School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is an education charity that exists to empower and support young people living in complex and challenging circumstances. We use rugby to foster an environment of genuine acceptance, where the sport becomes a platform for participants to improve their confidence, communication skills, commitment, self control, and ability to work effectively within a team. Through group learning and one-to-one mentoring, SOHK helps young people (re)engage with education and safeguard their wellbeing.
Our Mission: To empower young people to fully realise their potential.
Our Vision: A society in which every young person has an equal opportunity to succeed.
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 London. 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 2-year intervention; we work with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 until they reach Year 9. 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 monthly 1:1s with every pupil. The programme will be evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents and the pupils themselves.
Key Responsibilities
- Assess participants’ SEL competencies across five key domains - Self Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Personal Decision Making.
- Designed tailored 1:1 delivery plans for each cohort, based on individual need. Deliver 1:1 sessions collaboratively with team members in line with agreed plans.
- Continuously review and refine delivery plans to ensure they remain responsive to participants' evolving SEL needs.
- Support and guide staff in understanding and responding to participants' SEL needs within their day-to-day interactions.
- Contribute to Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) by gathering SEL scales, programme registers, and participant feedback, as well as producing case studies and testimonials that evidence participant progress and outcomes.
Additional Responsibilities
- Support the delivery of classroom sessions as directed by the Facilitator.
- Support participants during rugby sessions as directed by the Rugby Coach.
- Maintain regular communication with the Team Lead and Regional Manager, providing updates on participant progress, classroom dynamics, and any additional support needs.
- Participate in termly meetings with school staff to discuss participants' development and emotional growth within the programme.
- Liaise with the school's Safeguarding Lead and SOHK Team Lead promptly upon any safeguarding disclosure or cause for concern.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Sound knowledge and understanding of the developmental stages of children and young people, and of appropriate intervention approaches.
- Proven ability to build rapport with young people across a range of needs and backgrounds.
- Demonstrated experience of engaging effectively with children and young people who present challenging behaviours.
- Resilience and composure when exposed to distressing information or difficult disclosures.
- Ability to communicate with warmth and care, actively listening to children, young people, and those involved in their support.
- Skilled at building and maintaining effective working relationships with both SOHK and school staff.
- Willingness to undertake research or audit activity in relevant areas, in discussion with the SOHK Leadership Team.
- Comprehensive understanding of safeguarding best practice, including when and how to share information appropriately and refer participants to relevant healthcare professionals.
- Ability to tailor interventions to meet the individual needs of participants, and to support coaching staff in maintaining these interventions consistently.
Desirable
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. teaching, social work, psychology, or occupational therapy).
- Familiarity with the English education system and how schools operate.
- Knowledge of rugby and an appreciation of the benefits it can offer young people.
- Experience of delivering training in one or more of the areas outlined above.
- Experience of facilitating sessions in a classroom setting with groups of young people.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
- This is a full-time, term-time contract (5 days per week), working in line with school term dates.
- The salary is £31,000 pro rata plus 5% London Weighting, paid in 12 equal monthly instalments.
- You will receive 24 days of annual leave, to be taken outside of term time.
- You will be required to attend our annual three-day staff conference in August.
- A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required, and the appointment is subject to satisfactory references.
- Start date - September 2026
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please send a current CV and a cover letter (no longer than two sides of A4) explaining why you feel you are the right person for this role at School of Hard Knocks (SOHK). Please send these as separate documents to [email protected]
School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is an inclusive charity committed to broadening the diversity of our organisation, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Applications close at 10pm on Friday 27th June. Initial interviews will be held online during the week commencing 7th July, with successful candidates invited to an in-person interview on Friday 10th July in London.
Pay: £32,550.00 per year
Work Location: In person
