At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people through challenges and help them achieve their goals.
- Company: Specialist education setting focused on building relationships and trust.
- Benefits: Full training, ongoing support, and a rewarding career path.
- Other info: Dynamic role with varied daily experiences and strong team collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives every day.
- Qualifications: Experience in care, youth work, or similar fields is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 £ per year.
Are you someone who thrives on building relationships, supporting young people through challenges, and helping them achieve things they never thought possible? We're looking for passionate, resilient and caring individuals to join a specialist education setting supporting children and young people with a wide range of additional needs. This isn't a traditional classroom role. It's about being a positive role model, building trust, managing behaviours positively, and helping pupils develop confidence, independence and life skills.
We'd love to hear from you if you have experience in:
- SEN schools or specialist education settings
- SEMH (Social, Emotional & Mental Health)
- Autism (ASC)
- PMLD (Profound & Multiple Learning Difficulties)
- Challenging behaviour support
- Residential children's homes
- Youth work
- Care and support work
- Mental health services
- Sports coaching
- Prison, probation or rehabilitation services
- Community outreach programmes
What you'll be doing:
- Supporting pupils on a 1:1 and small group basis
- Building positive relationships with children who may struggle to trust adults
- Managing challenging behaviours using positive behaviour strategies
- Supporting communication, emotional regulation and social development
- Assisting with personal care where required
- Encouraging independence and celebrating every achievement, no matter how small
- Working alongside teachers, therapists and specialist staff
The ideal person:
- Calm under pressure
- Naturally empathetic and patient
- Resilient and able to build strong boundaries
- Passionate about helping young people succeed
- A team player with a positive attitude
- Looking for a rewarding career rather than "just a job"
Why this role? Every day is different. One moment you could be helping a young person regulate after a difficult morning, the next you're celebrating a breakthrough that they've been working towards for months. If you've worked in care, residential settings, youth work, behavioural support or specialist education and are looking for a role where you can genuinely change lives, we'd love to hear from you. No school experience? No problem. If you have the right attitude, transferable experience and a genuine passion for supporting young people with additional needs, full training and ongoing support will be provided. Apply today and start a career where every day matters.
SEN & Behaviour Support Mentor in Thatcham employer: Empowered
EmpowerED is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises the professional growth of its staff. Located in Reading, the specialist primary school provides ongoing training and development opportunities, ensuring that every SEN Teaching Assistant can make a meaningful impact on the lives of children with SEMH needs. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and a commitment to creating a nurturing environment, EmpowerED stands out as a rewarding place to work for those passionate about education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SEN & Behaviour Support Mentor in Thatcham
✨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 Empowered.
✨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 Empowered!
✨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 Empowered, 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 Empowered 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 SEN & Behaviour Support Mentor in Thatcham
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 Empowered:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Empowered! 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 Empowered
✨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.
