School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is a charity that exists to empower and support individuals who are living in complex and challenging circumstances. By fostering an environment of genuine acceptance and through the use of physical activity and group and group and one-to-one support sessions, SOHK enables people to find meaning and purpose to life. All of SOHK's activities are underpinned by an evidence-based sport for development framework called the 5Cs.

Overview

The SEL Lead will work alongside other SOHK delivery staff to lead on the non-sporting activities of the SOHK for Schools Programme delivery across Scotland. This includes group workshops, one-to-one mentoring and liaising with school staff. This role is centred around helping the pupils we work with increase their wellbeing and self-awareness; ultimately to take responsibility for the areas of their lives that are directly within their control.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a 3-year intervention; we work with cohorts of around 20 pupils from S1 until they reach S3. The pupils will be chosen by the school and will typically be the ‘hardest to reach’ young people. We will work with them for half a day every week, delivering rugby training and classroom sessions on subjects such as growth mindset, goal setting and choices. We also have weekly 1:1s with every pupil. The programme will be evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents and the pupils themselves.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading on and delivering the SOHK mentoring programme on a 1:1 basis and in a whole group setting.
• Creating new group mentoring sessions around the core principles of School of Hard Knocks, The 5 Cs (Confidence, Communication, Commitment, Cohesion and Control) that suit the needs of the group.
• Lead on, plan, facilitate and deliver wellbeing and personal development sessions.
• Providing information and advice to enable pupils to make choices about their own learning, behaviour and attendance.
• Providing feedback to pupils and school staff in relation to progress, achievements, behaviours and attendance.
• Assisting in the monitoring and evaluating of all pupils on the course
• Being aware and supporting differences and ensure all pupils on the course have equal access to the mentoring programme.Being aware of, and complying with, policies and procedures relating to child protection; health and safety; confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to the programmes manager.
• Training SOHK staff to enhance programme delivery.
• Coordinating with SOHK’s SEL Leads working in other regions to ensure best practice and share ideas, skills and information.
• Safeguarding children effectively- using SOHK and school’s policies, referring concerns appropriately to the SOHK and school leads.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Knowledge & understanding of the developmental stages of children and young people and appropriate intervention approaches.
• Ability to build rapport with young people with a variety of needs.
• Proven skills and experience in engaging with challenging children and young people.
• Ability to deal with exposure to distressing information.
• Be able to communicate a positive, caring attitude, and actively listen to the child or young person and others involved in their care.
• Maintaining & enhancing effective working relationships with SOHK and school staff.
• Willingness to undertake research or audit in relevant fields in discussion with the SOHK Leadership Team.
• Comprehensive understanding of Safeguarding best practice, including how and when to disclose information and to refer participants to healthcare professionals.
• Ability to tailor interventions to meet the needs of the students on the course and support coaches to maintain these interventions.

Desirable

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline (e.g. teaching, social work, psychology, occupational therapy)
• Understanding of Scottish education system.
• Knowledge of rugby and the benefits it has for young people.
• Experience in delivering training in any of the areas outlined above.
• Experience of delivering in a classroom setting to a large group of young people.

Terms of Employment

• Permanent Term Time Only contract with a salary of £27,720 pro rata.
• Holiday entitlement will be paid in addition to your salary.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• 3% employer pension contributions.
• Opportunities for personalised training and development.
• Dynamic, entrepreneurial working environment with flexible approach to working hours and locations where possible.

Please send a CV and covering letter of no more than two A4 pages to rosa@schoolofhardknocks.org.uk with the subject line ‘SEL Lead Application’.

The closing date for applications is 14th July.

Interviews will take place on Thursday 18th July in Edinburgh, so please keep this day free in your diary!

A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required for successful candidates and the job is dependent on suitable references.