Teaching Assistant - LEVEL 3, Sensory and Physical Support
Description
Expert at Hand – Peer Support Teaching Assistants
11 Month Fixed Term Contract
Grade B – £29,542 - £35,570
Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review
Working 36.5 hours per week
Do you want to use your lived experience to help children and young people feel understood, believe in their potential and shape a more inclusive Birmingham? The Sensory and Physical Support Team is recruiting three Peer Support Teaching Assistants for the Experts at Hand Program. Each post will draw on relevant lived experience to provide relatable support and positive role modelling, while helping the wider system listen to and learn from young people.
Post 1: Peer Support Teaching Assistant – Vision Impairment
We are looking for a young adult aged 16 to 24 with lived experience of vision impairment who can encourage and inspire children and young people with similar needs. You will join a supportive specialist team and use your experience appropriately to help young people develop confidence, independence, self-advocacy and positive expectations for adult life. Previous paid or voluntary work experience is not essential; induction, supervision and role-related training will be provided.
Key duties
Build appropriate and trusting peer relationships with children and young people with vision impairment, individually and in groups.
Support transition, Preparing for Adulthood, careers, employability and independence activities.
Share relevant lived experience sensitively to encourage confidence, resilience, aspiration, belonging and self-advocacy.
Help young people understand reasonable adjustments and explore accessible technology, resources, further education, training, supported internships, volunteering and employment.
Work alongside specialist teachers and colleagues to plan and evaluate activities, prepare accessible resources and report on engagement, progress, aspirations and barriers.
Contribute to workshops, visits, careers events and employer encounters across Birmingham.
Maintain safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries, seeking guidance whenever an issue is outside the role.
The difference you could make
Your presence can help a young person see that vision impairment does not define what is possible. By offering relatable encouragement and practical insight, you could help young people feel less isolated, become more confident in expressing what they need, make informed choices and approach transitions with greater independence and ambition.
Your influence on the wider system
You will bring lived-experience insight into the design of accessible resources, workshops and pathways. By sharing what helps—and what creates barriers—you can help education settings, careers services, training providers and employers strengthen accessibility, disability confidence and their expectations of young people with vision impairment. Feedback gathered through your work will support continuous improvement of the Experts at Hand programme and specialist services.
Post 2: Peer Support Teaching Assistant – Hearing Impairment
We are looking for a young adult aged 16 to 24 with lived experience of hearing impairment who can encourage and inspire children and young people with similar needs. You will join a supportive specialist team and use your experience appropriately to help young people develop confidence, independence, communication, self-advocacy and positive expectations for adult life. Previous paid or voluntary work experience is not essential; induction, supervision and role-related training will be provided.
Key duties
Build appropriate and trusting peer relationships with children and young people with hearing impairment, individually and in groups.
Support transition, Preparing for Adulthood, careers, employability and independence activities.
Share relevant lived experience sensitively to encourage confidence, resilience, aspiration, belonging and self-advocacy.
Support young people to communicate their views, understand reasonable adjustments and explore communication technology, assistive technology and accessible opportunities.
Work alongside specialist teachers and colleagues to plan and evaluate activities, prepare accessible resources and report on engagement, progress, aspirations and barriers.
Contribute to workshops, visits, careers events and employer encounters across Birmingham.
Maintain safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries, seeking guidance whenever an issue is outside the role.
The difference you could make
Your support can help a young person feel understood by someone who recognises the communication, participation and transition barriers they may encounter. You could help them grow in confidence, identify the adjustments that work for them, communicate their choices and approach education, training, employment and adult life with stronger self-belief.
Your influence on the wider system
You will help services and settings understand the practical difference that communication access, assistive technology and inclusive attitudes can make. Your insight can influence accessible resources, workshops and employer encounters, challenge low expectations and help partners improve how they listen and respond to young people with hearing impairment. Young people’s feedback will inform programme evaluation and service improvement.
Post 3: Peer Support Teaching Assistant – Physical or Medical Difficulty/Disability
We are looking for a young adult aged 16 to 24 with lived experience of a physical or medical difficulty or disability who can encourage and inspire children and young people with similar needs. You will join a supportive specialist team and use your experience appropriately to help young people develop confidence, independence, self-advocacy and positive expectations for adult life. Previous paid or voluntary work experience is not essential; induction, supervision and role-related training will be provided.
Key duties
Build appropriate and trusting peer relationships with children and young people with physical or medical difficulties or disabilities, individually and in groups.
Support transition, Preparing for Adulthood, careers, employability, independence and community-inclusion activities.
Share relevant lived experience sensitively to encourage confidence, resilience, aspiration, belonging and self-advocacy.
Help young people recognise their strengths, communicate their views, understand reasonable adjustments and explore accessible pathways into further education, training and employment.
Work alongside specialist teachers and colleagues to plan and evaluate activities, prepare accessible environments and resources, and report on engagement, progress, aspirations and barriers.
Contribute to workshops, visits, careers events and employer encounters across Birmingham.
Maintain safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries; the role will complement rather than replace medical or specialist advice.
The difference you could make
Your lived experience can help young people feel recognised as whole individuals rather than defined by a condition or disability. You could help them identify their strengths, speak up about access and support, build confidence in navigating change and see credible routes into learning, work, community life and adulthood.
Your influence on the wider system
You can help settings and partners better understand how physical access, fatigue, health needs, reasonable adjustments and attitudes can affect participation. Your insight can shape more inclusive activities, environments, resources and pathways, while helping professionals and employers focus on strengths, aspirations and practical solutions. Feedback from young people will contribute to programme monitoring and improvement.
What we are looking for across all three posts
Relevant lived experience for the specialist post you apply for.
Empathy, reliability and motivation to support young people with similar needs.
An ability to listen, communicate clearly and use personal experience positively without assuming that another person’s experience is the same as your own.
A commitment to equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
A willingness to learn, accept support and feedback, undertake training and work as part of a team.
Ability to work flexibly across Birmingham, with reasonable adjustments where required.
What we offer
This is a supported employment and career-development opportunity. You will receive induction, regular supervision, training and support to develop workplace skills and safe, effective use of lived experience. Birmingham City Council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer and will consider reasonable adjustments and accessible working arrangements.
Please upload an up-to-date CV and Supporting Statement via the attachments part of your application. The Supporting Statement should outline how you meet the criteria for the role through your personal qualities, skills and experience and include your motivation for applying to the post. Note the Personal Statement should be no more than 1500 words. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV and Personal Statement attached
Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.
We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.
Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.
Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy | Birmingham City Council here.
Job Description and Person Specification
Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment