Pastoral Mentor (HLTA)

Our pupils are amazing and they deserve amazing mentors!

An opportunity has arisen for a Pastoral Mentor to provide support for pupils with their social and emotional development and mental well-being.

As the second Pastoral Mentor in our team you will put pupils at the centre of your work, supporting them to thrive in the school environment so that they develop the skills needed for life. You will work with pupils to help them explore their feelings and emotions. This will include working with pupils on an individual basis and in small groups, both on a regular and an ad-hoc basis. You will be a team player and work closely with the wider staff team to ensure pupils achieve the best possible outcomes.

About the role

To enable all pupils to engage in education by providing support around pupil wellbeing and Mental Health. This will involve working with staff, parents/carers, and pupils to address barriers to learning and making sure effective policies and procedures are in place.

Duties and responsibilities

Working with pupils

• Identify strategies to help overcome individual pupils’ barriers to learning
• Develop and use systems to support the monitoring of pupils’ behaviour
• Co-ordinate the development of individual support for pupils and review ongoing progress towards set goals
• Support the transition of new pupils arriving or existing pupils returning to school, putting the necessary support in place to overcome any barriers to learning
• Promote high standards of behaviour and attendance, and consistently implement the school’s policies.

Working with staff

• Liaise with all staff to support monitoring activities on individual pupils’ behaviour and wellbeing
• Work with the Assistant Head for Mental Health to identify pupils in need of additional support and to develop individual support
• Attend Advanced Team Teach training to support delivery in school and across Kedleston Group settings.

Working with parents/carers and external agencies

• Be a point of contact for parents/carers in relation to well-being and mental health issues, involving relevant staff members as necessary
• Maintain regular contact with parents/carers to discuss their child’s progress, behaviour and wellbeing
• Build positive relations with parents/carers to encourage family involvement in their child’s progress
• Communicate with parents/carers about specific support in place for their child
• Assist parents/carers with any information they need to support their child
• Build and refresh knowledge on the range of external support available that could support pupils’ individual needs
• Represent the school at external networking and training events.

Administration

• Maintain accurate records of interventions and relevant meetings
• Facilitate the transfer of relevant pupil information inside and outside the school
• Complete relevant paperwork required by external agencies
• Support the completion of audits and governance documentation.

Other areas of responsibility

Safeguarding

• Work in line with statutory safeguarding guidance (e.g., Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent) and our safeguarding and child protection policies
• Promote the safeguarding of all pupils in the school.

Why work for us?

· a competitive salary and generous annual leave entitlement

· a comprehensive induction programme

· continued professional development and training

· contributions to your pension

· a friendly, passionate team committed to getting the best outcomes for our young people

Benefits include:

· £500 refer-a-friend bonus

· life assurance

· cycle to work scheme and laptop loans

· discounts on cinema trips, electronics, fashion, home and garden, travel, groceries, gifts, utilities, health and fitness

· birthday treats

· long service and employee of the month awards

· employee assistance and counselling service, wellbeing support and advice

About us

Arc Oakbridge School is an independent special school catering for pupils whose primary diagnosis is autism and who have often struggled in mainstream settings. We offer a low-arousal environment with small group sizes and put our pupils at the centre of everything that we do.

We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership. Whilst experience is important in this role, it is essential that you share our ethos and values.

Kedleston Group Limited is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its children and young people and we expect all staff to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. You will be expected to engage in annual safeguarding training, be familiar with key policies and ensure you know the steps to take should you be made aware of a safeguarding or child protection concern. You will remain vigilant and act swiftly if you have concerns about a child and be an appropriate role model for both children and colleagues at all times.

The successful candidate is required to provide references and will be expected to undertake an enhanced DBS check. We will ask you to complete a criminal self-declaration form, and we will conduct online searches for information that is publicly available. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:

We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a preferred supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you! Any unsolicited CV’s will be sent at the recruitment agency’s own risk and will be interpreted as ‘gifts’ and we have no liability to you for any fee or otherwise. We reserve the right to engage with candidates directly having not, in any way, entered into your terms and conditions for this vacancy. By submitting an unsolicited CV to us, or to any member of our staff, you accept these terms as the default position. If we require your assistance with any vacancy we will contact you.