At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable students by providing emotional guidance and coping strategies.
- Company: Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth, a caring school with a strong community focus.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, flexible policies, and wellbeing perks.
- Other info: Join a supportive team dedicated to staff wellbeing and student success.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives and help them thrive academically.
- Qualifications: Experience in mentoring or youth work, with an understanding of SEMH needs.
The predicted salary is between 24750 - 30250 £ per year.
Start Date: As soon as possible.
Become a reliable anchor for a young person who needs it most. Being a Key Adult for a Looked After Child (LAC) is far more than an administrative title; it is about becoming a consistent, safe harbour in a world that has often been unstable.
In partnership with the Stockton Virtual School, Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth is seeking a compassionate, resilient, and dedicated SEMH Mentor. In this role, you will not just support academic progress, you will offer unconditional positive regard, help repair relational trauma, and build the secure attachment necessary for young people to thrive at GCSE level and beyond.
What you will do:
- Be a Daily Safe Harbour: Meet key students at the start of the day, provide emotional regulation support, celebrate small victories, and offer a quiet space when things become overwhelming.
- Build Targeted Strategies: Work directly with vulnerable students to develop regulating and coping mechanisms that remove barriers to learning.
- Advocate and Collaborate: Act as a fierce advocate for Looked After Children, coordinating closely with teachers, Stockton Virtual School, and external stakeholders to ensure bespoke adaptations are in place.
- Track Impact: Keep track of attendance and progress, using simple data insights to showcase how targeted interventions are helping students succeed.
What we are looking for:
- Empathy and Resilience: A deep understanding of trauma-informed practice, relational boundaries, and the invisible burdens vulnerable children carry into the classroom every day.
- Relevant Experience: A background in mentoring, youth work, pastoral care, or supporting young people with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
- High Expectations: A firm belief that every young person, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to transform their life through a quality education.
Why join Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth?
- Located near key commuting routes in Stockton-on-Tees, Bishopsgarth is an improving school with a massive heart. We serve our local community with a relentless moral purpose.
- Invested Leadership: We invest heavily in our staff's workload, wellbeing, and professional development.
- Strong Relationships: Our staff know our students and families well, fostering a supportive community where you will feel valued from day one.
Responsibilities:
As a SEMH Mentor, you will drive student success by providing tailored guidance, encouragement, and practical support. Working with pupils, you will help them navigate complex barriers to learning—focusing on developing emotional regulation and coping strategies, boosting motivation, and inspiring higher aspirations.
Qualifications:
Candidates must be knowledgeable of the needs of students with learning difficulties and disabilities and the SEND Code of Practice. An understanding of Attachment Aware and Trauma Informed practice would be desirable.
Commitment to safeguarding:
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to checks including childcare disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), medical, online and social media prohibition from teaching, right to work, satisfactory references, and suitability to work with children.
What the school offers its staff:
Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) places staff development at the heart of its strategy to deliver excellence, aiming to recruit, develop, and retain the best staff through the Outwood Institute of Education (OIE).
What will we do for you?
- Secure Pay & Pension: Competitive salary, automatic pay progression, and enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Training & Progression: Access to diverse CPD opportunities, including apprenticeships and vocational qualifications.
- Flexibility & Leave: Flexible family policies, enhanced occupational benefits (with no qualifying period), and 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays for non-term time staff.
- Wellbeing & Perks: Dedicated mental well-being strategy, free on-site parking, employee discounts, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
Outwood Grange Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children.
Please note, we reserve the right to close advertisements early, either on the advertised closing date, or sooner if required.
SEMH Mentor employer: Allscreens Nationwide Ltd
Allscreens Nationwide is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive team culture where employees are valued and encouraged to thrive. With access to state-of-the-art training facilities and opportunities for career progression, our Automotive Glazing Technicians in Birmingham can expect not only competitive bonuses but also the chance to work with the latest technology in the industry. Join us and be part of a company that prioritises both employee well-being and customer satisfaction.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SEMH Mentor
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Allscreens Nationwide Ltd.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Allscreens Nationwide Ltd!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Allscreens Nationwide Ltd, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Allscreens Nationwide Ltd or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace SEMH Mentor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Allscreens Nationwide Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Allscreens Nationwide Ltd! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Allscreens Nationwide Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.