Wellbeing Practitioner
Sherwood Foundation School, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7NP17 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
2 July 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
15 June 2026
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 36 hours per week, Term Time plus one week (39 weeks), Permanent
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- NJC Pay Scale, Grade S01, Point 21 to 25, (£32,225 - £34,084 per annum, FTE £37,134 - £39,276)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Qualifications/training
Right to work in the UK E
Level 2 (GCSE A – C or grade 4 or above) in English and Maths. E
Recognised qualification/accreditation in the area of SEN or therapy related to working with children with high levels of stress/regulation/wellbeing & behaviour needs or willingness to complete this training E
Additional training in therapeutic & educational approaches such as use of communication systems, sensory approaches, social stories D
Experience and/or Knowledge
Experience of working educationally and/or therapeutically, implementing interventions with children and young people with complex SEN needs in community or school settings, including Looked After Children and young people and those with significant stress related behaviours E
Ability to work with a range of pupils/students 3 -19 years old who are Autistic or who have severe learning difficulties/complex needs including physical disability and significant health needs E
Ability to build rapport and trust with children and young people of all ages and abilities, especially those experiencing high levels of (di)stress and/or high wellbeing/mental health/health needs E
Understanding of the triggers, causes and presentation of wellbeing needs and distress and has the ability to manage it E
Experience of completing dynamic risk assessments, in school and in the community and for whole school activities and working to mitigate these risks appropriately E
Experience of delivering interventions to whole class groups, small groups and individuals with complex SEN E
Ability to learn, use and extend knowledge of assistive and augmentative communication systems (AAC), including Makaton, PODD, Core Vocabulary Boards, eye gaze, proloquo 2 go, LAMP words for life E
Ability to learn, use and extend knowledge of sensory tools and strategies including weighted & compression equipment, suspended equipment, therapeutic listening E
When related to well being needs to support students with personal hygiene and toileting. E
To support the welfare of our learners with medical needs by administering medication and first aid following appropriate training when necessary as specified within our Administration of Medication Policy. E
To support students with eating and drinking and where necessary feed pupils, following their eating and drinking passports, which may include PEG feeding E
To support community trips such as swimming, day trips and D of E trips E
Ability to physically support pupils including those in special seating and wheelchairs in moving around the school environment, including hoisting and a willingness and ability to implement the positive and protective handling techniques as required within individual pupil positive handling plans. Guidance/ training will be provided. E
Ability to model appropriate behaviours to both colleagues and students, doing so with patience, tolerance, and sensitivity and a mature and non-judgemental outlook E
Ability to use ICT to a good standard, for example PowerPoint, Microsoft Office, uploading photos and videos. E
Experience of delivering formal and informal training to school staff, parents and outside agencies D
Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work as a member of a team and develop and maintain good relations with all members of the school community, including parents. To work cooperatively with staff from a range of agencies as required. E
Evidence of the ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing with staff and students with complex communication needs E
Knowledge and understanding of best practice as it relates to child protection and safeguarding. E
Personal Qualities
An ability to make decisions under pressure and to remain calm in a crisis E
Flexibility, and able to adapt to changing circumstances and new ideas E
Approachable and empathetic E
Ability to comply with all school policies and procedures e.g. child protection, safeguarding, health, safety and security, manual handling and positioning, positive and protective handling, wellbeing confidentiality, data protection, equal opportunities and staff code of conduct E
A willingness to adhere to health and safety regulations including those relating to manual handling and positioning of pupils/students. Also the ability to ensure that the environment is safe to work in. E
A willingness to work flexibly, attend in-service training and school meetings as required both within the school day and after the pupils have left. E
Demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities. E
Physical stamina and resilience to directly work with children and young people with complex behaviours of dis/stress. E
What the school offers its staff
Staff Benefits
We know that to achieve our vision, it is our people who make the difference. We offer a competitive reward and benefits package:
- Enrolment in Local Government Pension Scheme
- Competitive Salary
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme via Vita Health Care Group
- Benenden Health - health care cash plan
- On-site staff parking (at two campuses)
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities
- Opportunities for career progression across three campuses
- Flexible working policies
- On site staff swimming sessions
- Access to school dinners
- Commitment to staff health & wellbeing
Further information about the job
Sherwood Foundation School
Wellbeing Practitioner
Salary: NJC Pay Scale, Grade S01, Point 21 to 25, (£32,225 - £34,084 per annum, FTE £37,134 - £39,276)
Contract: 36 hours per week, Term Time plus one week (39 weeks), Permanent
Start date: ASAP
Closing date: 2nd July 2026
Sherwood Foundation School is a Foundation Special School located in the London Borough of Sutton and made up of three campuses:
Sherwood Hill Campus
Sherwood Hill Campus is a specialist school for autistic learners aged 3–19 years who have multiple and complex barriers to learning, requiring high levels of support to access education and learning around their peers. Many of our learners may also have severe learning difficulties and/or struggle to maintain a regulated state for learning.
