Service Development Practitioner

Help colleagues grow. Help people thrive.

Location: Children’s Services, Haverhill, Suffolk
School: Independent Special School | Ages 8–16
Working Pattern: 38 hours per week, term time only

Salary: £40,960.87 pro rata (standard full time is 38 hours per week, 30 days annual leave). Annual salary for 38 hours per week, term time only is £35,446.91 per annum

Be part of something new

This is an exciting opportunity to join Kisimul at a pivotal moment as we develop a new Independent Special School in Haverhill, Suffolk, supporting children and young people aged 8–16 who are autistic and may have additional learning, social or emotional health needs.

With small class sizes and a personalised approach to education, our school will provide an environment where young people can thrive through innovative, therapeutic and person-centred approaches.

As a Service Development Practitioner, you will play a vital role in making that vision a reality.

You’ll help our colleagues develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and competence they need to provide outstanding, therapeutically informed support. From delivering training and coaching to modelling best practice within services, your work will have a direct impact on the quality of support children, young people and adults receive.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be part of our multidisciplinary Therapy team, working closely with colleagues across Kisimul to support the development of their practice, in line with our therapeutic model.

Your role will include:

• Supporting the development of colleague’s continued professional development, competencies and therapeutically informed practice
• Supporting colleagues understanding of autism, learning disability, trauma-informed practice and Positive Behaviour Support.
• Delivering our Meas programme, Kisimul’s BILD-certified behaviour support training programme, including induction and refresher sessions.
• Coaching, mentoring and supporting colleagues to embed their learning into everyday practice.
• Role-modelling effective approaches within services and supporting reflective practice.
• Responding flexibly to individual service and colleague development needs.
• Working alongside therapists and other professionals to provide responsive, person-centred support.
• Supporting services with agreed admissions and contributing to multidisciplinary discussions and referrals.
• Supporting the effective implementation of Kisimul’s Practice Leadership Model.

This is a hands-on role where you will work in the school to help colleagues understand, apply and embed their training.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about developing people and improving outcomes.

You’ll bring experience of working in an education or care environment with people who have complex needs, including autism and learning disabilities, together with the ability to connect your practical experience with current best practice.

You’ll ideally have:

• A Level 3 Award in Education and Training, PTLLS/DTLLS, teaching qualification or Train the Trainer qualification — or a willingness to work towards one.
• Experience of mentoring, coaching or developing colleagues.
• Experience of creating and delivering engaging learning and development sessions.
• Training/Qualifications in Positive Behaviour Support and a willingness to undertake further training where required.
• Knowledge of different learning styles and the ability to adapt training, coaching and mentoring to different audiences.
• The ability to role-model good practice and coach colleagues in real-life service environments.
• An understanding of professional standards relating to training and restrictive physical intervention, or a willingness to develop this knowledge.
• The ability to contribute effectively to multidisciplinary meetings and professional discussions.
• A commitment to your own ongoing professional development.
• A full, current UK driving licence, access to a suitable vehicle and appropriate business insurance, as travel between Kisimul sites will be required.

 

 

 

Why Kisimul?

At Kisimul, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a meaningful life one shaped by their individual needs, choices, aspirations and goals.

Our Meaningful Life Model brings this philosophy to life through therapeutically informed care, education and support. We work with people who are autistic, have learning disabilities and may have associated complex needs, helping them develop their skills, independence, confidence and experiences.

As a Service Development Practitioner, you’ll be central to this approach.

You’ll work alongside a dedicated multidisciplinary team, including therapeutic professionals, while gaining opportunities to continually develop your own skills and expertise.

Our benefits

• Career Development – Transparent pay grades and opportunities to progress.
• Fully Funded Qualifications – Support to develop your skills and career.
• Blue Light Card – Access to discounts across more than 15,000 UK venues.
• Refer a Friend – Earn up to £500 for every successful hire.
• Financial Benefits – Life Assurance of 1x your annual basic salary, access to a salary sacrifice pension scheme, Stream salary access and discounts with more than 150 retailers.
• Health & Wellbeing – Access to an online GP, confidential telephone counselling, dedicated internal wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Flexible Working Patterns – The option to work on bank holidays and take the time off at another point that is more meaningful to you.
• Cycle to Work Scheme – Salary-deducted bikes to help you save money.
• Free DBS Check – We cover the cost of your DBS check.

Make your experience count

If you’re ready to use your experience to develop others, influence practice and make a genuine difference to the lives of the people we support, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Kisimul and become part of a team where your knowledge doesn’t just stay in the training room, it changes what happens in people’s everyday lives.

Apply today

Your expertise could help someone else become the colleague they need to be.

 

About Kisimul

Kisimul Group Ltd operates a group of independent specialist schools and adult provisions, providing specialist education and residential care for children, young people and adults with autism, severe and complex learning difficulties, global developmental delay and associated behaviours that may challenge.

We are proud to have been recognised as an outstanding company to work for, as voted for in our most recent employee survey.

Kisimul is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults, and expects all staff to share this commitment.

We are also committed to creating a workplace that celebrates and welcomes diversity in all its forms. We believe that different perspectives make us stronger and more innovative. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply, your unique background, perspective and potential could be exactly what we are looking for.

Please note: Due to current UK Government guidelines, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. Sponsorship is restricted to eligible colleagues who are already employed by the organisation. Please be aware that Children’s Homes/Schools positions are not eligible for sponsorship.

All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

If you are ready to help build something meaningful and make a lasting difference to young people's lives, we would love to hear from you.

What is it like to work at Kisimul? Click here to hear our teams talking about life at Kisimul:  https://youtu.be/pP-sFmzkR88

Find out more about Meaningful Life Model:  https://youtu.be/XWo2VXzeGIg