Vacancies

Mental Health Assistant - Samuel Cody (Cody Oaks Department)

Job Introduction

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title Mental Health Support Assistant

Responsible to Assistant Headteacher – Cody Oaks

Main Purpose of the Job

To take responsibility for supporting a class of students with a range of complex SEMH needs and to support teaching staff effectively and to work with parents and other agencies.

To ensure that all individual student needs are met.

Main duties

Work with individuals and groups of students, assist in ensuring students are kept on task and complete activities set by the teacher.
Deal with behavioural and special needs issues in conjunction with the teacher.
Deliver SEN interventions.
Help implement lesson plans, aims and contents with the teacher.
Provide feedback to students without reference to the teacher.
Take small group of students for defined activities.
Support and work with the teacher in testing/assessment.
Provide individual student and group ELSA as required.
Support with providing detailed written reports when annual reviews are being held.

Responsibilities

To participate in regular meetings in the school, which relate to the organisation of the school, curriculum and school improvement.
To use agreed strategies and follow the school behaviour policy to promote good behaviour.
To follow all school policies and practices including the school health & safety policy to ensure the health and wellbeing of all.
To engage in professional development opportunities.

Additional Professional Duties

To be committed to safeguarding and promoting of children and young people, and to uphold the School’s safeguarding policies and practice.
To participate in performance management within an agreed School policy.
To participate in, and contribute towards, In-house training during the year.
To carry out the duties of a teaching Assistant as set out in the Teaching Assistants Standards.

This job description does not define in detail all the duties and responsibilities of the post.

Samuel Cody School – Cody Oaks

Person Specification – Teaching Assistant

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

GCSE or Level 2 equivalent in English and Maths

Additional qualification in SEND

Professional

attributes

Excellent /good communication and interpersonal skills
Enthusiastic, creative and willing to learn
Take responsibility for managing own professional development
Promote positive values, attitudes and behaviour
Experience in, managing and motivating students with challenging behaviours.
Form professional, supportive and appropriate relationships with parents, carers and other professionals
Contribute and participate in school improvement
Contribute to the development, implementation of school policies
Willingness to participate in the wider life of the school
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the professional duties of a Teaching Assistant and the statutory framework.

Evidence of continued professional development

Professional knowledge & understanding

Experience of supporting primary or secondary students with SEMH and associated difficulties.
Excellent classroom practitioner and behaviour manager
Understand how students’ learning, development and well-being are affected by their physical, emotional, & social development and other external influences
Use a range of support styles and be flexible to meet the individual needs of the learners
Know how to use personalise learning to provide opportunities for all learners to achieve their potential.
Experience in using Team-teach and de-escalation strategies

Knowledge of understanding students with SEMH, ASC, ODD and attachment and trauma
Knowledge of different strategies in working with children with SEMH, ASC, ODD and attachment and trauma
Understanding of how to manage behaviour in the classroom

Professional skills

Use a range of behaviour strategies to help promote good behaviour and independence of learners.
Help to establish a safe and stimulating classroom environment
Work effectively within a team
Ability to use ICT to support learning and wider professional activities
Ability to ask for advice and support as necessary and to be flexible and open to ideas of others
Ability to work under pressure and remain calm
Ability to maintain a realistic work life balance to support own well being

Hazard Form

This form highlights hazards related to the role that could pose a risk to the post holder.

Role Title: Teaching Assistant

Manual Handling

This role requires hazardous manual handling operations. For example, moving and holding children and young people.

The types of manual handling operation involved in this role are children/young people.

These manual handling operations are required on a regular basis.

Display Screen Equipment

This role will require the post holder to be a Display Screen Equipment User. This will involve use of a laptop/desktop computer.

Job Characteristics

This role involves working with children and young people aged 9 years to 16 years old. This role also involves working with children and young people with special educational needs.

Applying

Please complete an application form and return to recruitment@samuelcody.hants.sch.uk

This role involves managing challenging behaviour and verbal abuse and this is likely on a regular basis.

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.