Inclusion Lead

Location: Tower Hamlets
Salary: £150 - £170 per day PAYE
Contract: Temp to Perm after 12 weeks
Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (Term Time Only)
Start Date: ASAP

Are you a dedicated mental health professional with a passion for supporting children and young people with complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs?

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Inclusion Lead to join a specialist education setting in Tower Hamlets. This is an exciting opportunity to take a strategic leadership role in developing and embedding a culture of positive mental health, emotional resilience and wellbeing across the school community.

As the Inclusion Lead, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering a whole-school approach to mental health support. Working collaboratively with senior leaders, teaching staff, families and external agencies, you will ensure that pupils receive the personalised support they need to engage successfully in education and achieve positive outcomes.

The Role

This position combines strategic leadership with direct intervention and support. You will lead on the development and delivery of the school's mental health and wellbeing framework, ensuring all provision reflects trauma-informed and evidence-based practice.

You will be responsible for promoting emotional wellbeing across the setting while supporting young people who may present with significant barriers to learning, emotional dysregulation, trauma-related needs or mental health challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and review of the school's mental health and wellbeing strategy.
• Promote a trauma-informed and nurturing approach throughout the setting.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of wellbeing interventions and support programmes.
• Provide guidance and specialist advice to leaders and staff regarding mental health, behaviour and emotional wellbeing.
• Coordinate targeted interventions for pupils requiring additional emotional and therapeutic support.
• Support pupils during periods of crisis, distress or dysregulation using effective de-escalation techniques.
• Develop and oversee reintegration plans for pupils experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
• Work closely with safeguarding, SEND and pastoral teams to ensure a joined-up approach to support.
• Establish positive working relationships with CAMHS, social care services, local authorities and other external professionals.
• Contribute to EHCP reviews, multi-agency meetings and wider pupil support planning.
• Design and deliver staff training on mental health awareness, trauma-informed practice and therapeutic approaches.
• Engage and support parents and carers through workshops, consultations and practical guidance.

About You

We are looking for a skilled professional with substantial experience supporting children and young people with SEMH needs and a strong understanding of child development, trauma and mental health.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum of three years' experience working with children and young people with SEMH needs or within a comparable setting.
• A recognised Senior Mental Health Lead qualification, or equivalent mental health training.
• Degree qualification in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, Education, Nursing or a related field.
• Advanced safeguarding training and experience operating at DSL level.
• Experience implementing and evaluating evidence-based mental health interventions.
• Strong understanding of developmental trauma, adverse childhood experiences and neurodiversity.
• Experience working collaboratively with external agencies and coordinating referrals.
• Knowledge of mental health assessment tools and intervention planning.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and organisational skills.
• Ability to remain calm, resilient and solution-focused in challenging situations.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within an SEMH school, Alternative Provision or Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).
• Previous leadership or line-management experience within pastoral, therapeutic or wellbeing teams.
• Postgraduate study or specialist training in child and adolescent mental health, trauma-informed practice or psychotherapy.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor qualification or equivalent specialist accreditation.

What You'll Bring

The successful candidate will bring empathy, professionalism and a genuine commitment to supporting vulnerable young people. You will have the ability to build trusted relationships, inspire staff confidence and champion a positive culture of mental health and wellbeing throughout the school.

You will be equally comfortable leading strategic initiatives and providing direct support to pupils, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to feel safe, supported and successful.

If this role interests you, please contact bethany@psinclusion.co.uk or call 020 3011 4848 and ask for Bethany.