Pastoral Support Worker

KEDLESTON GROUP; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A caring educational organization in Nottingham is seeking a compassionate Pastoral Support Worker to support the wellbeing and engagement of students with SEMH and ASC needs. You will work one-on-one with students, provide support during transitions, and liaise with families, including conducting home visits. The ideal candidate has a solid grasp of the social-emotional needs of vulnerable youth and brings a calm, trauma-informed approach. This role is essential for fostering a nurturing school environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in educational, SEMH, ASC, or alternative provision settings.
• Strong understanding of social, emotional, and behavioral needs of vulnerable learners.
• Ability to support emotional regulation and wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct pastoral support to students on a one-to-one basis.
• Support emotional regulation and improve attendance.
• Build strong relationships with parents and families.

Skills

Experience working with children

Understanding of SEMH and ASC needs

Strong communication skills

De-escalation skills

Ability to build trusting relationships

Job description

We are seeking a compassionate, resilient and motivated Pastoral Support Worker to join our pastoral team at Wings School Notts. Working under the direction of the Pastoral Manager, you will play a vital role in supporting the wellbeing, engagement and personal development of children and young people with SEMH and ASC needs.

This role is central to ensuring students feel safe, understood and supported both in school and, where appropriate, beyond the school environment. You will work directly with students who may struggle with attendance, behaviour, emotional regulation or engagement with learning, delivering targeted pastoral support that helps them re‑engage and thrive. You will also work closely with families, including undertaking home visits and supporting flexible and personalised learning arrangements.

Key Responsibilities

Student Support

• Provide direct pastoral support to students on a one-to-one and small group basis, using trauma-informed, restorative and relational approaches.
• Support students with emotional regulation, social skills, behaviour and wellbeing, helping them to access learning successfully.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with students, acting as a consistent and safe adult within the school.
• Support students on flexible learning plans, including reintegration programmes, part-time timetables or alternative learning arrangements.
• Assist students during periods of transition, crisis or heightened emotional need, using de‑escalation strategies and positive behaviour support.

Attendance, Engagement and Behaviour

• Support the monitoring and improvement of attendance, punctuality and engagement.
• Work proactively with students who are persistently absent or at risk of disengagement, identifying barriers and supporting re‑engagement.
• Contribute to personalised support plans and behaviour interventions under the guidance of the Pastoral Manager.

Working with Families

• Build strong, respectful and trusting relationships with parents and carers.
• Maintain regular communication with families to share progress, concerns and strategies for supporting students.
• Undertake home visits (where appropriate) to support attendance, wellbeing, engagement and safeguarding.
• Act as a supportive link between home and school, ensuring families feel heard, valued and informed.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

• Promote a strong culture of safeguarding and wellbeing in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• Report concerns promptly and accurately in line with school safeguarding procedures.
• Support students with identified safeguarding or wellbeing needs, working closely with the DSL team.

Collaboration and Multi-Agency Working

• Work closely with teaching staff, the Pastoral Manager and wider school team to provide consistent and joined-up support.
• Contribute to meetings, reviews and planning around students' pastoral and learning needs.
• Support liaison with external professionals and agencies as required.

School Community

• Model positive behaviour, professionalism and high expectations at all times.
• Promote inclusion, respect and equality, challenging discrimination in all its forms.
• Contribute to a nurturing, calm and supportive school environment.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience working with children or young people, ideally within an educational, SEMH, ASC or alternative provision setting.
• A strong understanding of the social, emotional and behavioural needs of vulnerable learners.
• The ability to build positive, trusting relationships with students who may be anxious, disengaged or distressed.
• Experience working with families, including confidence in undertaking home visits.
• A calm, patient and trauma-informed approach, with effective de‑escalation skills.
• A good understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within an education setting.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Resilience, flexibility and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for young people.