SEMH Learning Mentor
Hill View School, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6GD13 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
10 June 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
28 May 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- TBC
SEMH Learning Mentor job summary
SEMH Learning Mentor
"Be the best you. Build the best us."
Inspire, Guide, and Transform Lives at Hill View School
Hill View School is a specialist school for learners with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. We are seeking dedicated, relatable, and dynamic Learning Mentors to join our trauma-informed team.
This role is not your traditional classroom support position. It is a challenging, demanding, and incredibly rewarding role that requires a unique set of skills. We are looking for individuals who can act as positive role models, connect with young people on their level, and help them overcome significant barriers to achieve their full potential.
About the Role at Hill View:
Our school is built on "The Hill View Way," a therapeutic and relational approach where we understand that all behaviour is a form of communication, often signalling an unmet need.
As a Learning Mentor, you will be a vital part of creating a safe, predictable, and nurturing environment. Moving beyond traditional academic support, you will be an active, dynamic partner in our young people's daily lives. We actively encourage our Learning Mentors to bring their outside passions into the school, whether that's mechanics, coding, tabletop gaming, or sports, to enrich our wider curriculum and engage hard-to-reach learners. Whether you are supporting them through an ambitious lesson, guiding them through dynamic off-site activities, or acting as an anchor during a moment of crisis, your primary tool will be the trusting relationship you build with them. In return for your resilience and dedication, you will experience a career that is as profoundly rewarding as it is challenging. There is no greater feeling than watching a young person finally break through a barrier, knowing that your unwavering support, patience, and authentic care were the direct catalyst for their success.
Key Responsibilities Include:
● Acting positive role model: Inspiring and motivating learners to achieve their goals, fostering confidence and resilience.
● Dynamic Support: Working alongside learners in the classroom, during hands-on/off-site activities, and providing 1:1 support during moments of dysregulation.
● Therapeutic Intervention: Actively contributing to a therapeutic learning environment, using co-regulation and de-escalation strategies (such as our "Bounce Approach") to support learners in distress.
● Skill Development: Helping young people develop essential life skills like communication, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.
● Championing our Values: Embodying and actively modelling our core school values in every interaction: We Stay Safe, We Are Respectful, We Learn More.
● Collaboration: Working closely with the class team, therapists, and parent carers to ensure a consistent, shared approach to each learner's progress.
About You (Ideal Candidate Profile):
You might have a background in youth work, sports coaching, outreach, or pastoral care—or you might simply have a natural ability to build meaningful connections with young people. We are looking for individuals who possess:
● Exceptional emotional and physical resilience and the ability to maintain a calm, positive, and professional demeanour in highly challenging situations.
● Genuine empathy and a non-judgemental attitude, with the ability to see the child behind the behaviour.
● The agility to build authentic, highly resilient connections across a diverse age range (5-16), getting on their level to act as a trusted confidant. Whether you're bonding over a love of mechanics, strategising in the latest video game, or playing a quick game of 6-a-side, we want you to use your authentic interests to break down barriers.
● A strong belief in a trauma-informed, relational, and restorative approach to education.
● An unwavering commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children.
Why Join Our Team? Real Security & Exceptional Benefits:
Working in an SEMH environment is demanding. We believe that to support our most vulnerable learners, our staff need absolute stability and peace of mind, something daily agency supply roles simply cannot offer.
At Hill View School, we offer a secure, direct contract with unparalleled benefits designed to help you be the best you:
● Year-Round Financial Security: Unlike agency roles where you go unpaid during school closures, your salary is distributed evenly across 12 monthly payments. You are fully paid during the 13 weeks of school holidays.
● Generous Pension Scheme: Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). We offer a massive employer contribution rate of 19%, plus a wide range of benefits and discounts which can be accessed through a Blue Light card.
● Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive occupational sick pay, access to PAM Wellness, access to gym classes, and a dedicated Staff Wellbeing Charter.
● Unrivalled Professional Development: We invest in your growth at every stage of your career. This includes comprehensive training in de-escalation (CPI) and our therapeutic "Bounce Approach", alongside weekly CPD via our PEAK programme to build your specialist skills.
● Flexible Working & Support: We support your work-life balance and are open to exploring suitable flexible working arrangements. We provide a highly supportive environment where we prioritise respect, equality, diversity, and well-being.
● Community Culture & Everyday Perks: Collaboration and generosity are at the heart of our team. You will be supported by a structured induction programme, a dedicated staff buddy, and a leadership team committed to managing workload. Plus, enjoy paid lunches and free tea and coffee!
The Details:
● Salary: £24,500 FTE (Actual Guaranteed Pro-Rata Salary: £18,943.78)
● Hours: 32.5 Hours per week, Term time plus INSET days (8:30am - 3:30pm Monday to Friday)
● Start Date: September 2026
● Closing Date: 10th June
● Shortlisting: 11th June
● Interview Date: 16th June
We are eager to welcome new members to our team who understand both the challenges and the immense rewards of this work. If you are a resilient, relatable, and compassionate individual ready to build a career in specialist education, we look forward to receiving your application.
Please note: This position is subject to satisfactory references and a comprehensive background check. The closing date is subject to change, dependent on the number of applications received.
Hill View School is part of The Oak Partnership Trust.
Safeguarding Statement
Hill View School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to understand and share this commitment. We have a shared commitment to develop a culture of respect, where discrimination is not tolerated. We welcome all applications, including those from under-represented groups, including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Hill View School
- School type
- Free Schools, None, ages 5 to 16
- School size
- 55 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Hill View School website
Hill View School Vision
At Hill View School, we build a thriving community where everyone feels welcome and invested in their learning. Through collaborative partnerships, we forge lasting bonds. We empower each young person to reach their full potential through personalised learning and a supportive environment. This ignites a passion for lifelong discovery and prepares our young people to live their best lives.
Empowering all learners. Building strong communities. Unlocking potential.
School location
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