Specialist Support Worker (Complex SEND & Mental Health)
Salary: PS6 or PS7 (dependent on experience)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:45am – 3:15pm
Contract: 39 weeks per year
At St Paul's CofE Primary School, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of the challenges they face. We are proud of our highly inclusive approach and the exceptional specialist provision we have developed to ensure children with the most complex needs can access education in a safe, nurturing and ambitious environment.
We are seeking a compassionate, resilient and emotionally intelligent Specialist Support Worker to join our team, supporting a child with complex special educational needs and significant mental health needs.
This is not a general teaching assistant role. It is a specialist position working alongside an experienced Specialist Resource Provision teacher to provide dedicated 2:1 support for a child whose distress can present through behaviours including physical aggression towards adults and property. These behaviours are understood as a way of communicating overwhelming emotions, and our approach is rooted in understanding, regulation, consistency and therapeutic relationships.
The successful candidate will become part of a skilled and supportive team, working within one of Surrey's most innovative specialist provisions alongside experienced staff and external professionals.
The role will include:
Providing consistent 2:1 support throughout the school day.
Building a strong, trusting and therapeutic relationship with the child.
Supporting emotional regulation through co-regulation, structure and predictable routines.
Responding calmly, safely and professionally during periods of significant dysregulation.
Supporting learning through personalised strategies and highly adapted approaches.
Working closely with the Specialist Resource Provision Teacher, SENDCo and external professionals to deliver individual support plans.
Helping create an environment where the child feels safe, understood and able to make progress.
We are looking for someone who:
Has experience supporting children with complex SEND, SEMH and/or mental health needs.
Understands that behaviour is communication.
Can remain calm, resilient and reflective under pressure.
Is physically and emotionally resilient and confident supporting children who may display highly challenging behaviours.
Can build trusting relationships whilst maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.
Works well as part of a highly supportive multidisciplinary team.
Is committed to continual professional development and reflective practice.
In return, we offer:
The opportunity to make a profound difference to a child's life every day.
A genuinely caring, supportive and experienced staff team.
Excellent professional development, including specialist training in trauma-informed practice, behaviour support, de-escalation and SEND.
The opportunity to work within an ambitious, highly inclusive school that believes every child deserves the very best opportunities to succeed.
We reserve the right to shortlist and interview before the closing date. Early applications are therefore strongly encouraged.
For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office.
St Paul's CofE Primary School & Nursery, Tongham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.