To become a support specialist, a background in fitness, sport and/or the creative fields would be highly beneficial. We also value social work, teaching, youth work, prison services/youth offenders, childcare, fostering or related caring fields. An understanding of trauma and the impact that this can have on people, as well as the multiple issues faced by disaffected groups would also be advantageous to the role.
As a Soulflexion Specialist you will become part of multi-agency working and would have to be adept at record keeping to support short and long term goals.
As well as professional experience, life experience and the capacity to relate to people is paramount.
Soulflexion is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all specialists to share this commitment.
What our Specialists say…
“I have been teaching yoga and meditation to the children and young people I have been assigned to. A lot of these children are trauma impacted and displaying challenging behaviour which is impacting on not only the environment they are in, but their general wellbeing and relationships with others. When they are given a safe space to slow down and sit with themselves in meditation or physically challenging poses, they are able to let go of the heavy burden they are carrying and often revisit their true childlike states again. Our sessions are fun, playful and relaxed and are a great gateway to conversations about self-care which often leads to realisations about care in many other aspects in life. I enjoy supporting growth and nurturing positive mindsets, it is rewarding to be able to offer this to the next generation, especially during a time where social media and technology is so prevalent in their lives.”
-Soulflexion Specialist (Power Yoga Teacher)
“I often work with young people and adults who are in need of support in education, offering GCSE revision and essay writing support. Sometimes I do play sessions with teenagers who require a different approach to mainstream education and I also take young people to the gym to swim or train. Sometimes we go to the cafe, shops or library and just take a walk and talk.”
– Soulflexion Specialist (Qualified Primary Teacher & Therapeutic Foster Carer)
“I have been working as a mentor for Soulflexion for nearly 2 years now and have really enjoyed working with the young people I have been paired with. The work is varied and depends heavily on the young people you work with and their personal situation. As mentors, we get to know our mentees and use the objectives we are given to support them in any way we can. Together, we come up with a range of activities that suit the interests and needs of the young person which is a great way to encourage them to open up, develop new and existing skills and become more independent. These activities range from sports, to attending youth clubs, going to museums or supporting the young people within their education placement- whatever it takes to support them and help them to achieve the goals that have been set for them, as well as any personal goals and interests they might share. Mentoring is a very rewarding job which allows you, as a mentor the creativity to inspire and motivate the young people you work with on their road to adulthood.”
–Soulflexion Specialist (SEND Teacher & Mentor)
“My role as a Specialist is to support and enhance the educational attainment of the CLA cohort; within this role, not only do I work with the young person, but I also work in collaboration with schools, Social Care, CAMHS and other agencies. I am passionate about young people reaching their optimum dreams, aspirations and goals; I have an invested interest in supporting young people with ensuring they are able achieve their best possible outcomes for their educational attainment and future progression. One of the main areas of my work is to support the young person and their school to understand the key issues that a young person may be facing which may be causing barriers to learning. For many of our clients, one of the significant factors they face is underachievement, my role is to provide a bespoke support package that addresses and supports the improvement of the issues that may be preventing them accessing their education and reaching their full potential going forward. We offer advice, support and a solution focused approach, working collaboratively with the young person and the networks of people around them, i.e. family, school, peers. As a specialist it is fundamental to have a high level of attunement to personal relationships, the ability to build a rapport and a solid foundation must be built on communication, understanding and listening. As Specialists – we offer expertise, knowledge and experience of working with young people from all walks of life and pride ourselves on following a youth-centered focus whereby the voice of the young person is heard in order for them to become their best possible self.”
–Soulflexion Specialist (Life Coach)