Teaching Assistant - LEVEL 3, Sensory and Physical Support

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