Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

Position: ELSA / Therapy Assistant
Location: Manchester and Greater Manchester
Contract Type: Temporary, Full Time
Rate of Pay: .00 per week (DOE)
Working Hours: 08:30 - 15:30

The Role Overview:

Are you an experienced, confident, and emotionally resilient Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) with a proven background in supporting children with additional emotional or social needs?

We are working with number of clients seeking a skilled ELSA / Therapy Assistants to join their dedicated wellbeing and SEND teams. This role is ideal for someone who has hands-on experience delivering therapeutic interventions, supporting children with SEMH needs, and building strong, trusting relationships with pupils who require consistent emotional support.

Your expertise will play a crucial role in helping pupils develop self-regulation, confidence, communication skills, and emotional literacy.

As an ELSA / Therapy Assistant, you will:

• Deliver structured 1:1 and small-group ELSA sessions, using your previous experience to tailor interventions to individual needs.
• Support pupils with anxiety, attachment needs, trauma-informed work, emotional regulation, low confidence, and social skills.
• Apply evidence-based strategies and therapeutic approaches you have used successfully in previous roles.
• Use your experience to identify triggers, reduce barriers to learning, and empower pupils to develop healthy coping mechanisms.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, the SENDCo, pastoral leads, and external professionals to ensure a holistic approach to emotional development.
• Keep accurate records of progress, review session outcomes, and contribute to wider support plans.

Requirements:

Previous experience in an ELSA role or delivering therapeutic/pastoral interventions is essential.
Strong understanding of emotional literacy, child development, and SEMH presentations.
Experience supporting pupils with a range of additional needs, including anxiety, ASD, attachment needs, and behavioural challenges.
Ability to de-escalate situations calmly and use reflective, trauma-informed practice.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to build secure relationships with vulnerable young people.
Flexibility, empathy, and the confidence to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS ROLE THROUGH PROSPERO TEACHING, YOU MUST:

Hold Right to Work in the UK.
Hold an enhanced child barred list DBS certificate registered on the update service, or be willing to apply for a new one.
Provide two professional, child-related references covering the last two years.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Prospero Teaching is acting as an employment business/education recruitment agency in relation to this vacancy. The successful candidate will be required to register and pass all safeguarding and vetting checks with Prospero Teaching. welfare.

IND-SEN
IND-TA