Job summary
Cann Bridge School is a vibrant and nurturing specialist school for children and young people aged 319 with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD). We are a consistently oversubscribed local authority special school, proudly serving families across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall.
We are seeking a compassionate, organised and proactive Health & Care Assistant to join our dedicated team. This is a new role within the school and offers a rare opportunity to support our whole-school health provision.
Please note that all applications must go through the website - www.mynewterm.com and not via the NHS portal
Main duties of the job
Working under the direction of Senior Leaders, you will play a key part in ensuring pupils with complex medical and personal care needs can access learning safely, confidently and with dignity.
You will:
Provide high-quality personal & intimate care following individual care plans.
Act as a key worker for identified pupils with complex health needs.
Support medication routines, first aid, clinical monitoring & emergency response.
Work closely with class teams, families & external professionals.
Help coordinate essential health processes such as healthcare plans, record-keeping, liaising with therapy teams & supporting staff training.
Promote pupils independence, wellbeing & participation in all aspects of school life.
This role is ideal for someone with experience in care, healthcare or educational support who is confident, calm & committed to delivering excellent care without holding clinical responsibility.
We Are Looking For Someone Who:
Has experience supporting children, young people or adults in a health, care or education setting.
Is compassionate, patient & able to maintain dignity and respect at all times.
Can follow clinical guidance, care plans & safety procedures accurately.
Communicates clearly & sensitively, including with pupils who use non-verbal communication.
Is organised, reliable and able to work well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Can stay calm and responsive in emergency situations.
Is committed to safeguarding, equality and professional integrity.
About us
Cann Bridge School, located in Estover, Plymouth, is a local authority-maintained special school serving children and young people aged 3to 19 from Plymouth, Devon, and Cornwall. With a capacity of 108 pupils, we are a consistently oversubscribed school.
Our school is uniquely designed to meet the needs of pupils with complex cognition and learning needs. All of our learners have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) identifying either a Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD) or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD). Many also have additional specific learning needs linked to Downs Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Condition, speech and language difficulties, physical disabilities, or complex medical conditions.
To learn more about life at CannBridge School and our latest updates, please visit:
At Cann Bridge School, we are committed to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every learner is supported to thrive. We are relentlessly learner-focused, and our mission is to provide high-quality, individualised education adapted to each childs needs. Our dedicated staff create a calm and purposeful environment, delivering personalised learning through our Pathways to Independence Curriculum and Long-Term Rolling Programme, supported further by our EYFS and 1419 Curriculum Policies (available on our website).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main purpose of job:
The Health & Care Assistant works under the direction of Senior Leaders to deliver safe, respectful and high-quality health and care support that enables pupils to access learning. The post holder will act as a key worker for identified pupils with complex medical needs, support the coordination of aspects of health provision across the school, liaise with families and external agencies, and contribute to first aid and emergency response.
All care and interventions must be provided within the post holders training, competence, agreed protocols and care plans, withtimelyescalation to Senior Leaders whenrequired.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Health & Personal Care
Identifysigns of deterioration or emergency (e.g., seizures, respiratory concerns), responding within competency and escalating promptly.
Medication, First Aid & Welfare
Monitoring, Records & Documentation
Support basic clinical monitoring (e.g., height, weight, wellbeing checks) and assist with clinic preparation.
Assist in monitoring and coordinating mandatory wholeschool medical, first aid training, and in arranging and liaise with multidisciplinary specialists to arrange training for staff (e.g., enteral feeding/PEG, emergency epilepsy or allergy management, diabetes support, other agreed interventions).
Communication & Multiagency Liaison
Liaise with families, offering clear information and signposting to NHS or community services, whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, as required, referring to the Family & Learner Support Advisor where appropriate.
Supporting Access to Learning
Equipment, Environment & Resources
Manage the medical room, first aid kits and medical supplies, including stock checks, ordering and auditing.
Manual Handling & Physical Requirements
Performrolerelatedphysical tasks (bending, kneeling, floor work, sustained standing) and manage exposure to bodily fluids using PPE.
