John Ruskin College
SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH (SEMH) PRACTICE LEAD
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Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Practice Lead
Job Type
Support
Job Category
Supported Learning
Employment Basis
Established (salaried)
Location
John Ruskin College - Croydon, East Surrey College - Redhill
Salary Range
£36,000.87 per annum (full-time equivalent). Actual salary: £33,162.34 per annum, based on a 40-week working year
Closing Date
14/08/2026
Documents
- [3._OSC_Corporation_Competency_Framework.pdf](PDF, 497.72kb)
- [SEMH Practice Lead JD & PS.pdf](PDF, 193.72kb)
We are seeking an experienced and passionate SEMH Practice Lead to provide professional, operational and specialist leadership for a key area of SEND provision across our colleges. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and coordinate support for learners with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, ensuring high-quality, consistent and effective support that enables learners to engage, progress and achieve.
Working as part of the Inclusion and Wellbeing Team, you will lead a structured SEMH intervention offer for students, apprentices and adult learners. Through effective identification, intervention and support, you will help drive improvements in learner engagement, attendance, retention, achievement and successful progression.
As SEMH Practice Lead, you will lead the development and delivery of support provision for learners presenting with SEMH needs across the College Group. You will champion trauma-informed and relational approaches, providing specialist guidance to curriculum and support staff to promote inclusive practice and effective support strategies.
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What We're Looking For
We are looking for a dedicated professional with experience of supporting young people in an educational or related setting and a strong understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable learners.
You Will Have
- A relevant qualification in SEND, SEMH, education, wellbeing or a related field, or a willingness to work towards one.
- Knowledge and understanding of the SEND Code of Practice.
- Experience of applying strategies to improve engagement, attendance and retention.
- Understanding of safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and relational approaches.
Interviews are expected to take place from 20th of August onwards.
If this sounds like you and you will enjoy working in a forward thinking, friendly, fast paced, changing environment with state of the art facilities, we would love to hear from you. In return, we offer a competitive salary, as well as staff benefits such as a choice of two excellent pension schemes, life assurance, free onsite parking and access to our fully equipped gym along with discounted in house Spa and Salon treatments.
Applications will however be shortlisted on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to interview and appoint before this closing date. We therefore encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment. As much as we would love to respond to all applicants, due to the sheer volume of applications we receive we are unable to respond to all unsuccessful candidates. If you have not heard from us within 14 days of sending your CV, unfortunately you have not been selected for the position.
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Please refer to the attached Job Description, Person Specification and Competency Framework and apply using the button below.
Orbital South Colleges Group are committed to Equal Opportunities, encouraging applications from all sectors of the community to reflect our diverse student population. We are also committed to PREVENT and Safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Both College Campus’ are smoke-free zones.
As part of our pre-employment checks, successful candidates will be required to complete an enhanced DBS, references will be taken and evidence of all qualifications and awards will also be required before commencement of employment. Failure to do so may lead to offers being withdrawn.
Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK as we do not sponsor work permits, and work permits from other organisations are unacceptable as proof of right to work in the UK.
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