SEN Governess | Full-Time Family Support and Education Coach (for a Teenager)

SEN Governess | Full-Time Family Support and Education Coach (for a Teenager)

A very lovely family based in the Arabian Ranches is seeking an experienced and calm professional to provide support to their teenage daughter. This role focuses on providing structured daytime support to encourage engagement with learning and daily routines, while allowing parents to work without constant supervision.

Location: Arabian Ranches, Dubai

Schedule: 5 to 6 days per week (this can be discussed depending on the candidate). Working hours will be approximately 10-12 hrs per day.

Living arrangement: The family prefers someone who can do live-in. A private bedroom will be provided for the candidate. The family is also open to discussing live-out for the right candidate.

Start date: ASAP

Salary: AED 18,000 and 25,000 per month (on the number of working days and the experience and qualifications of the candidate.

Visa will be provided.

Purpose of the Role

To provide consistent structure, guidance, and calm support so the teenager can engage in education and daily routines safely and productively during the day.

The successful candidate will report directly to the parents and may collaborate with external therapists or educational professionals, with parental consent.

What Success Looks Like

• The teenager attends scheduled learning sessions most days, even if on a reduced timetable.
• Morning and afternoon routines are followed with minimal conflict.
• Emotional escalations reduce in frequency and duration through consistent support.
• Parents are able to focus on work knowing their child is supported and supervised.

Key ResponsibilitiesDaily Structure and Routine Support

• Implement and maintain a predictable daily timetable including wake up, hygiene, meals, movement, learning blocks, and breaks.
• Use calm, low arousal communication and consistent boundaries.
• Maintain a simple daily log tracking sleep, nutrition, activity, and general mood.

Education Oversight, Homeschool Support

• Ensure online learning log ins take place and sessions begin on time.
• Break work into manageable segments using short, focused time blocks.
• Liaise with tutors or online school providers regarding schedules and adjustments.
• Prepare and manage the learning environment, including devices and agreed distraction controls.

Emotional Regulation Support

• Reinforce pre agreed coping strategies such as grounding techniques and movement breaks.
• Identify early signs of escalation and implement an agreed support plan.
• De escalate situations calmly, reducing stimulation and maintaining safety.

Safety and Professional Boundaries

• Follow a clear safety plan if the teenager attempts to leave the home, becomes verbally aggressive, or presents as emotionally unsafe.
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times, offering steady and consistent adult guidance.

Parent Communication

• Provide a short daily handover to parents.
• Participate in a weekly review to discuss progress, challenges, and adjustments.

What the role is NOT

• This is NOT a psychotherapy position.
• This is NOT a substitute parenting role.
• This is NOT about enforcing school attendance at any cost.
• This does NOT include overnight medical supervision unless separately agreed.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum 3 to 5 years experience supporting adolescents with emotional or behavioural needs, SEN, or within mental health or trauma informed settings.
• Confident in calmly maintaining boundaries during periods of resistance or escalation.
• Strong safeguarding awareness and First Aid or CPR certification.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to maintain clear daily documentation.

Highly Desirable

• Knowledge of DBT informed approaches.
• Experience as a learning support assistant or shadow teacher.
• Behavioural training background such as ABA or RBT, applied with sensitivity.
• Experience working within complex family dynamics while remaining neutral and professional.

Ideal Candidate

• Calm, emotionally regulated, and consistent.
• Firm but fair in approach, able to hold boundaries without being overly authoritarian.
• Possesses a good sense of humour and able to build natural rapport.
• Understands popular culture and topics relevant to teenagers, helping to create connection and trust.
• Open minded and empathetic, able to acknowledge and understand the teenager’s personal struggles without judgement.
• Reliable and punctual, providing stability and predictability.
• Able to remain composed and structured during periods of escalation.

This is a great opportunity for a thoughtful and experienced professional who can provide both structure and understanding, helping a teenager feel supported while maintaining appropriate boundaries within the home.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: AED18,000.00 - AED25,000.00 per month

Application Question(s):

• Are you open to a live-in position?
• What are the diagnoses of the children or individuals you've supported as a SEN Governess or Education Coach/Specialist?

Experience:

• SEN: 5 years (Required)
• Governess | Youth Support: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: In person