Behaviour Support Worker

37 hours per week, term time only plus INSET days

Are you a compassionate and resilient individual with a strong commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of young people, many of whom may face social, emotional and mental health challenges and exhibit challenging behaviours? We are actively seeking a Behaviour Support Worker to join the founding team at our brand-new free school, River Academy, where you can help to shape our behaviour routines and set the expectations from students. This role would be perfect for any candidate with a background or interest in psychology, therapy, support work or youth mentoring. 

In the first year, the school will open to 187 students and this will rise to 1,200 11-18 students and an additional resource base of 35 students when full. In the early years, we are looking for staff who are willing to be flexible to support the needs of students, and other stakeholders, and to meet the operational needs of the school. This will provide excellent opportunities for staff to develop new skills and gain experience in a variety of areas, including supported study, the electives (extra-curricular) programme and home visits to support students struggling to engage with school. 

The successful candidate will be: 

• Flexible in providing support and knowledge as needed and as the school grows.    
• Passionate about education and the life chances that this can offer to students, both in and out of the classroom. 
• Able to build positive working relationships with students and staff. 
• Able to work independently and as part of a wider team. 
• Able to implement agreed behavioural interventions. 
• Confident in working with ever-changing environments, able to adapt approaches as required. 

We are looking for someone who has:  

• A ‘can do’ work ethic and a commitment to making a positive impact. 
• Knowledge of behaviour management practices and de-escalation techniques. 
• A commitment to their own personal development. 
• Experience of analysing data to identify targeted support for students. 
• The school will be a part of the successful Maiden Erlegh Trust who currently operate eight other schools in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. The Trust has a reputation for driving high standards and excellence in all its schools, with a strong track record of outcomes and improving OFSTED grading. 

Our People Development Curriculum provides professional development pathways for every role within the Trust, both teaching and support staff, through which staff can tailor CPD to their own needs. 

If you believe that this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and substantially contribute to an exciting future for our students, then you are encouraged to explore further by contacting recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for a more detailed discussion, if required.  

We have a proven track record of supporting ambitious staff in to middle and senior leadership posts and can offer opportunities to broaden your impact on the sector through the work of the Maiden Erlegh Institute. We are very happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part-time working and job-sharing. 

If you would like to have an informal chat with our hiring manager about this post, please email recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org.

 Closing date: 9am, 22 April 2024

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible as the Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint before the closing date. 

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and successful references.