Behaviour Mentor - Secondary School (Youth Work / Sports)

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Preston; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sociable hours

Supportive team

CPD training

Career progression

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment LTD is recruiting a Behaviour & Engagement Mentor for a secondary school in Preston. The role focuses on bridging gaps for disengaged students, using rapport-building and structured mentoring to support emotional regulation and life skills.

Candidates with transferable skills from youth work or coaching backgrounds are encouraged. The role offers CPD training, clear daily routines, and collaboration with pastoral teams to support academic and vocational pathways.

Qualifications

• Experience engaging adolescents in youth or community settings.
• Ability to build rapport and de-escalate challenging behaviour.
• Excellent communication with students, staff, and families.

Responsibilities

• Work with secondary-aged students on a 1:1 and small-group basis who are disengaged or at risk of exclusion.
• Act as a positive role model, establishing clear daily routines, firm boundaries, and high expectations.
• Deliver targeted mentoring interventions focusing on emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and life skills.
• Support students inside and outside the classroom to help them re-focus on academic and vocational subjects.
• Implement proactive behaviour de-escalation strategies to keep pupils calm and safe.

Skills

Youth Outreach

Sports Coaching

Mentoring

Boundaries & Discipline

Job description

Are you working in Youth Work, Community Outreach, Mentoring, or Sports Coaching and ready to transition into a school setting?A thriving secondary school in Preston is recruiting a dedicated Behaviour & Engagement Mentor to join their pastoral and inclusion team.This role focuses on bridging the gap between disengaged students and education. Many students face social, emotional, and personal barriers that make mainstream classrooms a struggle. We need someone grounded, energetic, and relatable who knows how to build rapport, earn respect, and channel energy into positive focus.Classroom teaching experience is not required. We are actively seeking professionals with strong life experience and transferable skills from community and youth backgrounds.

Transferable Backgrounds Welcomed:

• Youth Workers & Outreach Mentors: Experienced in engaging vulnerable young people, conflict resolution, restorative conversations, and de-escalation.
• Sports Coaches & Activity Leaders: Natural motivators who understand how to use structure, teamwork, discipline, and routine to redirect negative behaviour.
• Mentors & Community Support Workers: Passionate about advocacy, breaking down emotional barriers, and acting as a consistent, trustworthy role model.
• Alternative Education & Fitness/Boxing Mentors: Confident in establishing firm boundaries and helping young people build emotional resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with secondary-aged students on a 1:1 and small-group basis who are disengaged or at risk of exclusion.
• Act as a positive role model, establishing clear daily routines, firm boundaries, and high expectations.
• Deliver targeted mentoring interventions focusing on emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and life skills.
• Support students inside and outside the classroom to help them re-focus on academic and vocational subjects.
• Implement proactive behaviour de-escalation strategies to keep pupils calm and safe.
• Collaborate closely with Heads of Year, pastoral leads, the SENDCo, and external youth support agencies across Preston.

What We Are Looking For:

• Demonstrable experience working with adolescents, youth, or young adults in sports coaching, community outreach, youth clubs, or mentoring schemes.
• A calm, resilient, and non-reactive attitude-someone who does not take behaviour personally and approaches each day with a fresh slate.
• Natural ability to communicate with teenagers and build trust from the ground up.
• Team Teach, MAPA/PBSA, or physical intervention certification is advantageous (free accredited refresher CPD provided).
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to apply for one).

What the School Offers:

• Sociable Working Hours: Monday to Friday (8:30am - 3:30pm) with all 13 weeks of school holidays off.
• Dynamic Team Environment: Work alongside supportive pastoral leads, teaching staff, and specialist mentors.
• Free Accredited CPD Training: Access to training courses including Team Teach, SEMH strategies, and advanced safeguarding.
• Career Pathways: Strong routes into permanent pastoral support, pastoral leadership, or initial teacher training (ITT).