Job Introduction
If you are someone who loves creativity, connection and helping children thrive in their own unique way, we’d love to meet you.
Samuel Cody School is a special school for students aged 4 -16 with moderate learning difficulties in our primary and secondary buildings and SEMH difficulties at Cody Oaks.
Our school is a successful, friendly and forward-thinking school where everyone is encouraged to do their best and achieve their full potential; a place where everybody is valued and respected. We pride ourselves on the strong relationships staff build with students and as a result we experience highly rewarding impact on students’ communication, independence, and personal development.
This role is newly created and represents an exciting opportunity for someone who is already a Thrive Practitioner or someone who is interested in training to become a Thrive Practitioner.
Main Purpose of this Role
The Therapeutic Practitioner will play a crucial role in supporting the unique learning and developmental needs of students across the whole of Samuel Cody School. The primary purpose of this role is to work under closely with students, delivering targeted Thrive based interventions to address unmet social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs based on your assessment of the child. By fostering positive relationships and implementing personalised action plans, the Therapeutic Practitioner aims to remove barriers to learning and enable pupils to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. This may also require collaboration with other professionals, such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and/or physiotherapists.
The Therapeutic practitioner is responsible for using behaviour management strategies in line with the school's policies and procedures, embedded in trauma informed practice, to contribute to a purposeful learning environment for pupils, appropriate to their age and needs. They assist in creating and maintaining a purposeful, orderly, and supportive learning environment for all pupils, particularly helping to overcome barriers to learning, including physical, emotional, and behavioural difficulties and promote inclusion of all pupils, ensuring they have equal opportunities to learn and develop.
Key Responsibilities and Duties of this Role
Carry out assessment of students to identify developmental groups.
Devise and implement action plans, with the support of SLT, to address a pupil's learning needs and remove any barriers to learning.
Work with students on a 1:1, 2:1, and small group basis to help meet unmet developmental needs as a foundation to learning.
Deliver Thrive-based sessions to students who are on the Thrive programme.
Support pupils through the delivery of specific learning programmes designed by other professionals e.g. occupational health, speech therapists, and physiotherapists.
Be accountable for the progress of individual pupils, measured against the Thrive programme attainment standards.
Maintain up-to-date Thrive files to document student progress.
Communicate effectively with all stakeholders, including parents/carers, pupils, staff, and external agencies.
Encourage students to interact and work cooperatively, ensuring all pupils are engaged in appropriate activities based on their age and needs.
Demonstrate knowledge of complex special needs and the ability to use appropriate programmes such as Total Communication strategies and PRICE (once training has been given).
Recognise that pupils may have communication difficulties and be able to use alternative communication techniques if required.
Skills and Competencies
Relevant knowledge and experience of students with SLD, MLD and SEMH needs.
Knowledge of children’s social and emotional development/attachment theory.
Good understanding of the principles of child development and the learning process.
Experience of running nurture groups/social skills group.
Strong understanding of the Thrive approach and its application in supporting the SEMH needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or a willingness to complete this training.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, parents/carers, and colleagues.
Ability to plan, deliver, and evaluate targeted Thrive-based interventions to meet individual student needs.
Demonstrable experience in working with pupils with SEND, particularly in the areas of SEMH.
Proficient in data collection, analysis, and reporting to track and communicate pupil progress.
Flexible and adaptable, with a commitment to working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing demands.
Passion for making a positive difference in the lives of pupils with SEND and a deep understanding of the school's vision and values.
Effective behaviour management strategies aligned with the school's policy and procedures, contributing to a purposeful learning environment
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with teachers, other professionals, and parents & carers and build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Thorough understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures, with the ability to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Commitment to the school's vision, values, and priorities, and the ability to promote them effectively.
Adaptability and flexibility to respond to the changing needs of the school community.
Ability to participate in physical activities as appropriate.
Attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate and legible records and reports.
Positive and proactive approach to problem-solving, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Physical and mental stamina to work in an environment with a varied intensity of demands from students, including the potential need for physical intervention.
We can offer you:
Thrive Practitioner training
A friendly and welcoming team who are committed to achieving the best outcomes for all students
Your birthday off work
Coaching
Gym use before or after school (at Cody Oaks)
Subscription to SchoolsUKHealth offering 24-7 GP access for your whole family, muscular-skeletal treatment and mental health support services
Opportunities for continuing professional development through The National College providing over 1500 online training opportunities in additional to national qualifications, specific training (e.g. PRICE, sensory curriculum and communication approaches)
A leadership team who monitor and support work-life balance
A school rooted firmly in our local community
We warmly encourage you to visit. Come and see our wonderful students in action, meet our friendly team, and get a real feel for our welcoming school.
Closing date: 27 April 12 noon
Interview: 30 April
Start date: 1 June
For an appointment to tour the school please email recruitment@samuelcody.hants.sch.uk or call 01252 514194
Applicants are required to fill in an application form
Please send completed application forms to recruitment@samuelcody.hants.sch.uk
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Attached documents
