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Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)
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Southampton Campus
Close date: 17/07/2026
Salary: £24,521 per annum, pro rata. - Term Time
Care to Join Us?
We are seeking to appoint passionate, dedicated, and skilled Emotional Literacy Support Assistants to join our team on a full-time, term-time only basis (38 weeks per year). You will support the delivery of emotional literacy provision at Southampton College.
We Offer Great Benefits Including
- Generous employer pension contribution
- Regular training and development
- Access to a health care plan
- Learning and development opportunities.
Role and Responsibilities:
- Work with individuals or groups of young people with Education and Healthcare Plans and SEND, who are experiencing difficulties with emotional literacy or other aspects of college or home life
- Establish supportive, caring and secure relationships with young people, and to be available to offer individual support and someone for a young person to talk to
- Develop knowledge of a range of learning and behavioural support needs and to plan, devise and implement appropriate programmes to help develop young people’s emotional literacy skills and emotional wellbeing
- Implement and review intervention programmes as outlined in individuals Education and Health Care Plans
- Create, develop and produce resources for use with intervention programmes, as appropriate
- Plan and deliver individualised programmes of support and generalised workshops to develop students' emotional literacy and build resilience.
- Plan and deliver workshops to support the emotional literacy of all students.
- Assist colleagues where necessary with the pastoral needs of students and collaborate with safeguarding and enrichment teams to introduce events and interventions for ensuring positive mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Ensure that all records and case notes are kept up to date, distributed and filed in accordance with the college’s procedures, and that appropriate levels of confidentiality are maintained
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Skills/experience
- Experience of working with young people in an education, pastoral or support setting
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive, trusting relationships
- Empathy, emotional intelligence and excellent listening skills
- An understanding of emotional wellbeing, SEND and/or SEMH needs
- The ability to plan and deliver structured interventions
- Good organisational skills and attention to detail
- Competent IT skills, including Microsoft Office and digital record keeping
Qualifications
- A minimum of GCSE Grade 4/C in English and Maths (or equivalent)
Desirable
- ELSA qualification or relevant training in emotional wellbeing, counselling or mental health
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, attachment theory or restorative approaches
- Experience supporting students in further education or similar settings
- Understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries
- A full driving licence and access to transport (due to travel between sites)
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You Will Be
- Patient, caring and approachable
- Resilient and emotionally robust
- Positive, flexible and solution-focused
- Committed to inclusion and student wellbeing
- Professional, reliable and able to maintain confidentiality
About Us
The South Hampshire College Group (SHCG) is a dynamic, purpose driven Further Education organisation with a commitment to Creating Better Futures for learners, employers and communities within South Hampshire and beyond.
We pride ourselves on living our values - Collaborative, Inclusive and Aspirational. We also understand the difference exceptional employees can make to us delivering outstanding results and we are always seeking to attract talent who can add value and who will be proud to be part of our growing organisation.
South Hampshire College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our recruitment practices follow safer recruitment guidance, including enhanced DBS checks, online checks, and thorough pre-employment vetting. We value equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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