Residential Support Worker & Mental Health Support

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Term-time only

Holidays off

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment LTD. is seeking a Mental Health & Behaviour Support Mentor for a secondary school in Blackpool. The role focuses on 1:1 and small-group pastoral support for students aged 11-16 with mental health challenges, trauma and SEMH, using de-escalation and therapeutic approaches.

The post involves term-time hours (8:30 am - 3:30 pm), with all school holidays off, offering a stable routine and positive impact on student engagement within a supportive educational setting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Residential Support Worker or CAMHS-related role.
• Solid understanding of ACEs, trauma, attachment, and SEMH.
• Trained in de-escalation or positive handling (Team Teach/PRICE/MAPA) is highly desirable.
• DBS on Update Service or willingness to obtain immediately.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and small-group pastoral support to students facing mental health challenges.
• Support pupils in crises with safe spaces and de-escalation techniques.
• Deliver interventions focused on resilience, coping strategies and self-esteem.
• Assist classroom focus and advocate for emotional needs with teachers.
• Collaborate with Safeguarding Lead, SENCO, Heads of Year and external agencies.
• Maintain clear pastoral and safeguarding records.

Skills

Pastoral support

De-escalation

Trauma-informed

SEMH

Tools

Team Teach

PRICE

MAPA

Restorative Practice

Job description

re you currently working in children's residential care or youth mental health and looking to swap unsociable shift patterns for term-time school hours?We are seeking a resilient, compassionate, and grounded Mental Health & Behaviour Support Mentor with a background in Children's Residential Care, CAMHS, or Youth Mental Health to join a forward-thinking secondary school in Blackpool.This role is designed specifically for professionals who already understand complex trauma, attachment disorders, and emotional dysregulation. You will bring your de-escalation skills and therapeutic mindset into a mainstream and pastoral secondary school environment-acting as a vital bridge between emotional wellbeing and educational engagement.Best of all, you get to keep making the deep, positive impact you love while working Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, with all school holidays off.

The Role & Key Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated 1:1 and small-group pastoral support to secondary students (ages 11-16) facing mental health challenges, chronic anxiety, school refusal, or complex trauma.
• Support pupils in times of crisis, providing safe spaces and using therapeutic de-escalation and emotion coaching to help them regulate and return to learning.
• Deliver targeted mental health and wellbeing interventions focused on emotional resilience, healthy coping strategies, and self-esteem.
• Support students in the classroom to maintain focus and engagement, advocating for their emotional needs with class teachers.
• Collaborate closely with the school's Safeguarding Lead, SENCO, Heads of Year, and external agencies (such as CASHER, CAMHS, and Social Services).
• Keep clear, accurate pastoral and safeguarding records following school child protection policies.

Who We Are Looking For

• Background: Proven experience as a Residential Support Worker (Children's Homes / Semi-Independent Living), Youth Mental Health Practitioner, CAMHS Support Worker, or Therapeutic Care Worker.
• Understanding of Needs: Solid, practical understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), developmental trauma, attachment difficulties, and SEMH.
• De-escalation Skills: Calm under high-stress situations; trained in positive handling or de-escalation (e.g., Team Teach, PRICE, MAPA, or Restorative Practice) is highly desirable.
• Mindset: Non-judgmental, authentic, highly empathetic, and resilient-someone who naturally builds trust with vulnerable, hard-to-reach teenagers.
• Safeguarding: An Enhanced Child Workforce DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to complete one immediately) and fully checkable reference history.

Location: Based in or easily commutable across Blackpool, Fylde, or Wyre (FY1-FY5).

Why Transition to Education?

• Say Goodbye to Shift Work: Standard school hours only-no night shifts, sleep-ins, 12-hour rotations, or working over Christmas and bank holidays.
• 13 Weeks Holiday: Enjoy every school holiday off, allowing genuine work-life balance and time to recharge.
• Long-Term Consistency: A permanent routine working with the same cohort of young people across the academic year.
• Weekly PAYE Pay: Reliable, transparent daily rates paid directly every Friday with no umbrella fees.

Residential Support Worker, Children's Residential, CAMHS, Mental Health Support, Youth Worker, Trauma-Informed, Secondary School, High School, Blackpool, FY1, FY2, FY3, FY4, Fylde Coast, Term-Time Only, PAYE.