Trips, Visits & Operational Support
Safeguarding, Equality, Privacy & Conduct
Work in accordance with school policies (e.g., Health & Safety, First Aid, Medication, Manual Handling, GDPR, Equality & Diversity).
Professional Development & Continuous Improvement
Key Relationships
Pupils and families, Senior Leaders, Class Teams, Specialist Nursing Staff, Therapists (SaLT, OT, Physio), External NHS and social care professionals, Administrative staff, Wider school colleagues.
Scope & DecisionMaking
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main purpose of job:
The Health & Care Assistant works under the direction of Senior Leaders to deliver safe, respectful and high-quality health and care support that enables pupils to access learning. The post holder will act as a key worker for identified pupils with complex medical needs, support the coordination of aspects of health provision across the school, liaise with families and external agencies, and contribute to first aid and emergency response.
All care and interventions must be provided within the post holders training, competence, agreed protocols and care plans, withtimelyescalation to Senior Leaders whenrequired.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Health & Personal Care
Identifysigns of deterioration or emergency (e.g., seizures, respiratory concerns), responding within competency and escalating promptly.
Medication, First Aid & Welfare
Monitoring, Records & Documentation
Support basic clinical monitoring (e.g., height, weight, wellbeing checks) and assist with clinic preparation.
Assist in monitoring and coordinating mandatory wholeschool medical, first aid training, and in arranging and liaise with multidisciplinary specialists to arrange training for staff (e.g., enteral feeding/PEG, emergency epilepsy or allergy management, diabetes support, other agreed interventions).
Communication & Multiagency Liaison
Liaise with families, offering clear information and signposting to NHS or community services, whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, as required, referring to the Family & Learner Support Advisor where appropriate.
Supporting Access to Learning
Equipment, Environment & Resources
Manage the medical room, first aid kits and medical supplies, including stock checks, ordering and auditing.
Manual Handling & Physical Requirements
Performrolerelatedphysical tasks (bending, kneeling, floor work, sustained standing) and manage exposure to bodily fluids using PPE.
Trips, Visits & Operational Support
Safeguarding, Equality, Privacy & Conduct
Work in accordance with school policies (e.g., Health & Safety, First Aid, Medication, Manual Handling, GDPR, Equality & Diversity).
Professional Development & Continuous Improvement
Key Relationships
Pupils and families, Senior Leaders, Class Teams, Specialist Nursing Staff, Therapists (SaLT, OT, Physio), External NHS and social care professionals, Administrative staff, Wider school colleagues.
Scope & DecisionMaking
Person Specification
Personal qualities
Essential
- Compassionate, respectful and committed to maintaining dignity in all care tasks.
- Able to remain calm and responsive in emergencies.
- Reliable, organised and able to prioritise tasks effectively.
- Emotionally resilient and able to manage sensitive or challenging situations.
- Teamfocused, with the ability to work cooperatively across multiple teams.
- Positive, flexible and willing to learn new skills.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing routines and pupil needs
- Strong commitment to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing
- High standards of integrity and confidentiality
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the role (e.g., moving and handling)
- Willingness to work flexibly across the school day to meet pupil needs
Desirable
- Genuine enthusiasm for working with children and young people with SEND
- A reflective practitioner who contributes to continuous improvement.
- Confidence in using initiative within defined boundaries and competencies.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience working with children, young people or adults in a care, health, education or support setting.
- Demonstrable experience delivering personal care or health-related support
- Demonstrable experience following individual care plans, risk assessments or clinical guidance
- Demonstrable experience working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrable experience maintaining accurate records and following established procedures.
Desirable
- Practical experience in a special school or SEN provision
- Practical experience working with children or young people with complex health needs and/or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Practical experience liaising with families and external professionals.
- Practical experience supporting healthcare routines within a school or similar environment.
- Practical experience administering medication
- Practical experience coordinating training and professional clinics
- Previous experience managing first aid supplies and medical resources
- Previous experience providing health and care advice and guidance to others
- Practical experience making referrals and following up requests, advice, support and training from others.
