Therapeutic Engagement Support Practitioner (SEMH / SEND)
Location: Sense Inclusion Centre, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, with community outreach
Hours: Part-time or full-time. Flexible and school-friendly hours considered. Term-time only, 39 weeks per year
Salary: £25,350 - £31,200 FTE, pro rata, depending on experience and qualifications
Contract: Fixed term until 31 August 2027, with potential to become permanent
About Sense Inclusion
Sense Inclusion CIC provides therapeutic alternative provision for children and young people who find traditional education settings overwhelming or inaccessible.
Based within Robin Hill Country Park, we offer a calm, nature-based environment and a relational, trauma-responsive approach. Many of the children and young people we support have complex SEND, SEMH and developmental trauma needs.
We are a close-knit, experienced team with high staff-to-child ratios, strong staff retention and a commitment to doing things differently when it benefits the child.
About the Role
We are looking for a compassionate, patient and reliable Therapeutic Engagement Support Practitioner to work directly with children and young people within our centre and through community outreach.
You will help young people to feel safe, regulate, build trust, engage in activities and access education and wellbeing support. Sessions may be delivered on a 1:1, 2:1 or small-group basis.
The role includes:
- Building safe, trusting and consistent relationships
- Providing calm, attuned and trauma-responsive support
- Supporting therapeutic, educational, creative, sensory, outdoor and life-skills activities
- Responding safely to anxiety, distress, shutdown, avoidance or dysregulation
- Supporting transitions, routines, boundaries and emotional safety
- Following individual plans, EHCP outcomes, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures
- Working alongside Session Leads, Case Managers, Tutors and Therapists
- Recording key observations and contributing to session notes and reviews
About You
You will be:
- Calm, caring and emotionally consistent
- Confident in supporting children who may struggle to trust adults
- Reliable, flexible and committed to high professional standards
- Able to recognise behaviour as communication
- Comfortable holding clear boundaries with care and kindness
- Willing to take part fully in child-led activities
- Reflective, resilient and able to work well within a team
Experience
Experience in one or more of the following would be helpful:
- SEND, SEMH or developmental trauma
- Autism, ADHD, FASD, anxiety, attachment needs or sensory processing differences
- Alternative provision or therapeutic education
- Youth work, social care or mental health support
- Outdoor learning, sensory fitness or trauma-informed practice
The right values, attitude and ability to build safe, professional relationships are equally important.
Essential Requirements
- Experience working with children or young people with SEND or SEMH needs
- Ability to remain calm and consistent during challenging situationsUnderstanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries
- Ability to follow support plans, policies and risk assessments
- Basic IT and record-keeping skills
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for outreach work
A relevant Level 3 or higher qualification, safeguarding training, first aid, mental health first aid or experience within therapeutic provision would be desirable.
What We Offer
- Term-time-only working
- Flexible and school-friendly hours
- Six weeks’ paid holiday, pro rata
- Clinical supervision and reflective practice
- High staff-to-child ratios
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Mileage payments for outreach work
- Career progression opportunities
- A supportive team and a beautiful nature-based setting
- A meaningful role where relationships make a genuine difference
Safeguarding
Sense Inclusion is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Therapeutic Engagement Support Practitioner in Newport employer: WightFibre Limited
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