SEMH Lead

Social Emotional and Mental Health Lead required! 

Are you passionate about making a difference in young people’s lives? Are you dedicated to providing high-quality support to students with social, emotional, and mental health needs? Teaching Personnel are working with a secondary school in Portsmouth who are seeking a dedicated and motivated SEMH Lead to join their team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a caring and hardworking individual to lead our SEMH support initiatives, helping create a positive impact on the well-being and success of the students.

As the SEMH Lead, you will play a pivotal role in supporting students with social, emotional, and mental health challenges, ensuring they are given the best possible foundation for learning and personal growth. You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to support students well-being, allowing them to thrive academically and socially.

Working closely with teaching staff, support staff, and families, you will create a nurturing environment that encourages resilience, positive behavior, and emotional well-being.

This role requires a compassionate individual with a strong understanding of SEMH and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young people. You will be an advocate for students, working to address barriers to learning and promoting a safe, inclusive environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and Lead SEMH Strategy: Design, implement, and monitor an effective SEMH support framework to address the needs of students with varying levels of social, emotional, and mental health challenges.
• Direct Student Support: Work directly with students requiring SEMH support, providing one-on-one sessions and small group interventions to build resilience, coping skills, and social skills.
• Staff Collaboration and Training: Work collaboratively with teachers, LSAs, and pastoral staff to identify students in need and provide guidance on effective SEMH strategies in the classroom. Lead training sessions and workshops for staff, enhancing their understanding of SEMH and equipping them to better support students.
• Family and Community Engagement: Build strong relationships with parents, caregivers, and external agencies, keeping them informed of student progress and providing them with resources and strategies to support students at home.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Track student progress, maintain accurate records, and report on SEMH initiative's impact. Regularly review and refine support plans, ensuring they are effective and responsive to individual needs.
• Crisis Management and Intervention: Respond promptly to critical incidents involving SEMH needs, providing immediate support and guidance to students and liaising with necessary stakeholders for ongoing care.
• Promote a Positive School Environment: Actively contribute to a safe, inclusive, and positive school culture, championing the importance of mental health and emotional well-being in the school community.

The ideal SEMH Lead will have:

• Experience in SEMH Support: Proven experience working with young people with SEMH needs, ideally within an educational setting. Knowledge of mental health challenges and experience with interventions that promote resilience and emotional stability.
• Commitment and Resilience: A passionate and committed approach to improving young people’s lives, especially those facing significant challenges. The resilience to handle complex situations with patience and professionalism.
• Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional communication skills to effectively liaise with students, staff, parents, and external professionals. Ability to engage and build trust with young people and inspire confidence in their progress.
• Organizational Skills: Strong administrative skills with an ability to manage case loads, maintain detailed records, and report on the progress and effectiveness of SEMH initiatives.
• Knowledge of SEMH Best Practices: A sound understanding of best practices in SEMH support, safeguarding, and child protection, along with an ability to apply these to create a supportive environment.
• Relevant Qualifications: A background in social work, psychology, counselling, education, or a related field is highly desirable, along with any qualifications or training specific to SEMH.

If you feel you are the ideal candidate for the above role, apply now and submit your CV!

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for 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.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with 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 all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
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