Job Description

SEMH Learning Support Assistant

Monday to Friday | 8:30am - 3:30pm (start date ASAP)

Term time only, in line with Essex County Council School Term Dates

Hatfield Wick Education provides alternative education for children and young people who are experiencing barriers to learning due to social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

Our approach focuses on therapeutic wellbeing support, personalised learning and building positive relationships that help young people re-engage with education.

We are seeking a compassionate and motivated Learning Support Assistant to join our team. In this role you will support learners who require additional help to overcome barriers to learning and achieve positive outcomes.

You will work closely with teachers and our therapeutic staff to support young people both academically and emotionally.

Learners may require support due to factors such as:

• Trauma
• Challenging behaviour
• Emotional difficulties
• Lack of confidence or low self-esteem
• Mental health needs
• Anxious school refusal
• Neurodiversity
• Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs

You may work with learners on a 1:1 basis or within small groups (maximum of 6 students).

Key Responsibilities:

• Build positive and trusting relationships with the young people you support
• Support learners in overcoming barriers to learning
• Follow individual needs assessments and support plans
• Support learners in developing confidence, resilience and self-esteem
• Use empathic listening skills to help learners explore issues affecting their learning
• Encourage positive behaviour and engagement with education
• Support learners with aspects of their academic learning, particularly English and Maths
• Work collaboratively with teachers and therapeutic staff
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to learner progress monitoring
• Support transition activities for learners moving to secondary school or further education
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people at all times in line with Hatfield Wick Education safeguarding policies

Person Specification

Essential:

• GCSE Grade 4 (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• Passion for working with children and young people
• Experience supporting young people with neurodiversity or SEMH needs
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to build trusting and supportive relationships with learners
• Understanding of the impact of trauma on young people

Desirable:

• Experience working with young people who have experienced trauma
• Knowledge of attachment difficulties
• Youth work, mentoring or counselling experience or qualifications

The Ideal Candidate:

• The successful candidate will be empathetic, patient and resilient, with a genuine commitment to supporting young people who may have experienced challenges in their education.

You will be:

• Positive and forward-thinking
• Non-judgemental and supportive
• Able to build authentic and trusting relationships with learners
• Motivated to help young people develop confidence and achieve success
• You will work closely with teachers and therapeutic staff as part of a collaborative team supporting learners' academic progress and emotional wellbeing.

At Hatfield Wick Education we are passionate about ensuring young people have the same opportunities to succeed as their peers. Our CARES360 model combines therapeutic wellbeing support with personalised education to help learners achieve positive futures.

Safeguarding and Recruitment

Hatfield Wick Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be subject to safer recruitment checks including:

• Enhanced DBS check
• Satisfactory references
• Verification of identity and qualifications
• In line with safeguarding guidance, online searches may be conducted on shortlisted candidates as part of the recruitment process.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments applicants may need during the recruitment process.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is identified.

Information about the School

Hatfield Wick Education is an Accredited Alternative Education Provider for Essex that delivers education and therapeutic services for children and young people who cannot access learning in a mainstream setting.

We are commissioned by the Local Authority, schools, and families to provide educational and therapeutic support to children and young people with a diverse range of special educational needs, including:

• Anxiety / ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) • Asperger's • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) • ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) • Sensory Processing Disorder (auditory, visual, sensory, memory) • Attachment Disorder (including those associated with adoption & fostering) • Separation Anxiety Disorder

Our overarching goal is to identify challenges, remove obstacles and build strategies to help children and young people reach, maintain, and exceed their personal goals and boost their confidence and self-esteem. By doing this, they can return to mainstream education and continue to thrive.