SEN Specialist Practitioner SEMH

SEN Specialist Practitioner SEMH

Portslade Hub, Mile Oak Road, Portslade, BN41 2PG

Salary: £34,434 – £39,152. Full time, 37 hours per week, term‑time only.

We are recruiting for two full‑time specialist practitioners to join the Brighton and Hove Inclusion Support Service (BHISS) Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) team.

Closing date: Midnight Thursday 3 September 2026

Interview date: Tuesday 8 September 2026

Application Questions (Qualifications)

• Experience of understanding the needs of children and young people, aged 4–18, that display challenging behaviours.
• Creative, flexible, highly organised and enjoy being part of a hugely supportive team.
• Excellent listening and inter‑personal skills that allow you to ascertain a situation; support mainstream colleagues, parents and school leaders appropriately.

Key Responsibilities

BHISS-SEMH offers assessment, support, advice, training as well as direct in‑school interventions for children, from KS1‑5, whose behaviours are likely to mean they are at risk of suspension. Our key aims are to reduce fixed‑term suspensions, maintain children’s mainstream school and college placements as well as develop colleagues’ capacity to manage challenge.

We also offer a variety of bespoke trainings and forums for staff, both 1‑1 and small groups, to discuss challenge as well as devise clear programmes of support for referred children. The ability to represent the team at multi‑disciplinary meetings across the city is vital.

The role is challenging and will see you working peripatetic across the city. A high level of organisational ability and the ability to sympathetically understand individual challenges and adapt accordingly is crucial. Understanding trauma‑informed ways of working and the ability to write clear detailed reports are essential.

We can offer a hugely supportive team ethic, training, regular supervision, and the chance to make a real impact whilst working across all the city’s schools.

The ability to communicate sensitively and clearly with a wide range of individuals, through dynamic situations, and understand that challenging behaviours engender strong feelings amongst staff, parents, and the school community.

This role would suit someone who thrives on a challenge but in the knowledge that you have the support of the team and the ability to further develop a whole range of skills in the area of SEMH.

Contact

Mark Holdaway, Senior Specialist Teacher – SEMH

mark.holdaway@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Tel: 07713 711177

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it’s what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term‑time only.

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.

We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work‑life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense.