SEN Teacher- Secondary School or Specialist SEMH Provision

Location: Leeds
Job Type: Permanent
Industry: Secondary Teacher
Reference: MC SEMHTEACH LS
Salary: £97.35 - 127.95 per day
Job Published: about 11 hours ago

Role Purpose

To provide high-quality teaching and targeted support for secondary-aged pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. The SEMH Teacher helps pupils access learning, regulate emotions, develop positive behaviour, and achieve academic and personal progress within a safe, supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Teaching & Curriculum Delivery

  • Plan and deliver engaging, differentiated lessons to meet the academic and emotional needs of SEMH learners.

  • Adapt curriculum materials and teaching approaches to re-engage pupils who may have experienced trauma, school refusal, or disrupted education.

  • Use trauma-informed and restorative practices to support behaviour and emotional regulation.

  • Provide a structured, consistent classroom environment that promotes positive relationships and routines.

  • Track pupil progress and use assessments to tailor intervention plans.

2. SEMH Support & Intervention

  • Develop and implement personalised plans, including Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs), Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and EHCP outcomes.

  • Deliver small-group and 1:1 interventions targeting social skills, emotional literacy, resilience, self-esteem, and mental health awareness.

  • Use de-escalation strategies and provide calm, predictable responses to challenging behaviour.

  • Support pupils in developing coping strategies, communication skills, and positive behaviour patterns.

3. Safeguarding & Wellbeing

  • Prioritise safeguarding and follow all statutory safeguarding procedures.

  • Build trusting, stable relationships with pupils to support their emotional wellbeing.

  • Monitor pupils for signs of distress, mental health concerns, or safeguarding issues, and report appropriately.

  • Foster a culture of safety, respect, inclusion, and emotional security.

4. Collaboration & Communication

  • Work closely with the SENCO, pastoral team, behaviour leads, and external agencies (e.g., CAMHS, social care, youth services).

  • Communicate regularly with parents/carers to support progress and wellbeing.

  • Lead or contribute to multi-agency meetings and reviews for pupils with SEMH needs or EHCPs.

  • Support colleagues across the school in implementing SEMH strategies within mainstream classrooms.

5. Professional Development

  • Participate in ongoing training in areas such as trauma-informed practice, mental health, behaviour management, and SEND legislation.

  • Reflect on and continually improve teaching and behaviour strategies.

  • Contribute to whole-school initiatives promoting mental health and inclusion.

Person Specification

Essential

  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or relevant teaching qualification.

  • Experience working with SEMH pupils or pupils with behavioural, emotional, or mental health needs.

  • Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment, and inclusive behaviour management.

  • Ability to build positive, professional relationships with vulnerable young people.

  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Desirable

  • Experience in a specialist SEMH school, PRU, alternative provision, or nurture setting.

  • Training in restorative approaches, Team Teach/PRICE or equivalent de-escalation frameworks.

  • Knowledge of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and behavioural disorders.

  • Experience supporting pupils at risk of exclusion.

Key Competencies

  • Emotional resilience

  • Patience and empathy

  • Calm, consistent behaviour management

  • Creative problem-solving

  • Relationship-building

  • High expectations with a nurturing approach

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

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