Pupil Support – The Sallygate School

Pupil Support – The Sallygate School

£27,500 FTE + SEN Allowance £2,679k – 39 weeks out of 52

The Sallygate School is an Independent Special School catering to the unique needs of pupils with SEMH.  Located in the heart of the Alkham Valley, near Dover, the Sallygate School is part of Channels & Choices Therapeutic Community which comprises of several therapeutic residential children’s homes, an independent therapeutic fostering agency and a multi-disciplinary therapy service, including SaLT & OT service.

Job Summary

As a Pupil Support Officer at Sallygate School, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the emotional wellbeing, engagement and behavioural development of children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Working closely with teachers, pastoral staff, therapists and senior leaders, you will help create a safe, nurturing and aspirational learning environment where every pupil can thrive.

You will provide targeted support to pupils throughout the school day, helping them to regulate emotions, engage positively in learning and successfully manage challenges that may arise within the classroom or wider school environment. Through the use of trauma-informed, attachment-aware and restorative approaches, you will support pupils to understand their behaviours, develop resilience and build the skills they need to achieve positive outcomes.

At the heart of this role is a commitment to modelling and promoting our core values of Respect, Kindness, Resilience and Tolerance. These values underpin every interaction within our school community. As a Pupil Support Officer, you will demonstrate these values daily by building trusting relationships, promoting restorative practices, encouraging accountability and ensuring pupils feel valued, safe and respected.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting vulnerable young people, can remain calm and consistent under pressure and believes in the transformative power of strong relationships and therapeutic support.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Pupil Support Officer will work as part of the wider pastoral and educational team to support pupil engagement, behaviour, emotional wellbeing and safety throughout the school day.

Supporting Pupils and Learning:

  • Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils, acting as a consistent and reliable adult presence throughout the school day.
  • Support pupils in accessing learning by reducing barriers to engagement and promoting positive participation within lessons.
  • Provide 1:1 and small-group support to pupils who require additional assistance with emotional regulation, behaviour or classroom engagement.
  • Support pupils during transitions, breaktimes, lunchtimes and other less structured periods of the day.
  • Encourage pupils to develop positive social relationships, confidence, resilience and self-esteem.
  • Promote the school’s core values of Respect, Kindness, Resilience and Tolerance in all interactions.

Behaviour Support and Intervention:

  • Observe, monitor and analyse pupil behaviour to identify patterns, triggers and barriers impacting engagement and wellbeing.
  • Implement proactive behaviour support strategies and de-escalation techniques to reduce incidents and maintain a positive learning environment.
  • Support pupils to reflect on their behaviour, understand emotional responses and develop appropriate coping strategies.
  • Contribute to the development, implementation and review of Behaviour Support Plans and personalised interventions.
  • Support pupils during time-out or regulation periods, helping them to return to learning successfully and positively.
  • Maintain accurate records of behaviour incidents, interventions and progress using school systems.

Pastoral Support and Safeguarding:

  • Provide emotional support to pupils experiencing distress, dysregulation or crisis using therapeutic and restorative approaches.
  • Maintain a vigilant approach to safeguarding and report concerns promptly in line with school policies and statutory guidance.
  • Work collaboratively with families, carers, residential homes, foster carers, social workers and external agencies where appropriate.
  • Ensure all safeguarding, behavioural and wellbeing records are completed accurately and professionally.

Physical Intervention and Safety:

  • Where necessary and as a last resort, use approved physical intervention techniques in accordance with school policy and training.
  • Support the maintenance of a safe environment for pupils, staff and visitors.
  • Respond appropriately to incidents, ensuring pupil dignity, safety and wellbeing remain central at all times.

Teamwork and Professional Practice:

  • Work collaboratively with teaching staff, pastoral teams, therapists and senior leaders to ensure a joined-up approach to pupil support.
  • Participate fully in meetings, briefings, debriefings, supervision sessions and professional development opportunities.
  • Lead or support end-of-day pupil reflections and briefings.
  • Actively promote the ethos, values and therapeutic approach of Sallygate School.
  • Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role as directed by the Senior Leadership Team.

Skills and Experience

We are looking for an individual who can combine compassion, resilience and professionalism to support our pupils effectively and consistently.

Essential Skills and Qualities:

  • Experience working with children and young people, particularly those with SEMH needs, SEND, trauma backgrounds or additional vulnerabilities.
  • Strong understanding of behaviour management, de-escalation and restorative approaches.
  • Ability to build positive and trusting relationships with pupils who may present with challenging behaviours.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with pupils, families and professionals.
  • Ability to remain calm, emotionally regulated and solution-focused when dealing with challenging situations.
  • Strong observational skills and the ability to identify behavioural patterns, triggers and support needs.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
  • Commitment to promoting the school’s values of Respect, Kindness, Resilience and Tolerance.

Desirable Experience

  • Experience working within a specialist SEMH, SEND or alternative provision setting.
  • Experience contributing to Behaviour Support Plans and targeted interventions.
  • Training in physical intervention techniques such as Team Teach or equivalent.
  • Understanding of attachment, trauma-informed practice and adverse childhood experiences.
  • Experience working with external agencies, families and multidisciplinary teams.

Person Specification:

The following outlines the minimum criteria for this post. Applicants who have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria will be shortlisted.

All applicants should describe in their application how they meet these criteria.

Qualifications

  1. GCSE English and Mathematics Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
  2. Relevant Level 3 qualification in Education, Childcare, Health & Social Care or a related field (desirable).
  3. Good ICT skills and ability to maintain accurate records.

Experience

  1. Experience supporting children or young people with complex emotional, behavioural or additional learning needs.
  2. Experience implementing behaviour support strategies and interventions.
  3. Experience working effectively in challenging environments.

Skills and Abilities

  1. Ability to remain resilient, flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
  2. Ability to exercise initiative and work independently.
  3. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
  4. Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, families and external professionals.
  5. Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
  1. Ability to stay calm and consistent during periods of challenge or crisis.

Knowledge

  1. Understanding of SEMH needs and factors affecting children’s emotional wellbeing and behaviour.
  2. Knowledge of safeguarding, child protection procedures and relevant legislation.
  3. Understanding of trauma-informed and restorative approaches to supporting children and young people.

Behaviours

  1. Professional and respectful in all interactions.
  2. Resilient and able to work effectively under pressure.
  3. Adaptable and responsive to changing situations.
  4. Committed to supporting positive outcomes for vulnerable young people.
  5. Reliable, organised and able to meet deadlines.
  6. Able to model best practice and maintain high professional standards at all times.
  7. Positive team player who contributes to a supportive school culture.

We have a strong commitment to staff development and there will be considerable opportunities for internal and external training and for sharing good practice within the community.

Channels and Choices are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young people in our care. Staff are all required to adhere to the organisation’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. This post will be subject to a clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure, an employment background check which may include social media checks, satisfactory references & verification of a right to work in the UK. As part of our commitment to Safer Recruitment, CV’s cannot be considered without a completed application form.