Job Description

Personal Care Assistant

Application Deadline: 1 June 2026

Department: Student Services

Employment Type: Seasonal - Full Time

Location: Southgate Campus

Compensation: £27,541 - £30,602 / year

Are you passionate about supporting young people with additional needs to access education, build independence and achieve their potential? Do you want a role where your day-to-day work makes a genuine, visible difference in someone's life? If so, we would love to hear from you.

This is a rewarding and varied role that combines in-class learning support with personal care, working with students with a range of physical, cognitive and additional needs in a mainstream further education setting. Based at our Southgate campus, you will work closely with the Study Support Lead, vocational tutors and wider Student Services staff to remove barriers to learning and ensure every student you support can participate fully in college life.

You will support students both in the classroom and with their personal care needs, which may include the use of specialist equipment such as hoists, peg feeding and suction. You will manage a caseload of students, draw up support plans with SMART targets and monitor progress, building trusted relationships that encourage and enable each learner to grow in confidence and achievement.

About Barnet and Southgate College
We change lives, empower individuals and connect communities.


We are an ambitious, forward-thinking further education college in North London, proud to serve diverse communities across Barnet, Southgate and beyond. Our 2030 Vision is bold: to be a leading provider of learning and skills development, fostering exceptional educational experiences, driven by innovation, collaboration and excellence.

Our Student Services and inclusion team is committed to ensuring that every learner, regardless of their needs, has the support they need to succeed. You will be joining a team of dedicated professionals who share your commitment to inclusive practice and making a real difference for the young people in their care.

Key Responsibilities

What You'll Be Doing

• Learning support: Support students with additional needs in the classroom, assisting with learning resources, digital tools, specialist equipment, aids and adaptations, and contributing to the development of a bank of resources to support students.
• Personal care: Provide personal care support to students as required, including the use of specialist equipment such as hoists, peg feeding, suction and drainage, and support with all aspects of daily personal care needs.
• Support planning: Draw up agreed support plans with SMART targets, monitor and evaluate progress, identify students at risk of not achieving and intervene or refer appropriately.
• Caseload management: Manage a caseload of students, liaising with teaching staff, the inclusion team and external partners to ensure support is focused, appropriate and impactful.
• Behaviour support: Manage behaviours and emotional regulation including challenging and confrontational behaviour, applying appropriate strategies with patience, consistency and care.
• Records and reporting: Keep accurate, timely records on all students in line with GDPR, and produce qualitative and quantitative reports to meet audit, Ofsted, Matrix and other inspection requirements.
• Wider contribution: Participate in appropriate meetings, training and reviews, contribute to quality improvement, and take part in College-wide activities such as open days and enrolment.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

What You'll Bring
Essential

• A relevant Level 2 qualification
• English and Maths at Grade 5-9 or equivalent
• Proven experience of working in FE or a secondary school setting
• Proven experience of working with students with learning and physical disabilities, including both education support and personal care
• Proven experience of supporting students with all aspects of personal care, including feeding, hoist use and bathroom support
• Experience of setting SMART targets and monitoring student progress
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with young people and to motivate and engage learners
• Clear understanding of the barriers young people face and strategies to overcome them
• Knowledge and understanding of how to support students with challenging behaviour and emotional dysregulation
  Good IT and communication skills, including the ability to support students with digital and adaptive technology
  Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding

Even Better If You Have...

• Training certificates in the use of hoists or peg feeding
• Experience working with students with complex physical or medical needs
• Knowledge of relevant legislation including the Equality Act, SEND Code of Practice and safeguarding frameworks

Potential Interview Dates
Week commencing 22nd June 2026.

Benefits

Read our Employee Pledge here!

The College offers employees a generous holiday allowance of 31 days annual leave for our support staff plus bank holidays. Pro Rata'd for part time employees. We also offer an attractive package of optional benefits for employees to take advantage of - please see below a list of our current staff benefits available at the College.

Annual Season Ticket Loans

We offer permanent or contract staff with a minimum of a 12 month contract the option to purchase an annual season ticket loan without the big financial hit in one go!
A season ticket loan will spread the cost over the course of a year by using the salary sacrifice scheme, this helps with your finances and is paid back monthly through your salary.

Cycle to Work Scheme

The scheme is an incentive for staff, offering tax free bikes through bike shops and is run by Cyclescheme Ltd. You can get a tax-free bike, which for most people means they save around 32% of the cost for a new bike!

Employee Support Helpline

The Employee Assistance Helpline can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They provide you and your family with counselling and advice, covering a variety of personal or workplace issues. It is free to use and all calls are confidential.

Eye Tests for DSE Users

The College will refund the cost of regular eye tests for staff that use Display Screen Equipment regularly as part of their duties.

Flu vouchers

We offer established staff a free flu vaccination voucher to take to a large range of local high street pharmacies.

Gym Facilities

Our Sports Centre at Southgate Campus is available for all staff with cardio, strength and conditioning equipment. The 2-floor gym is free for members of staff to use Monday to Friday within term time.

Hair Salon Services and Beauty Treatments

A range of competitively-priced hairdressing services are accessible at our Colindale Campus. Regularly providing special staff offers which is convenient during lunch hours or after work.

High Street Discounts

Discount for teachers is a shopping benefits website for staff which gives access to fantastic savings on leading retail brands, plus lots of great special offers! We also have staff discount available with local high street stores within walking distance of our three main campuses.