Job Description

Pastoral Support Officer (SEND)

Location:

The Willows, Rishton

Contract:

Term Time Only-Plus Inset days

Salary:

23,656-24,077 Pro rata

Reports to:

Headteacher/SENDCo

Purpose of the Role

To provide compassionate, proactive, and consistent pastoral care for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Pastoral Support Officer will play a key role in promoting wellbeing, emotional resilience, and positive relationships across the school community, including supporting pupils who may present with behaviour that challenges.

This is a non-teaching role, ideal for someone with experience in youth work, social care, counselling, or behaviour support who is passionate about helping children and young people thrive both emotionally and socially.

Key Responsibilities

Pastoral Care & Pupil Wellbeing

Provide daily emotional and practical support to pupils with SEND, ensuring they feel safe, valued, and understood. Build trusting relationships with pupils to help them manage emotions, behaviour, and social challenges. Support pupils in developing positive coping strategies, resilience, and self-regulation skills. Offer one-to-one and small-group pastoral sessions focused on wellbeing, confidence, and emotional literacy. Contribute to the creation and implementation of individual pastoral and behaviour support plans. Work alongside staff to identify triggers and patterns that may lead to behaviour that challenges, and implement proactive, trauma-informed strategies to reduce incidents. Provide calm, supportive interventions during times of crisis or dysregulation, following school policy and de-escalation techniques. Help pupils re-engage positively with learning and the wider school community following incidents of challenging behaviour.

Family & Multi-Agency Support

Be a key point of contact for parents and carers on pastoral, behaviour, or wellbeing matters. Liaise with external professionals such as Educational Psychologists, CAMHS, social workers, and therapists to ensure coordinated support. Participate in review meetings, contribute to reports, and help evaluate the effectiveness of pastoral and behavioural interventions.

School Culture & Environment

Promote a calm, inclusive, and nurturing environment across the school. Support the development of a consistent, restorative approach to behaviour and relationships. Contribute to wellbeing and inclusion initiatives, assemblies, and enrichment activities. Model positive behaviour, empathy, and respect at all times.

Safeguarding & Record Keeping

Recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns in line with school policy. Keep accurate, confidential records of pastoral interactions, interventions, and behaviour incidents. Support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and SENCo in ensuring pupils' wellbeing and safety are prioritised.

Person Specification

Essential

Experience supporting children or young people with SEND and/or behaviour that challenges. Understanding of trauma-informed and positive behaviour support approaches. Excellent communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills. Ability to remain calm, patient, and solution-focused under pressure. Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. English & Maths GCSE Grade C or equivalent

Desirable

Experience in a school, youth work, social care, or therapeutic environment. Training in de-escalation, Team Teach, or similar behaviour support frameworks. Knowledge of multi-agency working and EHCP processes.

Personal Attributes

Compassionate, approachable, and emotionally resilient. Confident in supporting behaviour that challenges with empathy and consistency. Organised, reflective, and able to prioritise effectively. A positive team player with a proactive, can-do attitude
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 23,656.00-24,077.00 per year

Work Location: In person