Sherwood Park Campus
Sherwood Park Campus is a specialist school for learners aged 3–19 years who have severe, multiple and complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This includes learners who have highly complex access needs resulting from their physical and/or health conditions. All learners require high levels of adult support to access learning.
Sherwood Manor Campus
Sherwood Manor Campus is a specialist school primarily for autistic learners aged 11–19 years who have moderate to severe barriers to learning. Most of our pupils can access a highly adapted formal learning environment with high levels of adult support. Some of our learners struggle to deal with the demands of an adult-led learning environment so may need a highly individualised learning offer to meet their academic potential.
We have high aspirations for all our pupils and we pride ourselves on putting the child at the centre of everything we do. Our curriculum ensures that our pupils, who come from a wide range of backgrounds, have exceptional opportunities to excel and access exciting opportunities in school, and beyond school, to develop their physical, social and emotional well-being.
All staff are expected to work across campuses when required. Candidates are welcome to indicate a site preference on their application form; this preference should be based on where you believe your skills and experience best align with the needs of the learners.
About the role: We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic wellbeing practitioner to join our existing team on a permanent basis. Experience of working with autistic children and young people is essential. This role will be based at the Sherwood Hill Campus but specialist interventions may be delivered on our other campuses at times.
Key Responsibilities
- Work under the professional guidance of the Wellbeing Lead Practitioner in delivering a high standard of holistic wellbeing assessments and interventions, having the skills and experience to work closely with autistic children aged 4-19.
- Be responsible for managing a caseload of work as part of a trans-disciplinary team, including providing support and coaching to teaching staff and therapists in a range of environments. This includes crisis support to pupils and working individually with children and families on wellbeing interventions.
- Be able to identify issues affecting the wellbeing of learners across the campus and support class teams with interventions, programmes, equipment, resources and strategies to enable progress of individual and groups of learners, working closely with teachers and therapists.
- Lead by example in relation to the school’s trans-disciplinary approach, LEARN ethos and by applying the process of Self-Reg within daily practice. The practitioner must be able to conduct themselves professionally and be able to manage challenging situations with appropriate confidentiality and sensitivity.
- Be responsible for the upkeep and development of the specialist rooms, resources and equipment required for promoting positive wellbeing with support.
- Support in the writing of regulation and wellbeing plans in collaboration with the teacher, occupational therapist and speech & language therapist and ensure that the pupils’ regulation and communication profiles, therapy programmes and wellbeing plans are embedded across the curriculum, to ensure pupils meet their learning potential.
- Have excellent communication skills, engendering trust and respect for all pupils, families, colleagues, other professionals and community partners at all times.
Training in our approaches will be provided to the successful candidate.
Staff Benefits
We know that to achieve our vision, it is our people who make the difference. We offer a competitive reward and benefits package:
- Enrolment in Local Government Pension Scheme
- Competitive Salary
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme via Vita Health Care Group
- Benenden Health - health care cash plan
- On-site staff parking (at two campuses)
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities
- Opportunities for career progression across three campuses
- Flexible working policies
- On site staff swimming sessions
- Access to school dinners
- Commitment to staff health & wellbeing
Safeguarding Recruitment Statement
Sherwood Foundation School is committed to equal opportunities, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are made subject to receipt of a completed application, satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.
For an informal discussion about the post please contact the HR team at recruitment@sherwoodpark.org.uk
Please apply via the TES website at www.tes.com or contact us directly at recruitment@sherwoodpark.org.uk. Please specify a preference as to which campus you think you would be best suited to.
Closing Date for Applications: 12pm on 2nd July 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 6th July 2026
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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Sherwood Foundation School
- School type
- Special school, ages 2 to 19
- School size
- 183 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Sherwood Foundation School website
- Email address
- recruitment@sherwoodpark.org.uk
Sherwood Foundation School is a Foundation Special School located in the London Borough of Sutton and made up of three campuses:
Sherwood Hill Campus
Sherwood Hill Campus is a specialist school for autistic learners aged 3–19 years who have multiple and complex barriers to learning, requiring high levels of support to access education and learning around their peers. Many of our learners may also have severe learning difficulties and/or struggle to maintain a regulated state for learning.
Sherwood Park Campus
Sherwood Park Campus is a specialist school for learners aged 3–19 years who have severe, multiple and complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This includes learners who have highly complex access needs resulting from their physical and/or health conditions. All learners require high levels of adult support to access learning.
Sherwood Manor Campus
Sherwood Manor Campus is a specialist school primarily for autistic learners aged 11–19 years who have moderate to severe barriers to learning. Most of our pupils can access a highly adapted formal learning environment with high levels of adult support. Some of our learners struggle to deal with the demands of an adult-led learning environment so may need a highly individualised learning offer to meet their academic potential.
School location
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