Healthcare Teaching Assistant: PMLD Setting – Portsmouth

Engage Partners Limited; Fareham; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Engage Education Ltd. is seeking a Healthcare Teaching Assistant for a specialist school in Portsmouth. You will support pupils with PMLD and complex medical needs, delivering compassionate, hands-on care and coordinating with teachers and nurses.

Ideal candidates have healthcare or residential care experience, are reliable and proactive, and keen to develop specialist skills through full training and DBS clearance. This is a full-time, on-site role at a specialist setting in Portsmouth.

Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare, nursing, residential care or similar caring role.
• Compassionate and patient with a commitment to high-quality care.
• Ability to work as part of a wider healthcare and education team.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on care, supporting personal hygiene and daily care needs.
• Support pupils with medical needs following training and care plans.
• Assist with safe feeding and meal times as instructed.
• Assist moving and handling using equipment like hoists and mobility aids.
• Support pupils to access the school environment and maintain safety and dignity.
• Collaborate with nurses, teachers and therapists to ensure consistent care.
• Follow safeguarding procedures to keep pupils safe.
• Contribute to high-quality, compassionate care throughout the school day.

Skills

Healthcare experience

Caring approach

Patient and compassionate

Teamwork

Tools

Makaton

Job description

Healthcare Teaching Assistant – PMLD Setting

Healthcare Teaching Assistant needed for a specialist school in Portsmouth

We are looking for a caring, reliable and proactive individual to join a specialist school in Portsmouth as a Healthcare Teaching Assistant, supporting pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) and complex physical and medical needs.

This role would suit someone with a background in healthcare, nursing, care work or a similar setting who is looking to transfer their skills into a school environment. Experience working with children with SEND is beneficial, but not essential, as full training will be provided.

You will be part of a dedicated healthcare TA team, moving around the school to support pupils with their individual personal care, medical and physical needs. The role will involve working closely with teachers, nurses, therapists and other support staff to ensure pupils receive safe, compassionate and consistent care throughout the school day.

The school provides a highly specialist, personalised curriculum for young people with profound, severe and complex learning difficulties. Many pupils have additional needs, including Autism Spectrum Condition, severe physical disabilities, mobility difficulties and complex medical conditions.

Although the role will involve supporting pupils’ learning and development, the main focus will be on providing hands‑on care, supporting medical needs and promoting pupils’ comfort, dignity, safety and independence.

About the role

• Healthcare support: Work as part of the school’s healthcare TA team, moving between classrooms and areas of the school to support pupils according to their individual needs.
• Personal care: Assist pupils with their personal hygiene and daily care needs, always maintaining their dignity, privacy and comfort.
• Medical needs: Support pupils with their individual medical requirements following appropriate training, guidance and agreed care plans.
• Eating and drinking: Learn how to support pupils with eating and drinking safely, following individual guidance and any relevant feeding plans.
• Moving and handling: Use specialist equipment, including hoists, wheelchairs and other mobility aids, ensuring safe practice for both pupils and staff.
• Mobility and physical support: Help pupils access the school environment and support their physical needs and independence.
• Teamwork: Work alongside nurses, teachers, therapists and other support staff to provide consistent, high-quality care.
• Safeguarding: Follow safeguarding procedures and help ensure pupils are safe, respected and well cared for at all times.

This is a full-time position offering the opportunity to develop specialist skills in a supportive school environment. Full training will be provided by experienced nurses and senior staff in relevant medical procedures, personal care, safe feeding practices, moving and handling, and the use of specialist equipment.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Ideally has experience in a healthcare, nursing, residential care, support work or similar caring role.
• Is compassionate, patient and committed to providing high-quality care.
• Is comfortable supporting children and young people with complex physical, medical and personal care needs.
• Is reliable, proactive and adaptable, with the ability to respond to the changing needs of pupils throughout the school day.
• Can work effectively as part of a wider healthcare and education team.
• Understands the importance of dignity, confidentiality, safeguarding and following care plans.
• Is willing to learn new skills and undertake specialist training.
• Has a genuine interest in supporting children and young people with SEND and PMLD.

Previous experience with PMLD, SEND, manual handling, Makaton or medical care would be advantageous, but is not essential. We particularly welcome applicants from healthcare and care backgrounds who are looking to make a positive difference in a specialist educational setting.

All candidates must have a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting work. Full assistance will be provided with the necessary checks.

By applying for this role, you consent to Engage Education Ltd storing your personal details in our encrypted database in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR.