Pastoral Assistant (UAE National)

Internationalschools; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 33,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Internationalschools in the United Arab Emirates is seeking a Pastoral Assistant to support student wellbeing, provide guidance and emotional support, and help students navigate academic, social and personal challenges across year groups. Work with teachers and counselors to promote positive behaviour, coordinate mentoring, monitor attendance, and communicate with families about welfare and progress.

A high school diploma is required; a degree in Education, Social Work or Psychology is

Qualifications

• A minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent) is required.
• A degree or diploma in Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field is highly preferred.
• Previous experience working with young people in an educational or pastoral setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day pastoral support to students, offering guidance and emotional support as needed.
• Build positive relationships with students, helping them navigate academic, social, and personal challenges.
• Support students during difficult situations, including mental health concerns, bullying incidents, or family-related issues.
• Refer students to the appropriate professionals, such as counselors or external agencies, when necessary.
• Monitor and support students' attendance and punctuality, following up on unexplained absences and offering support as needed.
• Assist with the transition of students between year groups or into the school.
• Work with teachers and counselors to promote positive behaviour, coordinate mentoring, monitor attendance, and communicate with families about welfare and progress.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

IT proficiency

Education

High school diploma

Education/Social Work/Psychology degree

Job description

Job Description

Pastoral Assistant - Key Responsibilities:

Student Well-Being & Support:

• Provide day-to-day pastoral support to students, offering guidance and emotional support as needed.
• Build positive relationships with students, helping them navigate academic, social, and personal challenges.
• Support students during difficult situations, including mental health concerns, bullying incidents, or family-related issues.
• Refer students to the appropriate professionals, such as counselors or external agencies, when necessary.
• Monitor and support students' attendance and punctuality, following up on unexplained absences and offering support as needed.
• Assist with the transition of students between year groups or into the school.

Behavior and Conduct:

• Work with students to promote positive behavior, ensuring adherence to the school's code of conduct and disciplinary policies.
• Support students in developing positive social skills and conflict-resolution techniques.
• Assist teachers in managing student behavior, supporting the implementation of behavior management plans when necessary.
• Help create and maintain a positive school culture, supporting inclusivity, respect, and responsibility.

Mentorship & Guidance:

• Act as a mentor to students, providing a listening ear and offering advice or guidance on personal development, friendships, and school life.
• Assist with academic and personal goal setting, helping students build resilience, motivation, and self-esteem.
• Coordinate or support small group mentoring sessions or peer-support programs for students.
• Promote student leadership and personal development opportunities, such as through student councils or other extracurricular activities.

Liaison and Communication:

• Communicate regularly with parents, guardians, and families regarding students' well-being, behavior, and academic progress.
• Work closely with teaching staff, counselors, and other pastoral staff to provide holistic support to students.
• Support school communication, including newsletters, letters to parents, or updates on pastoral care initiatives.

Pastoral Programs and Events:

• Assist in the planning and implementation of pastoral programs, events, and workshops that support students' emotional, social, and academic growth.
• Organize and support extracurricular activities that promote student engagement, including clubs, team-building events, or awareness campaigns (e.g., mental health days, anti-bullying programs).
• Contribute to the delivery of assemblies, workshops, and pastoral curriculum lessons on topics such as mental health, wellbeing, relationships, and citizenship.

Student Safeguarding:

• Be vigilant for signs of safeguarding issues and follow the school's safeguarding policies to protect students from harm.
• Report any concerns about a student's welfare to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Attend safeguarding and child protection training to stay current on relevant protocols and procedures.

Administrative Support:

• Maintain accurate records of pastoral support and interventions, documenting concerns, meetings, and outcomes.
• Assist with the preparation of reports on students' progress, welfare, and behavior for pastoral meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and other school-related purposes.
• Help manage student records, ensuring they are up-to-date and confidential.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent) is required.
• A degree or diploma in Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field is highly preferred.
• Previous experience working with young people in an educational or pastoral setting is preferred.

Skills:

• The ability to develop good personal relationships within a team.
• An effective and experienced communicator (written and verbal) to a variety of audiences.
• High level of IT competency.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding

and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years' employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.