Higher Level Teaching Assistant - SEMH Specialist

Job Introduction

Term Time only plus one week (40 weeks)

Grade D, Actual Salary: £21,407 to £23,552 p.a.

Full Time Equivalent £27,780 to £30,564 p.a.

Start Date: Dependent on candidate availability

We are seeking a highly motivated, personable and experienced HLTA to join our dedicated team with a specialism in Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.

As a Higher Level Teaching Assistant specialising in Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), you will support pupils to develop the emotional regulation, resilience and social skills needed to engage successfully in learning and school life. Working closely with the SENCO, teaching staff and pastoral teams, you will deliver targeted interventions and implement strategies that support pupils in overcoming barriers related to emotional wellbeing and behaviour.

This specialist HLTA role includes opportunities to work both within the Resourced Provision and alongside pupils in mainstream classes, delivering small group and individual interventions while also supporting wider curriculum access where SEMH needs impact learning.

This role would suit a candidate who is passionate about supporting young people’s wellbeing and personal development, and who is keen to develop their expertise in SEMH support within an inclusive mainstream secondary school environment. We are seeking a member of staff with experience in SEMH interventions who is able to work flexibly in a large learning support team to have a positive impact on a number of pupils

The postholder will also be responsible for fulfilling the safeguarding requirements of the role and adhering to the school’s safeguarding policy.

Essential Qualifications Required

Educated to GCSE Level 4 (or above) OR work experience deemed to have brought the role holder to a comparable level.

We are looking for someone who

• Has HLTA status (desirable)
• Has evidence of appropriate and relevant professional development
• Has knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) (desirable)
• Is organised and able to act on own initiative and prioritise workload
• Has excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Enjoys working as part of a team
• Is committed to supporting the school’s ethos and values
• Is willing to continue with own professional development

We offer

• A supportive and welcoming school community
• A school with a calm and considered environment
• A school that is moving towards outstanding
• Effective training and support
• A positive working environment
• A school that pupils, staff and the community feel proud of
• Membership of a strong staff body
• A generous holiday and pension package as a Hampshire County Council employee.

We are a growing 11 – 16 comprehensive school. Graded ‘good’ by Ofsted in our most recent inspection (January 2024) and graded as ‘outstanding’ for Personal Development. We pride ourselves in being highly inclusive and pupil focused. We were awarded the prestigious National SMSC Quality Mark Gold Award, for the second time in April 2024. We are very proud of our pupils and their achievements.

Within the school we also have a resourced provision for physically disabled pupils who are integrated fully into the life of the school, which brings a richness and variety to the curriculum and adds to our extensive after school provision. We are proud of the way we address the needs of all of our pupils.

As a community school we also have a nursery and a pre-school.

Visits to the school are welcome as well as informal discussions to support and inform your application. Please email ***email_hidden*** or call View phone number on uk.workus.org, to make arrangements.

To apply

Please visit our school website at where an application pack is available

to download, or email: ***email_hidden***

Please email your completed application to ***email_hidden*** or send to Portchester Community School, White Hart Lane, Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 9BD, marked for the attention of Mrs Y Boxall, Personnel Services Leader. Please return the equalities monitoring form in line with the details shown on the form.

Online searches will form part of the pre-employment checks on shortlisted candidates.

We are committed to creating a diverse workforce and applications are encouraged regardless of sex, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 because it is a post which involves working directly with children or young people. If shortlisted for interview you are therefore required to declare whether you have any criminal convictions (or cautions or bind-overs) including those which are ‘spent’. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website.

Safer Recruitment

Portchester Community School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.