ELSA - Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

ELSA - Emotional Literacy Support Assistant 

Location: Smallfield, Surrey

Hourly Rate: £14.70 - £16.04 per hour

Actual Salary: £26,265.95 - £28,660.26 dependant on experience and qualifications Plus £2000 Welcome bonus For HLTA with SEN Experience* 

Hours: 40 hours per week, 8.30am-4.30pm, flexibility within these hours is essential and you are required to work till 5pm one day a week for staff training and meetings. Term time only.

Aurora Redehall School 

Part of the Aurora Group, Aurora Redehall School, in Smallfield, Surrey are currently looking to recruit an ELSA to join our team. Redehall School supports children aged 6-11 years with communication difficulties typically associated with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism.

Aurora Redehall School is linked to Caterham Education Centre, they share the same Principal and Head of School, however each site has its own Assistant Head and team of Teachers and TAs.. There is also a full therapy team on site to support staff and students. Although the sites operate separately, students and staff do cross between sites.

To take a virtual look around our school please click here: Aurora Redehall

What’s in it for you?/ Why Should You Apply? 

• You want to make a difference in the lives of our pupils and their families.
• You are looking for a role where you are given the opportunity to lead lessons and develop your skills to support teaching and learning.
• You want to contribute to our broad and creative curriculum offer.
• You want to work with an inspiring pupil population.
• You enjoy working as part of a collaborative and committed multi-disciplinary team.
• You have a strong commitment to pupil and staff well-being and want to work in an organisation with the same strong values.
• You want to work within an organisation that support, develops and invests in their staff.

Key Duties:

• To be accountable to the school leadership team in all areas of work and responsibilities.
• To support the SENCO, Clinical teams and class teachers with aspects of emotional literacy as identified
• To support the Class Teacher in all areas of the day to day running of the class and support with delivery of emotional literacy.
• To work closely with team members delivering therapeutic interventions and support implementation of therapy programmes, strategies and supports in class.

Like many SEN environments; your duties are likely to vary and therefore candidates will need to be flexible and be able to lend a hand whenever required.

Duties will vary, for a full job description please contact Liz from the recruitment team: liz.hudson@the-aurora-group.com  

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English qualification minimum Grade 4 or equivalent is essential.
• The Higher Level Teaching Assistant Diploma or equivalent Level 4 qualification or demonstrate equivalent skill level.
• ELSA qualification is desirable, alternatively candidate must be willing to achieve this qualification within first 2 years in post
• Mental health first aid training is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge of/experience in special educational needs, particularly autism is essential
• Experience working with young people with emotional literacy needs is essential
• Knowledge of/experience in working with young people with trauma and attachment/ACEs desirable
• Understanding of the Safeguarding principles and Child Protection procedures

Skills and Behaviours

• Has a warm personality and is able to stay calm under pressure
• Demonstrates good interpersonal skills with children and adults
• Is able to build trusting relationships with children who are either externalising or internalising their social emotional wellbeing needs

Benefits and Additional Information

Be part of our successful team and also benefit from a generous package that includes:

• Life assurance
• Pension - Enhanced pension from October
• * Welcome bonus is payable in 2 payments - 50% following successful completion of probation and 50% after one year service 
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts.
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease scheme
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Bike to work scheme.
• Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.

How to apply: 

To apply please complete our online application form. For a copy of the job description please contact Liz at liz.hudson@the-aurora-group.com 

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.