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics (GCSE Grade AC / Grade 94 or Functional Skills Level 2) or willing to work towards to achieve
- Hold or willingness to undertake all mandatory and rolespecific training (e.g. safeguarding training, First Aid (3 days), manual handling, infection prevention and control, administration of medication, epilepsy awareness, PEG feeding, diabetes care, allergy awareness, asthma awareness, buccolam training, intimate care training)
- Commitment to completing specialist healthcare training and competency sign-off as required
Desirable
- Care certificate
- Level 2 or 3 Diploma/NVQ in Health & Social Care
- First Aid (3 days) qualification
- Training in communication methods used with pupils with SEND (AAC, basic Makaton signs).
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Ability to follow care plans, risk assessments, protocols and training guidance accurately.
- Awareness of infection prevention, hygiene and safe working practices.
- Ability to identify signs of ill health or deterioration and escalate appropriately.
- Strong communication skills, including interpreting nonverbal cues.
- Ability to use digital systems for record keeping.
- Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of safe moving and handling principles.
- Familiarity with school systems (e.g., CPOMS, Bromcom)
- Ability to contribute to the review of pupils healthcare plans
- Familiarity with schoolbased policies (e.g., medication, health & safety, GDPR).
Person Specification
Personal qualities
Essential
- Compassionate, respectful and committed to maintaining dignity in all care tasks.
- Able to remain calm and responsive in emergencies.
- Reliable, organised and able to prioritise tasks effectively.
- Emotionally resilient and able to manage sensitive or challenging situations.
- Teamfocused, with the ability to work cooperatively across multiple teams.
- Positive, flexible and willing to learn new skills.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing routines and pupil needs
- Strong commitment to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing
- High standards of integrity and confidentiality
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the role (e.g., moving and handling)
- Willingness to work flexibly across the school day to meet pupil needs
Desirable
- Genuine enthusiasm for working with children and young people with SEND
- A reflective practitioner who contributes to continuous improvement.
- Confidence in using initiative within defined boundaries and competencies.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience working with children, young people or adults in a care, health, education or support setting.
- Demonstrable experience delivering personal care or health-related support
- Demonstrable experience following individual care plans, risk assessments or clinical guidance
- Demonstrable experience working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrable experience maintaining accurate records and following established procedures.
Desirable
- Practical experience in a special school or SEN provision
- Practical experience working with children or young people with complex health needs and/or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Practical experience liaising with families and external professionals.
- Practical experience supporting healthcare routines within a school or similar environment.
- Practical experience administering medication
- Practical experience coordinating training and professional clinics
- Previous experience managing first aid supplies and medical resources
- Previous experience providing health and care advice and guidance to others
- Practical experience making referrals and following up requests, advice, support and training from others.
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics (GCSE Grade AC / Grade 94 or Functional Skills Level 2) or willing to work towards to achieve
- Hold or willingness to undertake all mandatory and rolespecific training (e.g. safeguarding training, First Aid (3 days), manual handling, infection prevention and control, administration of medication, epilepsy awareness, PEG feeding, diabetes care, allergy awareness, asthma awareness, buccolam training, intimate care training)
- Commitment to completing specialist healthcare training and competency sign-off as required
Desirable
- Care certificate
- Level 2 or 3 Diploma/NVQ in Health & Social Care
- First Aid (3 days) qualification
- Training in communication methods used with pupils with SEND (AAC, basic Makaton signs).
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Ability to follow care plans, risk assessments, protocols and training guidance accurately.
- Awareness of infection prevention, hygiene and safe working practices.
- Ability to identify signs of ill health or deterioration and escalate appropriately.
- Strong communication skills, including interpreting nonverbal cues.
- Ability to use digital systems for record keeping.
- Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of safe moving and handling principles.
- Familiarity with school systems (e.g., CPOMS, Bromcom)
- Ability to contribute to the review of pupils healthcare plans
- Familiarity with schoolbased policies (e.g., medication, health & safety, GDPR).
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.