Wellbeing Assistant (Psychology University Placement) and School Support Assistant - Alfriston School

Overview

Alfriston School is an outstanding Special School with Academy status for girls aged 11-19 with Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD). We are committed to ensure that all our pupils become the best that they can be, and they can enjoy and achieve in all that they do. Our staff have a strong sense of commitment and use their excellent subject knowledge to provide interesting and creative lessons in which all pupils learn well. They have high expectations of their pupils and develop good supportive relationships and a positive learning atmosphere where the girls can thrive.

Our aim is to provide pupils not just with a body of knowledge but with the skills required for a lifetime of learning, to prepare pupils for integration into the wider community, able to enjoy and participate in life as contributing adults. Alfriston provides a holistic environment that recognises the need of the individual in order to secure the best outcomes for adulthood. Our ethos is routed in Learning for Living covering key areas of: Engagement, Organisation, Independence, Risk Taking, Resilience and Social Interaction.

The position of the Psychology Student at Alfriston School provides an opportunity to work within the Wellbeing & Therapies Faculty, to support the social, emotional, mental health and therapeutic needs of our pupils. You will gain insight into therapeutic fields such as Occupational, Speech and Language Therapy, Counselling and CBT practice. In addition, opportunities to observe multiagency working will be available during the year, such as liaison with CAMHS, Family Support Service and other clinical services. The workload will include research/project work, supervised 1:1 low-level therapeutic intervention and general day-to-day admin for the wider faculty.

Term time only

Salary Type: Bucks pay

Salary details: Bucks Pay Range 1-2 ISN 6-15 £23,297-£26,961 Pro Rata (DoE) Actual Salary £3,541 - £4,098 Per Annum

Contract type: Fixed Term. 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2026

Hours: 4 Days Per Week 8:30am-4:30pm in Placement & 1 Day Per Week 8:30am-4:00pm as SSA

Closing date: 28/11/2024 12:00

Interviews to be held:: Wednesday 4th December 2024

Start Date: 1st September 2025

About us

Our school is an outstanding Special School Academy, and we are committed to ensuring that all our pupils become the best that they can be and they can enjoy and achieve in all that they do. Our teachers have a strong sense of commitment and use their excellent subject knowledge to provide interesting and creative lessons in which all pupils learn well. They have high expectations of their pupils and develop good supportive relationships within a positive learning atmosphere where the girls can thrive.

Website: http://www.alfristonschool.com/

About the role

General Roles and Duties
• Respond positively to the social, emotional and mental health needs of the pupils
• Assist the Head of Wellbeing in the development and delivery of the whole-school social, emotional and sensory (SES) curriculum for pupils
• Conduct research in related topics to support the faculty, linked to the develop of SES curriculum, SEND and pupil wellbeing and mental health (including a yearlong research project of your own choosing)
• Reinforce the standards and expectations that exist within the aims and values of Alfriston School
• Assist with any admin as directed by the Head of Wellbeing
• Support the wider therapy practitioners within the faculty, when needed, under the direction of the Head of Wellbeing (e.g., referrals, intervention cover, admin etc).

Role as Wellbeing Assistant (4 days a week - unpaid)
• Build and maintain successful relationships with pupils, staff and parents/carers.
• Delivering 1:1 low-level therapeutic intervention, through the faculty’s mentoring scheme, to support pupils with issues such as self-esteem, friendship dynamics, understanding their emotions and supporting their sensory or specific learning needs – these sessions will be observed and supervised by the Head of Wellbeing.
• Support the W&T faculty in delivering the school’s whole-school social, emotional and sensory (SES) curriculum across all key stages.
• Covering SES sessions in the absence of W&T faculty staff members, in the event of staff sickness or other commitments requiring their attendance (e.g., meetings, annual reviews).
• Supporting pupils on a daily basis with any social, emotional or mental health difficulties that they may be experiencing.
• Conduct research into related topics to support pupils’ wellbeing, SEND and wider faculty developments, as directed by the Head of Wellbeing.
• Observe and support the wider therapy practitioners, to obtain understanding into different therapy approaches and skillsets to support an array of SEND needs for pupils.
• Conduct a yearlong research project into a topic of your own interest, which will be supervised by the Head of Wellbeing and where appropriate other key stakeholders in the staff team.
• Score psychometrics on pupil wellbeing and behaviour and produce reports on their progress during intervention periods.
• Prepare material/admin/resources ready for any individual or group work at the request of the Head of Wellbeing.
• Carry out administrative tasks such as but not limited to writing up personal intervention notes, filing referrals, taking meeting minutes, email liaison etc.
• Attend network meetings with the Head of Wellbeing with other agencies such as Family Support Service, CAMHS, Educational Psychology Service and Bucks Mental Health Support Team.
• Liaison with parents/carers concerning any difficulties they may be having at home or intervention referrals/progress/final outcomes.
• Support the Head of Wellbeing in preparing and delivering education workshops for both staff and parent cohorts within the Alfriston community, as well as the school’s outreach support programme to mainstream professional peers.
• Attend formal and informal meetings with staff to contribute to whole-school CPD, pastoral care etc.

About you

Role as School Support Assistant (1 day a week - paid)
• Supervise and assist individual/small groups of pupils in activities set by the wider teaching team with their guidance and support.
• Supervise whole classes for short periods of time.
• Encourage pupils to regulate and utilise self-management skills within the classroom, based on the W&T faculty interventions you will have supported in (e.g., use of fidget toy, breathing techniques).
• Help reinforce and promote independent learning and social skills by supporting pupils in groups, under the direction of the teachers.
• Assist pupils with physical needs (e.g., unbalanced surfaces, pushing wheelchairs, walking with them at pace).
• Help pupils record work in an appropriate way and to develop organisational skills.
• Keep the pupils on task and to build motivation by role modelling good practice.
• Build the pupils’ confidence and enhance self-esteem and actively seek to promote the academic, social and emotional welfare of pupils within the classroom environment.
• Implement behaviour management policies in accordance with guidance provided by the teachers.
• Assist with trips within the community, as directed by the senior leadership team.
• Complete a weekly playground duty at lunchtime.
• To undertake any other duties and responsibilities from time to time that may be reasonably required.

Desirable Experience
Working in a mainstream or special school
Working with children with special needs

Essential Qualifications and Training
Currently studying for a Degree in Psychology or similar

Knowledge and Skills
Able to lead teams and individuals
Able to use ICT to support teaching and learning
Understanding of promoting positive relationships within the wider school community
Understanding equality and diversity issues and implications for policy and practice

Personal Qualities
Positive and friendly personality
Good organisational skills
Able to use initiative and work independently
Ability to relate to young people in a positive manner
Willingness to constructively challenge the work of self and others to continually improve own and team performance
To show loyalty and commitment to the school

Other information

Visits to the school are warmly welcome. To arrange a visit or to find out more about the role, please contact Ellie Davison on the details below.

Please send completed application forms to the email address below.

Tel No: 01494 673740

Email: [email protected]

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children which will be reflected throughout recruitment. The selected candidate will be required to provide suitable references and undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check before taking up the post.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).