OHCAT Outer London Business Support, Grade E 20 – 25, Actual Salary : £26,678.00 - £29,099.61, (FTE £31,155.00 - £33,983.00 ) (Negotiated on appointment, depending on experience and qualifications)
36 hours a week, term time only.
Location: Dysart School, 190 Ewell Rd, Surbiton KT6 6HL, UK
Dysart School is an Outstanding special school in Kingston, providing education for pupils aged 4 to 19 with a range of severe and complex learning difficulties.
To help meet the growing demand for high-quality SEN provision in the borough, Dysart also operates three satellite sites located alongside local mainstream schools - creating inclusive opportunities and expanding access to specialist support.
Its main site, located in Surbiton, is bright and well equipped to support the development of its pupils, including Early Years classrooms with outdoor learning spaces, an onsite work-related learning kitchen, an accessible swimming pool, sensory room, soft play and adventure play areas, and clearly defined outside spaces that support pupils’ learning and self-regulation.
Dysart School is a progressive and innovative place to work and staff are offered opportunities through regular training and support to develop their own practice.
Dysart takes a person-centred, relational approach grounded in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Practice across the school focuses on understanding behaviour as communication and creating environments that support engagement, participation, relationships and quality of life, rather than relying on reactive or compliance-based approaches.
A core part of this work is the Connections Team.
The Connections Team works alongside pupils, class teams and families to provide proactive, preventative and relational support, building capacity and consistency across school and home, promoting inclusive, joined-up working that reduces stress and supports positive outcomes.
We are seeking a Quality-of-Life Practitioner to join our team.
The role aims to:
• promote pupils’ emotional wellbeing, voice and quality of life across Dysart School
• deliver direct pupil support through in-class practice and targeted 1:1 interventions, including sessions delivered in the Nest
• develop and apply a detailed understanding of pupils’ emotional experiences, relationships, motivation, and sense of meaning
Key Responsibilities:
• Hold specialist responsibility for assessing, interpreting and promoting pupils’ emotional wellbeing, quality of life and pupil voice across the school.
• Take a lead role in assessing pupils’ emotional wellbeing, quality of life and engagement, using recognised frameworks and professional judgement to inform provision across classes and settings.
• Design, deliver and evaluate specialist wellbeing and quality of life interventions, including targeted 1:1 work and in-class practice, adjusting approaches in response to pupil need and impact.
• Work in partnership with class teachers to plan and embed wellbeing-informed strategies within learning activities, routines and environments, ensuring approaches are appropriately challenging, inclusive and responsive.
Key Requirements:
• GCSE grade 9–4 (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics
• Evidence of developing specialist skills within a support role related to wellbeing, communication or emotional regulation
• Secure understanding of child and adolescent development, particularly emotional regulation, attachment and wellbeing
• Ability to organise own work, manage time effectively and work with appropriate guidance
• Commitment to always safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.
Our Trust:
Dysart School is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.
As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.
It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.
Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.
To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.
Closing Date: Sunday 19 April 2026
Interviews will take place on: week commencing Monday 4 May 2026