Mental Health Support Worker (Draw and Talk)
Scale: SO1, Spinal Point 23 – 25 (Outer London)
Basic Hours: 32.5
Term time: 8.30am – 3.30pm, 5 days per week. ½hr lunchbreak
Professional Learning Days: 5 Inset days as negotiated by Blanche Nevile School
Start Date: As soon as possible, Permanent
Blanche Nevile School for Deaf Children, North London
Blanche Nevile School is a well-known and highly regarded School for Deaf students. Its history dates back to 1895 when it first opened.
We are an exciting, innovative and successful provision for deaf children aged 3 – 16. The Secondary school is co-located with Fortismere School and the Primary school is co-located with Highgate Primary.
The post is currently for working for both sites:
Primary works in partnership with Highgate School and Secondary works in partnership with Fortismere School. We offer ‘The Best of Both Worlds’; British Sign Language and English, small class specialist teaching and high-quality inclusion. We have a skilled team of deaf and hearing staff with a commitment to a child centred sign bilingual approach.
The successful candidate will:
• Provide mental health support, intervention, counselling style service for children in Blanche Nevile school, ensuring that the children and young people are provided with therapeutic and emotional support.
• Undertake one-to-one therapeutic work with children and/or young people
• Plan and deliver ‘Draw and talk Therapy’ sessions to children
• To identify and contribute to the adoption of best practice across the school in all areas of pupil wellbeing.
• To keep key staff informed about aspects of your work and schedule of intervention.
• To develop your effectiveness by updating your knowledge and skills, seeking and taking account of constructive feedback on your performance, making effective use of the development opportunities made available to you.
• To liaise with colleagues in school and with outside agencies to work towards the best outcomes for students
• To be a lead practitioner in Trauma Informed Schools / Thrive, particularly with regard to Adverse Childhood Trauma
• To maintain accurate records and help with any referrals to outside agencies
• Delivering intervention programmes to named students who have been referred by Wellbeing Team members.
• Implementing strategies for students with attachment issues
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the role with interested candidates. Visits are warmly welcomed by appointment. Tour dates with the Co-Headteachers/Deputy Headteacher are available by contacting the school on 020 8442 2750 or emailing sbm@blanchenevile.org.uk
Closing date: 9.00am, Friday 28th August 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 7th September 2026
Blanche Nevile School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed following the validation of two relevant references for the post applied for. The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS Certificate prior to starting work.
