Complex needs Teaching Assistant

Randstad Education; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive daily pay

Local Cambridge consultant

Flexible schedule

CPD opportunities

Long-term / permanent opportunities

Job summary

Randstad Education in Cambridge is seeking Complex Needs Teaching Assistants to support pupils with PMLD and severe disabilities across day-to-day cover or long-term placements. You will work with schools to follow individual care plans, support mobility and personal care, and help pupils communicate using AAC/PECS.

Role involves safeguarding, flexibility, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team; DBS disclosures are required. Opportunities span across Cambridge and surrounding areas.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting pupils with PMLD or severe disabilities.
• Patient, warm and highly observant with excellent communication.
• Knowledge of manual handling or moving & handling is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored 1:1 or small‑group support to pupils with complex physical, medical, sensory, and cognitive needs.
• Assist with physical support, including manual handling and mobility routines.
• Support personal care routines, eating and drinking with dignity and respect.
• Facilitate communication using AAC, Makaton, PECS, eye‑gaze systems or sensory cues.
• Carry out sensory activities and work with visiting therapists as needed.
• Maintain a calm, safe and stimulating classroom that encourages independence.

Skills

PMLD experience

Complex needs support

Strong communication

Flexible/Adaptable

DBS check

Job description

Complex Needs Teaching Assistant - Cambridge & Surrounding Areas

Are you an attentive, empathetic, and proactive individual dedicated to supporting children with complex educational and medical needs? Whether you thrive on the daily variation and complete flexibility of day-to-day cover, or want the deep fulfilment and connection of a long-term placement, we have rewarding opportunities tailored to your schedule.

We are currently partnering with specialised SEN provisions, complex needs schools, and designated resource units in Cambridge and across the surrounding South Cambridgeshire area. We are seeking resilient and nurturing Teaching Assistants to support pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), complex health or physical needs, severe learning difficulties (SLD), and multi-sensory impairments.

Whether you are an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant, a healthcare assistant, a residential care worker, or someone with a background in paediatric nursing or therapy support, your core skills are highly valuable in these environments.

Choose Your Ideal Way of Working:

• Day-to-Day Cover: Select the exact days you are available each week to fit around your lifestyle or existing commitments. Gain hands‑on experience across different specialist provisions in Cambridge while helping schools maintain essential staff‑to‑pupil ratios.

• Long-Term Opportunities: For those who value routine, we offer placements spanning a term or a full academic year. This allows you to build deep trust with non‑verbal or high‑dependency pupils, master their individual care plans, and track their holistic developmental progress over time.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide tailored 1:1 or small‑group support to pupils with complex physical, medical, sensory, and cognitive requirements.

• Assist with physical support, including manual handling, hoist transfers, positioning, and mobility routines (under professional guidance and school protocols).

• Support pupils' personal care routines, eating, and drinking needs with dignity, respect, and care.

• Facilitate communication using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, Makaton, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), eye‑gaze systems, or sensory cues.

• Carry out sensory integration activities, hydrotherapy, or physiotherapy programs in partnership with visiting therapists.

• Maintain a calm, safe, and stimulating classroom environment that encourages independence and active engagement.

What We Look For:

• Previous experience working with individuals with PMLD, complex health needs, or severe disabilities (in educational, care, or clinical settings).

• A patient, warm, and highly observant personality with excellent communication skills.

• Practical knowledge of physical handling, personal care support, or specialised equipment (formal Manual Handling or Moving & Handling training is a distinct advantage).

• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to work as part of a close-knit, multidisciplinary team.

• A valid Enhanced DBS check registered on the Update Service (or a willingness to complete one).

Benefits of Working With Us:

• Competitive daily pay rates, processed weekly to reflect your specialised experience.

• A dedicated local consultant with expert knowledge of the SEN and complex needs sector in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.

• Full flexibility to manage your schedule on your own terms.

• Access to specialised training and continuous professional development (CPD).

• Direct opportunities to secure long-term contracts or permanent roles within local complex needs settings.

Ready to empower children with complex needs in Cambridge?

Step into a deeply rewarding educational role today.

We are strictly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All candidates will be required to undergo comprehensive vetting, reference checks, and an enhanced DBS disclosure.