HLTA – Secure Children’s Unit

Morpeth | Full-Time | September 2026

A challenging environment. A rewarding role. A chance to make a difference.

Protocol Education is recruiting for a Higher Level Teaching Assistant to join a secure children’s unit in Morpeth.

This isn't a role for someone looking for a quiet classroom where every day follows the same routine.

You'll be supporting young people who may have experienced significant challenges and who may require additional support with behaviour, emotional regulation, relationships and engagement with education.

What Will You Do?

You'll work alongside the education team to provide structure, consistency and encouragement.

Your day could involve:

• Supporting classroom lessons
• Delivering learning activities
• Working 1:1 with young people
• Supporting small groups
• Managing challenging behaviour
• Helping young people regulate their emotions
• Encouraging engagement with education
• Supporting individual learning plans
• Maintaining clear boundaries
• Feeding back to teachers and the wider team

You Could Be a Great Fit If You...

• Are an experienced HLTA or TA
• Have strong behaviour management experience
• Have worked with young people with SEMH needs
• Have experience in a PRU, alternative provision or specialist setting
• Have worked in youth work or residential childcare
• Can remain calm when situations become challenging
• Understand the importance of consistency and boundaries
• Want to work somewhere your contribution genuinely matters

Why Protocol Education?

You'll have access to a dedicated consultant, regular support, CPD opportunities and potential long-term or permanent opportunities within education.

If you're looking for your next challenge and want to use your experience to support young people who need it, apply today.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.

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