Support Worker - Special Schools

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust; Bury; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Support Worker for Elms Bank Special School & College. You will support children and young people with SEND, under qualified nurses, delivering health care within an educational setting to enable access to learning.

The role involves medicines administration, health monitoring, and collaboration with families and multi-disciplinary teams to promote safety, wellbeing and inclusion for students aged 11–19.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification.
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or Level 2 functional skills.
• Experience with children and young people with SEND is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality support to children and young people with SEND within Elms Bank Special School & College.
• Undertake HCSW duties alongside the Nursing Team to support health care and education access.
• Work with carers, education staff, and therapists to promote safety, inclusion and wellbeing.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Safeguarding

Equality & diversity

SEND experience

Medicines administration

Clinical observations

Tracheostomy care

Education

NVQ Level 3 Health & Social Care

GCSE English & Maths (4/C or Level 2)

Job description

Go back Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Support Worker - Special Schools

The closing date is 20 September 2026

You will work as part of the multidisciplinary health team within Elms Bank Special School & College. Working under the supervision of qualified nurses, the post holder will provide high-quality support to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with complex health, physical, learning, and communication needs.

The role involves supporting students with their healthcare needs, promoting independence and wellbeing, The Support Worker will work closely with qualified nurses, education staff, therapists, students, and families to ensure a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment that enables pupils to access learning and achieve their full potential.

This is a rewarding role requiring compassion, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with additional needs

Main duties of the job

The post holder will undertake HCSW duties alongside the Special Schools Nursing Team to promote the holistic health care and well-being of Children and Young People aged 11-19 years by supporting planned programmes of care to ensure that the health needs of any child are recognised and managed appropriately and that disruption to the pupil's access to education and learning is minimised. The role will involve providing key clinical care interventions to children and young people.

Additionally, you will work as an effective member of the multi-agency team within the special school, working in partnership with Parents/Carers Education and Allied Health Staff to ensure any child or young person individual health needs are met. You should have excellent inter-personal and communication skills and have the ability to work independently.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Learn more about us in ourCandidate Information Pack (opens in existing window)

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification


• Minimum GCSE pass English and Math's grade 4 or Level 2 functional skills Math's and English

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Awareness of the impact of illness or disability on a child and care givers


• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection


• Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures and application role


• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of supporting equality and valuing diversity within their role


• Experience with working with children & young people with special needs/disability


• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills both written and verbal


• Able to interact well with children and parents and deal with changes


• Previous experience of working in a special schools


• Clinical skills such as administration of medicines, clinical observations, tracheostomy care

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust