Pastoral Support Worker

Education Authority; Kilkeel; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Pastoral Support Worker to assist pupils in overcoming barriers to learning and promoting their health and wellbeing. The role involves delivering mentoring programs, working closely with teachers, and providing essential support to ensure an inclusive educational environment. Candidates should possess experience working with children and possess strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of six months experience working with children in a formal setting.
• Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding.
• Willingness to undertake job-related training.

Responsibilities

• Deliver mentoring programmes to engage pupils with learning.
• Develop support structures for pupils facing barriers to learning.
• Liaise with teachers and parents to facilitate pupil wellbeing.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Planning and organizational skills

Team working skills

Education

Experience working with children/young people in a formal environment

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Pastoral Support Worker

REPORTS TO: The Principal

JOB PURPOSE

To support pupils to be motivated and engaged to learn, developing their resilience and capacity to respond more confidently to challenges, and supporting their health and wellbeing.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The precise duties of the post will be determined by the principal/outreach teacher/ Education Authority officer.

PUPIL SUPPORT

· To deliver a mentoring programme which provides support for pupils to engage with learning.

· To develop an understanding of the specific needs of the pupil(s) to be supported.

· To help develop pupils’ resilience and capacity to respond more confidently to challenges and support the positive promotion of the health and well-being of pupils.

· To liaise with subject teachers, form teachers and year heads in order to provide a whole school approach to pupil support.

· To liaise with parents, where necessary, in order to assist pupils in overcoming barriers to learning.

· To signpost pupils/parents to outside agencies where appropriate to provide additional support.

· To developsupport structures and programmes for pupils who are experiencing barriers to learning;

· To establishand operate group situations to allow students to develop their own strategies for improving their self-esteem and to assist them in developing better peer and adult relationships;

· To supervise individual pupils or small groups of pupils during the school day, and guide their learning as directed by the subject teacher.

· To representthe Teacher in inter-agency involvement;

· To develop and organiseout-of-school activities and residentials.

· To be aware of school policies, procedures and of confidential issues linked tohome/pupil/teacher/school work and to keep confidences appropriately.

· Ensure as far as possible a safe environment for pupils.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times. To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.

JE Ref No: 034/05 (original post eval’d 30.09.05 at EO grade)

FLEXIBLE WORKING OPTIONS AVAILABLE OPTION 1 You are required to be on duty during school term plus two additional weeks. The timing of the two additional weeks is at the discretion of the Principal of the school. OR OPTION 2 You are required to be on duty for the contracted weekly hours, working during periods of school closure except when on annual leave or other authorised absence. Duties will normally be provided by the school. However, where necessary, alternative work and/or training will be provided by the Authority at any other such place of employment as may be reasonably required. OR OPTION 3 To work as for option 2 with a further option to request periods of unpaid leave during extended school holidays or closures. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times. To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Pastoral Support (2 days per week)

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.

You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.

The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right toshortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet thecriteria for the role.

In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria asoutlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following areessentialcriteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and whichmay also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Essential Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Have a minimum of six months’ demonstrable experience of working with a child/children/young people in a formal environment i.e. school, nursery, playgroup or an organisation.

Demonstrable experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Providing direct pastoral support to a child/children/young people in a formal environment i.e. school, nursery, playgroup or an organisation.
• Providing support to a teacher and/or school staff inside or outside of the classroom
• Managing or leading small projects/events preferably in a training or educational environment.
• Managing or leading a team.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge

Demonstrable knowledge of the requirements of a Pastoral Support worker at Executive Officer level

Knowledge and experience of clerical duties.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Willingness to undertake job related training as and when required.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following areadditionalessentialcriteria which will be measured during

the interview/selection stage.

Factor

Essential Criteria

Method of Assessment

Knowledge

Demonstrable knowledge of:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding, as relevant to the role
• Pastoral interventions to support the needs of young people.

Interview

Skills / Abilities

Proven effective planning and organisational skills and an ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines. Evidence of an ability to work flexibly to help ensure a child-centred learning experience.

Evidence of effective interpersonal and communication skills both verbally and written.

Proven effective team working skills.

Evidence of good planning and organising skills to ensure work is completed on time to the required standard.

Evidence of a child-centred approach.

Demonstrable people management and team skills to successfully motivate others

Evidence of sound interpersonal and communication skills

Interview

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect the school’s values/ethos. You will find information about the school’s values/ethos on our school website www.kilkeelhigh.org

Interview

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Desirable Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience / Knowledge

Evidence of a working knowledge of one or more of the following IT systems:

• Microsoft Word and Outlook

• C2K schools IT systems

Willingness to assist with the extra curricular life of the school.

Hold a valid First Aid certificate

Shortlisting by Application Form