SEN Behaviour Mentor - Richmond (TW)
ASAP start, long-term to permanent, full-time (term time only), Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm
£100 - £105 PAYE per day, paid weekly
Interviews arranged ASAP
When a teenager walks out of a lesson, what do you think they are trying to tell you?
For many of the young people in this school, behaviour is the clearest language they have. They have Autism (ASC), ADHD, SEMH needs or learning difficulties, and a lot of them have already had a hard time in school. They do not need another adult who reacts. They need one who stays.
I am working with a specialist SEN school in Richmond that supports small groups of pupils in KS3 and KS4. They are looking for an SEN Behaviour Mentor, also working as an SEN Teaching Assistant, to join the team on a long-term to permanent basis.
Is This Your Next Role?
Think about the people who are good at this work. They coached a youth football team and noticed which kid went quiet after a bad week. They worked in a hostel, a care home or a youth club and learned to keep their voice low when everyone else raised theirs. Some studied psychology or criminology and want to see the theory in real life.
If you recognise yourself there, ask whether your current job uses that. In this role, it is the whole job. You also build experience that counts if you want to move into teaching, youth work, therapy or educational psychology later.
A Day in the Role
You might start the morning at the gate, reading the room before the first lesson. By break, you could be walking the corridor with a Year 9 pupil who needed ten minutes out of class, talking about anything except the lesson until they are ready to go back. In the afternoon, you might sit with a small group in KS4, helping one pupil stay with a piece of work they would have abandoned a month ago. Some days go to plan. Some days do not. What matters is that you come back the next morning with the same calm face.
About the School and the Pupils
The school works with pupils in KS3 and KS4 who have Autism (ASC), ADHD, SEMH needs and associated learning difficulties. Classes are small, and staffing ratios are high, so you have time to get to know each young person well. Staff work closely with families and external professionals, so you are never handling a difficult situation alone. The headteacher is a big reason people want to work here, and the team is friendly and supportive. The school also provides staff with specialist training and clear routes for development.
The school is within easy reach of Teddington, Kingston, Isleworth and Hounslow.
What the Role Involves
- Mentoring pupils one-to-one and in small groups, building trust over time
- Supporting pupils with Autism (ASC) and ADHD to manage their day, including transitions between lessons
- Helping pupils return to learning after they have left a lesson or had a difficult moment
- Working with Teachers, families and outside professionals to keep each pupil's plan consistent
- Modelling calm, respectful behaviour and following the school's approach to de-escalation
Who Should Apply
- You have experience with Autism, ADHD or SEMH, in a school, youth work, care or mentoring role
- You stay calm under pressure and do not take hard days personally
- You can think on your feet and try a different approach when the first one does not work
- You are a graduate in psychology, criminology, education studies or a related subject and want a career in SEND
- You plan to become a teacher, youth worker, Youth Worker, Therapist or Educational Psychologist and want hands-on experience first
About Parker Smith Inclusion
PS Inclusion recruits only for SEND roles, and only long-term and permanent ones. The consultants take the time to understand what you want from your next role before putting you forward, because the goal is a school you choose to stay in. Over 300 schools work with PS Inclusion, and more than 400 five-star Google reviews rate the team for efficiency and genuine support. You fill in one application and get access to roles that never reach job boards.
How to Apply
Interviews are happening now, and the school wants the right person in place as soon as possible. Apply through psinclusion.co.uk, reply to this advert, or contact Heeji Moon on 0203 011 4848 or at heeji@psinclusion.co.uk.