Job Description

About The Amicus Community


The Amicus Community is a unique, independent children's therapeutic community providing integrated education, care and psychotherapy for children aged 4-16 with complex trauma and attachment difficulties. We comprise of specialist SEN school and 3 residential children's homes, working within a psychoanalytic, trauma-informed, and reflective model. Amicus is accredited by The Royal College of Psychiatrists.



Our school is small and nurturing and can take up to 36 children. The school sits at the heart of the community, offering a highly relational, carefully structured learning environment for pupils whose educational journeys have often been disrupted by significant adversity.



We are now seeking an exceptional Headteacher to lead our school into its next chapter.


Job Details

The Role

As Headteacher, you will provide strategic, operational and inspirational leadership to the school, ensuring outstanding educational provision within a deeply therapeutic context. You will work closely with the CEO/Clinical Director and the wider senior leadership team across care and therapies and network teams, contributing to the life of the whole community.

Pay:

65,286.00-80,000.00 per year

The Amicus Community

- The Amicus School

Start:

April 2026 or sooner by agreement

Contract:

Permanent, Full Time

Location:

Fontwell, West Sussex

You will be responsible for:

Providing clear, values-led leadership to staff and pupils Ensuring high-quality teaching, learning and curriculum development Maintaining full compliance with DfE, Ofsted and statutory requirements Leading inspection readiness, self-evaluation and school improvement Developing staff through reflective, relational leadership Working closely with therapeutic and residential colleagues to ensure integrated care and education Upholding the emotional and psychological safety of pupils and staff

What You Need to Succeed

We are looking for a Headteacher who:

Has successful senior leadership experience in SEN, alternative provision or specialist settings Has a strong understanding of trauma, attachment and therapeutic education (or a genuine commitment to developing this) Is a confident, values-driven leader with emotional intelligence and warmth Can lead with clarity, containment and compassion Is experienced in Ofsted and regulatory frameworks Thrives within complexity and is reflective in their practice

Experience of working within therapeutic communities, residential education, or complex SEN environments is highly desirable.


Further Information

Why Join Amicus?

Work within a nationally recognised therapeutic community accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists Lead a small, highly specialist school with strong multidisciplinary collaboration Be part of a reflective, thinking organisation that genuinely prioritises staff development and emotional wellbeing Shape the future of a unique and deeply meaningful provision

We offer:

A community that values emotional depth and reflective thinking Regular clinical supervision and individualised and group clinical support Paid for weekly external professional psychoanalytic psychotherapy sessions Leadership development and ongoing therapeutic training A model where wellbeing is protected -- for children and staff Company sick pay Employee Health Cash Plan Group Life Assurance Blue Light Card Competitive company pension scheme Free meals whilst working Free parking

Safeguarding Statement:

The Amicus Community is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, references, and pre-employment safeguarding checks in line with DfE guidance.



The Amicus School and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references.


How to Apply


To apply for this role please download the job description and application form below.



Please complete the application form and ensure that you outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills in the job description).



Once complete please return this to

recruitment@theamicuscommunity.com

Should you have any questions regarding the role or the application please feel free to email us or contact us on

recruitment@theamicuscommunity.com

or

01243 544 107

NOTE TO CANDIDATES

- Please

do not

select the

'Apply online' button

as the School processes your applications directly rather than through this site.


The reference number for this role is SCHO01452.



LOCATION

Arundel area

CONTRACT TYPE

Permanent

JOB TYPE

Education - Teaching

CLOSING DATE

30 December 2025