SEMH Teaching Assistant

GUARDIAN SELECTION LIMITED; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education provider in Dorchester is seeking a dedicated SEMH Teaching Assistant to support students with social, emotional, and mental health needs. This full-time role involves working closely with primary and secondary pupils, fostering a nurturing environment and implementing personalized support plans. The ideal candidate will have experience in alternative provisions and a commitment to inclusive education. Join us to make a real impact in the lives of young learners.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting pupils with SEMH needs.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches.

Responsibilities

• Support students with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
• Assist in delivering structured vocational and extracurricular activities.
• Collaborate with teachers and pastoral teams.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Adaptability

Job description

Job Title: SEMH Teaching Assistant (SEMH TA)
Location: Dorchester
Salary: £13.68 - £16.12 per hour (Depending on experience)
Start Date: Immediate
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Do you have the resilience, patience and commitment required to help young learners overcome challenges and thrive in an inclusive educational environment?

GSL Education invites you to apply for anSEMH Teaching Assistant (SEMH TA)role inDorchester. This role presents a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the well-being and academic progress of students who face challenges in managing their emotions and behaviours.

The School: The school encompasses two sites in Dorchester with one common shared purpose: to provide the very best in education and support for all children who (for a variety of reasons) find themselves outside of mainstream school education. The school is an alternative provision that uses vocational and extracurricular methods to enable the students to gain functional and life skills. With a primary and secondary division, the school is inclusive of all ages and abilities and strives to give its pupils the best possible opportunities for post 16 life.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Support students with social, emotional, and mental health needs by creating a safe, understanding, and nurturing environment tailored to their individual challenges.
• Assist in delivering structured vocational and extracurricular activities designed to build functional life skills and boost student engagement.
• Work closely with both primary and secondary pupils, adapting support strategies to meet a wide range of developmental and emotional needs.
• Promote resilience, emotional regulation, and positive behaviour, helping students manage anxiety, frustration, or low self-esteem in a constructive way.
• Collaborate with teachers, SENCOs, and pastoral teams to implement personalised support plans and behaviour management strategies.
• Encourage and monitor students’ progress, providing regular feedback and contributing to reviews aimed at achieving positive post-16 outcomes.

Candidate Expectations:

• Experience supporting pupils with SEMH needs, ideally within an alternative provision or non-mainstream setting.
• Adaptability to work across both primary and secondary age groups, responding to a wide range of emotional and developmental needs.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches to behaviour and learning support.
• Ability to engage students through vocational and extracurricular activities that build functional, social, and life skills.
• Commitment to inclusion and personalised learning, ensuring every pupil has access to meaningful education and support.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to collaborate across two school sites with staff, families, and external professionals focused on post-16 outcomes.
• Have an updated CV and an enhanced DBS registered to the update service (or be willing to apply for one).

If you are passionate to make a real impact inDorchester, apply today for the roleSEMH Teaching Assistant (SEMH TA) by submitting your CV.

Please be advised that this role requires a strong knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection and that successful applicants must satisfy all background safer recruitment checks; including providing an enhanced DBS certificate registered on the update service, or completing an application for a new check.

As an ethical, inclusive, and independent recruitment agency, GSL Education are committed to providing quality teaching and supporting staff in schools across the UK.

For more information or to register your interest in the SEMH Teaching Assistant (SEMH TA) role inDorchester, or to be considered, please click‘apply now’to submit your full and up-to-date CV, and one of our dedicated consultants will be in touch.