Pastoral Support Worker

At OFG, we work smarter so you can spend more time doing what makes you happy!

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!

Job Title:     Pastoral Support Worker

Location:         The Holden School, Leigh

Salary:       £20,906.25 per annum

Hours:              37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract:     Permanent. Term Time only

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Pastoral Support Worker to join our close-knit team at The Holden School, part of Acorn Education.

About the Role

The post holder will manage and work as part of a team supporting the learning and behaviour of students. The post holder will provide practical support for individual students and work with the whole school to promote positive behaviour management.

Who we are looking for

• Evidence of continuous professional development in behaviour management
• Experience of working with families and young people who have challenging behaviours in a variety of settings including secondary education
• An awareness of the current issues affecting young people
• Experience of managing in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working with outside agencies
• Trained in counselling/behaviour management and pupil protection
• Knowledge of basic Microsoft packages: Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint – supported by achievement of ECDL or similar

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Effective behaviour management skills
• Good oral and written communication with students and adults
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to respond to challenging circumstances in a positive manner
• Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise own workload, meet deadlines and to work independently
• Able to work in a calm, efficient and safe manner

About Us

The Holden School is an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 5 to 16, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs in Lancashire, Manchester and surrounding areas.

Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life. We are a Therapeutic Led Trauma Informed School providing individualised curriculums for our students supported by our Class Teams, our Wellbeing Team and our own Therapists.

We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them academically and socially, to encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build confidence in our students, so they are able to have a greater understanding of the wider community in which they live.

The Holden School is based in Leigh and is within commutable distance of Wigan and Surrounding Areas

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education for vulnerable pupils. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

We believe that it is extremely important that you feel heard! We had great results from our Great Place to Work Survey:

• 86% said that I am treated as a full member here regardless of my position.
• 80% agree that Management shows a sincere interest in me as a person, not just an employee.
• 80% said I feel I make a difference here.
• 80% of you said I'm proud to tell others I work here.
• 80?lieve that People care about each other here.
• 91% of Team Members said My work has special meaning: this is not just a job.
• 89% said that when you join the organisation, you are made to feel welcome.
• 89% said that I get empathy and support from my manager/supervisor when needed.
• 88% agree that Management recognises honest mistakes as part of doing business.

Why join Acorn Education?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy.