Pupil and Family Practitioner - The Harbour School

Grade F: £28,142 - £32,061 per annum, actual salary £24,083 - £27,437 for term time only. 37 hours per week, Permanent, Term time only.

Access to a car and UK driving licence with business insurance essential.

Have you ever seen a young person make the smallest step forward and realised just how much it meant to them and to you? Those moments don't happen by accident. They happen because someone cared enough to show up, stay patient, and see the young person behind the behaviour. At The Harbour School, you'll work with pupils who haven't had an easy path. Many have faced disrupted education, difficult experiences or emotional challenges that would overwhelm most adults. Some arrive anxious or withdrawn; others come with hope but without the tools to steady themselves. And yet - with the right support - they grow, reconnect and often surprise themselves. Some days will be lively and unpredictable; others will call for deep calm, empathy and resilience. But between the challenging moments come the ones that stay with you:

• A pupil who hasn't attended school in months choosing to try again.
• A teenager who normally shuts down making eye contact then speaking.
• A young parent finding their confidence and taking one brave next step.
• A pupil managing a tough moment in a way that once felt impossible.

These moments may look small from the outside, but to us, they're huge - and they're why we do this work. If you're looking for a role where relationships matter, where progress comes in many forms, and where your presence can genuinely change a young person's direction, this might be exactly where you make your difference.

What you'll do:

• Support pupils one to one or in small groups to build social, emotional and behavioural skills.
• Deliver planned interventions for pupils and families in mainstream schools across Portsmouth.
• Help young people manage difficult moments with calmness, safety and compassion.
• Create a nurturing, predictable environment where pupils can try, fail, reflect and try again.
• Support reintegration into mainstream settings.
• Work alongside skilled teachers who plan learning that builds over time with regular feedback.
• Weave reading, communication and confidence building into daily activities.
• Keep clear, thoughtful records and work closely with colleagues, families and partner agencies.
• Bring warmth, patience, creativity and flexibility to days that don't always follow the plan.

Who you are:

• Calm, steady and kind - able to stay grounded even when a young person is struggling.
• Someone with experience supporting children or young people with SEMH needs, in any relevant setting.
• A clear, sensitive communicator who can work with pupils, families and professionals, and who can hold firm, respectful boundaries.
• Someone with NVQ Level 4 (or equivalent) or strong, relevant experience, and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Resilient, empathetic, organised and reflective - with the ability to adapt, travel between settings and manage your time well.
• And above all, someone with warmth, hope and a sense of humour because those are the things that make the biggest difference here.

About us:

The Harbour School is a multi site organisation, with campuses at Bay Campus (including Primary at The Bay), The Bridge Campus, The Lighthouse Campus, and the Vista Campus (including The Horizon Service), all based within the city of Portsmouth. We also have an Outreach Support Team and a Hospital tuition service at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. The Bridge campus delivers full time, highly personalised Alternative Provision for pupils who cannot attend mainstream school for a range of reasons. Students are taught in small groups, supported by experienced practitioners, and offered a curriculum that balances core learning, social and emotional development, and a choice of option subjects that help them prepare for the future.

What we offer:

• A supportive school environment where relationships come first.
• The chance to make a real impact on young people's confidence, learning, and future choices.
• A team that supports each other - because this job is tough, but you'll never be alone.
• Professional development opportunities because we're all about helping you grow, both as a person and in your ability to juggle six things at once!
• A school that celebrates progress, not just results.
• Grow your career in a school and within Southern Education Trust - a growing trust that believes in 'making lives better'.
• A rewarding role where no two days are the same and every day makes a difference!

Closing date: 28th June 2026. Interview date: 6th July 2026.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form, including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.