About the role We are seeking a warm, proactive and resilient Intervention & Engagement Lead to support students within our Achievement Centre at a secondary school in Durham. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced education professional who can combine a nurturing and understanding approach with clear boundaries, high expectations and a strong focus on student engagement. The Achievement Centre provides support for students with additional needs who may require time away from mainstream lessons. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that students receive appropriate support, remain engaged in their learning and are encouraged to access mainstream lessons wherever possible. This is a varied role requiring excellent relationship-building skills, confident behaviour management, strong organisational ability and the flexibility to support the wider SEN team. Key responsibilities * Student support and relationships: Create a welcoming, safe and supportive environment for students with a range of special educational needs and individual support requirements. * Reintegration into lessons: Recognise when students need additional support and when they are ready to return to mainstream lessons. Encourage and support reintegration, maintaining clear boundaries around the appropriate use of the Achievement Centre. * Behaviour management: Manage challenging behaviour calmly, consistently and confidently, addressing disengagement, disruption and attempts to avoid lessons. * Learning and engagement: Ensure students have appropriate work to complete, remain on task and are supported to make productive use of their time in the centre. * Understanding individual needs: Quickly develop an understanding of students' needs, triggers, support strategies and individual approaches, adapting practice accordingly. * Administration and record-keeping: Maintain accurate registers, monitor student attendance within the centre and ensure records are kept up to date. * SEN team support: Complete administrative and organisational tasks to support the wider SEN team, contributing to the effective day-to-day running of the provision. * Safeguarding and wellbeing: Promote students' safety, welfare and inclusion, following school policies and safeguarding procedures at all times. The ideal candidate We are looking for someone who: * Has experience working with secondary-aged students, ideally within an SEN, pastoral, behaviour or inclusion setting. * Has a good understanding of special educational needs and the barriers that can affect students' engagement with learning. * Is warm, approachable and empathetic, while being confident in maintaining boundaries and challenging inappropriate behaviour. * Can build positive relationships quickly and adapt their approach to meet individual student needs. * Is confident encouraging students to attend lessons and take responsibility for their learning. * Has excellent organisation, communication and administrative skills, with a strong attention to detail. * Can work independently, use initiative and remain calm and consistent in a busy school environment. * Is committed to safeguarding, inclusion and helping every student achieve their potential. Applications are welcomed from experienced HLTAs, senior teaching assistants, behaviour mentors, pastoral support professionals and candidates with relevant teaching or youth work experience. HLTA status would be advantageous but is not essential for the right candidate. What we offer * An opportunity to make a meaningful difference to students' engagement, learning and wellbeing. * A varied and rewarding role within a supportive SEN team. * An initial temporary placement until Christmas, with the potential for extension. * A prompt start after half term. The successful candidate will be subject to the school's safeguarding and safer recruitment procedures, including the appropriate enhanced DBS and reference checks. Interested? We would love to hear from candidates who can bring warmth, consistency, initiative and high expectations to our Achievement Centre
Intervention & Engagement Lead
