Education Support Mentor / HLTA role TM8853
| Posting date: | 16 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £25 per hour |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 July 2026 |
| Location: | Emsworth, Hampshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Independent Lives |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | TM8853 |
Summary
Education Support Mentor / HLTA role
Ref: TM8853
Location: Emsworth
Details
This role is to support a Child
Drivers licence required: Yes
Own vehicle needed: Yes
Employment status:
Employed
Hours per week:
up to 32.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, daytime hours (times to be discussed/agreed). The role is year-round/52 weeks (possibility of term time only). Open to job share.
Hourly pay rate:
£25.00 per hour
-
Support a bright curious nearly 6 year old autistic learner with a PDA profile through self-directed, interest-led learning at home and in the community.
We are looking for a creative, active, flexible and emotionally attuned Education Support Mentor / HLTA to join a unique EOTAS package supporting a bright autistic learner with a PDA profile.
This is not a traditional school-based role and would suit somebody who enjoys thinking outside the box, building genuine relationships and supporting self-directed learning through curiosity, play, movement and shared interests.
The learner is nearly 6 years old and loves:
animals and outdoor experiences
dinosaurs, monsters and active imaginative role play
movement, physical play and adventure
self-directed exploration and real-life learning
Minecraft and playdoh
The role involves supporting the learner across home and community environments.
This is a highly relational role where trust, flexibility and emotional attunement are more important than formal teaching or behaviour-management approaches.
The role would particularly suit; HLTAs, Teaching Assistants, mentors or youth workers, home educators, alternative education practitioners, neurodivergent adults, creative/outdoor practitioners, professionals seeking a more relational and neuro-affirming way of working.
Experience supporting autistic young people and/or PDA profiles would be highly beneficial.
Training and ongoing support will be provided, including support from a specialist Multi-Disciplinary Team.
-
Duties include:
- Eating and drinking assistance
- Other relevant duties as required
- Transportation
- Dressing / undressing
- Bathroom assistance
- Relationship-based mentoring and co-regulation
- Self-directed and interest-led learning
- Play-based and sensory-based experiential learning opportunities
- Community access and activities
- Supporting social communication and interactions and confidence
- Helping the learner safely access outings, sessions and experiences
- Building emotional safety, autonomy and engagement
Candidate qualities:
- Reliable with good timekeeping
- Able to both follow instructions and work on own initiative
- Hygienic, tidy and well organised
- Fit and healthy to undertake the required duties
- Honest and cheerful
- Able to speak and read English to a reasonable standard
- Must be comfortable with pets
- Able to always work to high standards of health & safety
- Calm, patient and emotionally regulated
- Warm, trustworthy and relationship-focused
- Flexible and adaptable in approach
- Knowledgeable about autism and PDA (or committed to developing this)
- Playful, creative and interest-led
- Trauma-informed
- Discreet, professional and a strong team player — able to work closely within a small multidisciplinary team, communicate effectively with professionals and parents
- Maintain confidentiality and be respectful of employer’s privacy
Additional requirements
Non-smoker preferred or someone willing to refrain from smoking during working hours
Notes:
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check if required.
If you are successful in your application for this position, you will be either engaged directly or employed by the individual employer and not by Independent Lives. The role may be offered on an employed or self-employed basis, depending on the suitability and agreement with the employer. If the role is employed, you will be entitled to holiday pay and issued an employment contract.
Please note: If you do not hear back within three weeks of applying, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Ref: TM8853
Location: Emsworth
Details
This role is to support a Child
Drivers licence required: Yes
Own vehicle needed: Yes
Employment status:
Employed
Hours per week:
up to 32.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, daytime hours (times to be discussed/agreed). The role is year-round/52 weeks (possibility of term time only). Open to job share.
Hourly pay rate:
£25.00 per hour
-
Support a bright curious nearly 6 year old autistic learner with a PDA profile through self-directed, interest-led learning at home and in the community.
We are looking for a creative, active, flexible and emotionally attuned Education Support Mentor / HLTA to join a unique EOTAS package supporting a bright autistic learner with a PDA profile.
This is not a traditional school-based role and would suit somebody who enjoys thinking outside the box, building genuine relationships and supporting self-directed learning through curiosity, play, movement and shared interests.
The learner is nearly 6 years old and loves:
animals and outdoor experiences
dinosaurs, monsters and active imaginative role play
movement, physical play and adventure
self-directed exploration and real-life learning
Minecraft and playdoh
The role involves supporting the learner across home and community environments.
This is a highly relational role where trust, flexibility and emotional attunement are more important than formal teaching or behaviour-management approaches.
The role would particularly suit; HLTAs, Teaching Assistants, mentors or youth workers, home educators, alternative education practitioners, neurodivergent adults, creative/outdoor practitioners, professionals seeking a more relational and neuro-affirming way of working.
Experience supporting autistic young people and/or PDA profiles would be highly beneficial.
Training and ongoing support will be provided, including support from a specialist Multi-Disciplinary Team.
-
Duties include:
- Eating and drinking assistance
- Other relevant duties as required
- Transportation
- Dressing / undressing
- Bathroom assistance
- Relationship-based mentoring and co-regulation
- Self-directed and interest-led learning
- Play-based and sensory-based experiential learning opportunities
- Community access and activities
- Supporting social communication and interactions and confidence
- Helping the learner safely access outings, sessions and experiences
- Building emotional safety, autonomy and engagement
Candidate qualities:
- Reliable with good timekeeping
- Able to both follow instructions and work on own initiative
- Hygienic, tidy and well organised
- Fit and healthy to undertake the required duties
- Honest and cheerful
- Able to speak and read English to a reasonable standard
- Must be comfortable with pets
- Able to always work to high standards of health & safety
- Calm, patient and emotionally regulated
- Warm, trustworthy and relationship-focused
- Flexible and adaptable in approach
- Knowledgeable about autism and PDA (or committed to developing this)
- Playful, creative and interest-led
- Trauma-informed
- Discreet, professional and a strong team player — able to work closely within a small multidisciplinary team, communicate effectively with professionals and parents
- Maintain confidentiality and be respectful of employer’s privacy
Additional requirements
Non-smoker preferred or someone willing to refrain from smoking during working hours
Notes:
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check if required.
If you are successful in your application for this position, you will be either engaged directly or employed by the individual employer and not by Independent Lives. The role may be offered on an employed or self-employed basis, depending on the suitability and agreement with the employer. If the role is employed, you will be entitled to holiday pay and issued an employment contract.
Please note: If you do not hear back within three weeks of applying, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.