, including the review of EHCP outcomes as part of the annual review process
• Provide support with study skills, pastoral needs and community access 1:1 or in small groups to ensure learners successfully navigate any challenges and progress to their aspirational destination
• Support learners in engaging with work experience opportunities
• Adhere to confidentiality guidelines and college policies for SEND, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and safeguarding
• Contribute to the work of the centre team, attend curriculum events and centre meetings
• Access training and professional development activities to ensure continually remaining up to date and gaining new skills and knowledge, including SEND-specific options

Safeguarding, Prevent & Equal Opportunities

TCHC is dedicated to promoting equal opportunities and preventing discrimination for everyone. Our commitment extends to adhering to Safer Recruitment Policies, safeguarding practices, complying with the Prevent Duty, and advocating for the well-being of children, youth, and adults. In pursuit of our dedication, we will continuously enhance and refine our robust safeguarding processes and procedures, fostering a culture of safeguarding among our team members and volunteers.

Commitment to Safeguarding

TCHC is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. All staff are expected to adhere to our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and the safeguarding responsibilities outlined in their job description.

We conduct Safer Recruitment Checks on all staff prior to confirming a start date, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. An online search of information within the public domain is conducted on all candidates who are invited to interview.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, amended 2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975 provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions, and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Please see our Recruitment with Safer Recruitment Policy for further information, or get in touch on 01923 698430 or safeguarding@tchc.net

Pre-employment checks

The company also conducts an internal online search on social media platforms in accordance with the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. Should any pertinent information arise from this search, it will be discussed with the applicant as part of the recruitment process.

Please note that upon a successful job offer, the company performs digitalised right-to-work checks and initiates DBS applications through an external service provider. An enhanced DBS check, including the barred list, is mandatory for this role.

Rewards for your hard work

For us here at TCHC, reward means far more than just pay. Our generous and competitive benefits package includes:

• The full-time equivalent annual leave entitlement is 20 days per year in addition to 8 UK public holidays. An additional day of leave will be added for each complete year of service, effective from the commencement of the next holiday year, up to a maximum of 5 additional days after 5 years of service, giving a maximum total annual leave entitlement of 25 days. This will be pro rata for part-time hours.

• We operate a Christmas and New Year shutdown period, in which you will receive an additional 3 days of leave at full pay to cover this closure period after 1 year of service. This will be pro rata for part-time hours.

• When your birthday falls on a working day, you will receive the day off at full pay.

• Sickness pay allowance after the probationary period.

• Pension scheme after 3 months of employment with us

• Bupa Cash Plan, level 1, paid by the company after the probationary period.

• Employee Assistance Programme to access help and support 24 hours a day, every day of the year for immediate family (eligibility applies)

• Discounted membership for BUPA (subject to the qualifying conditions)

• Long Service club loyalty gift upon completion of 5 and 10 years of continuous service

• Quarterly and annual awards

• Company tools and equipment for the performance of your duties

• Reimbursement of travel to other locations outside of the Centre (this will exclude travelling to the usual workplace)

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the application form online at: https://www.tchc.net/vacancies/apply-now