Health and Care Assistant in Plymouth

Cann Bridge School is a vibrant and nurturing specialist school for children and young people aged 3 to 19 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.

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 3 to 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.

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 child's needs.

Job responsibilities

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.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Health & Personal Care

• Provide personal and intimate care sensitively and with dignity, following individual care plans and risk assessments, as required.
• Offer advice, guidance and support to class teams regarding pupils' health and care needs as per clinical advice.
• Support therapy programmes (e.g., physiotherapy, OT, SaLT) under professional guidance.
• Assist pupils with eating, drinking and supervision during breaks to promote safety, participation and independence.
• Identify signs of deterioration or emergency (e.g., seizures, respiratory concerns), responding within competency and escalating promptly.

Medication, First Aid & Welfare

• Administer medication according to school policies, SOPs and individual protocols.
• Maintain accurate medication records, including sign-in/out processes and Controlled Drug Book entries.
• Provide first aid and general welfare support for pupils (and staff where required), liaising with parents and carers appropriately.
• Be the first point of contact for health incidents, accidents and medical emergencies, supporting staff and class teams.

Monitoring, Records & Documentation

• Maintain accurate and timely records including healthcare logs and incident reports, in line with data protection requirements.
• Support basic clinical monitoring (e.g., height, weight, wellbeing checks) and assist with clinic preparation.
• Contribute to the development and routine review of Individual Healthcare Plans, Personal Care Plans and Risk Assessments.
• Ensure all new and updated Healthcare Plans and medical letters received are read and uploaded to the school's systems and shared promptly with the wider class teams.
• Assist in monitoring and coordinating mandatory whole-school medical, first aid training, and in arranging and liaising with multidisciplinary specialists to arrange training for staff (e.g., enteral feeding/PEG, emergency epilepsy or allergy management, diabetes support, other agreed interventions).
• Act as key worker for designated pupils, ensuring consistent communication between class teams and Senior Leaders.
• 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.
• Provide concise updates to professionals and attend multi-agency meetings as required.
• Communicate effectively with pupils using AAC, basic sign or observation of non-verbal cues, adapting to sensory and communication needs.

Supporting Access to Learning

• Work within classrooms and other settings to manage healthcare needs discreetly, enabling pupils to fully access learning.
• Promote independence, participation and positive self-esteem.
• Use, clean and maintain health and care equipment in line with training and manufacturer guidance; report defects promptly.
• Manage the medical room, first aid kits and medical supplies, including stock checks, ordering and auditing.
• Follow infection prevention measures, including cleaning routines and waste disposal protocols.

Manual Handling & Physical Requirements

• Carry out safe moving and handling using hoists and specialist equipment as trained, and required.
• Perform role-related physical tasks (bending, kneeling, floor work, sustained standing) and manage exposure to bodily fluids using PPE.

Trips, Visits & Operational Support

• Prepare and occasionally assist offsite activities, including medication and first aid resources, provide on-the-day health support as required.
• Support routine administrative tasks and contribute to smooth daily operations.

Safeguarding, Equality, Privacy & Conduct

• Follow safeguarding procedures, report concerns immediately to the safeguarding team.
• Uphold confidentiality, dignity, and data protection at all times.
• Work in accordance with school policies (e.g., Health & Safety, First Aid, Medication, Manual Handling, GDPR, Equality & Diversity).

Professional Development & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain up-to-date mandatory and role-specific training and competencies.
• Participate in supervised practice and implement new learning safely.
• Support service development, sharing good practice and assisting with staff training where requested.

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 & Decision Making

Works independently within agreed competencies, plans and policies. Uses judgement to prioritise workload, manage safety and elevate concerns regarding health, safeguarding or capacity. Does not undertake new clinical procedures without appropriate training, competency assessment and authorisation.

Person Specification

• 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.
• Team-focused, 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.
• 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

• 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.
• 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

• Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics (GCSE Grade A-C / Grade 9-4 or Functional Skills Level 2) or willing to work towards to achieve.
• Hold or willingness to undertake all mandatory and role-specific 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.
• Care certificate Level 2 or 3 Diploma/NVQ in Health & Social Care.
• Training in communication methods used with pupils with SEND (AAC, basic Makaton signs).

Skills & Knowledge

• 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 elevate appropriately.
• Ability to use digital systems for record keeping.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• 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 school-based 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.