Youth Worker | Behaviour & Cover Support

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment LTD in Blackpool is seeking an experienced Youth Worker or Community Mentor to support a vibrant secondary school. You will supervise classes during short-term teacher absence, mentor students with SEMH needs, and run small group sessions focused on emotional regulation and personal development.

Regular hours are 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday, with no evenings or weekends. This long-term role offers a stable path to permanent contract opportunities and requires

Qualifications

• Background in youth work, alternative provision, or community mentorship involving teenagers.
• Strong classroom presence and ability to hold pupils accountable.
• Experience with restorative practice or trauma-informed approaches.
• Enhanced DBS check or willingness to obtain immediately.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage whole-class groups during short-term teacher absence.
• Mentor and key worker for students with SEMH needs, low attendance, or behavioural challenges.
• Facilitate small-group or 1:1 reflection sessions on emotional regulation and personal development.
• Use active listening, de-escalation, and restorative conversations to de‑fuse tension.
• Collaborate with pastoral leads, SENCO, and safeguarding to track engagement and wellbeing.
• Support pupils during breaks to build positive school community culture.

Skills

Youth work

Behaviour management

Restorative practice

DBS check

Job description

Are you an experienced Youth Worker or Community Mentor looking to bring your relationship-building skills into a school setting?We are recruiting a confident, grounded Youth Worker / Behaviour Cover Support Specialist to join a vibrant, inclusive secondary school in Blackpool.This is a long-term, full-time role created for someone with a background in youth justice, youth clubs, community outreach, sports coaching, or residential care. You will bridge the gap between pastoral care and classroom learning-supervising classes, delivering targeted re-engagement work, and mentoring students who struggle within mainstream expectations.If you know how to build trust, set firm boundaries, and help teenagers navigate the emotional and social hurdles that cause them to disengage, this role offers real daily impact without late evening or weekend shifts.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage whole-class groups during short-term teacher absence, ensuring a focused, orderly learning environment.
• Act as a dedicated mentor and key worker for students with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, low attendance, or persistent behavioural challenges.
• Facilitate small-group or 1:1 reflection sessions focused on emotional regulation, conflict resolution, restorative conversations, and personal development.
• Use proven youth-work strategies-active listening, de-escalation, and non-judgmental guidance-to de‑fuse classroom tension.
• Collaborate closely with the pastoral heads of year, SENCO, and safeguarding leads to track student engagement and wellbeing.
• Support pupils during unstructured break and lunch times to build positive school community culture.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: Background in youth work, alternative provision, sports coaching, residential childcare, pastoral support, or community mentorship involving teenagers (ages 11-16).
• Skills: Natural presence and confidence to stand in front of a class, command respect, and hold pupils accountable in a fair, supportive way.
• Mindset: Patient, resilient, authentic, and able to look past defiant behaviour to address root causes.
• Behaviour Management: Familiarity with restorative practice, trauma‑informed care, or de‑escalation techniques; Team Teach / positive handling training is highly desirable.
• Safeguarding: Enhanced Child Workforce DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to complete one immediately) and verifiable employment references.
• Location: Based in or easily commutable across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast (FY1-FY4, Lytham, St Annes, Thornton-Cleveleys).

Why Take This Role?

• Regular School Hours: Consistent Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm schedule-no shift work, evening sessions, or weekend hours.
• Long-Term Consistency: A stable, ongoing school placement with genuine permanent contract opportunities.
• Competitive Daily Rates: Paid weekly via PAYE with clear transparent rates.
• Make a Local Difference: Directly impact young people across Blackpool who need positive, consistent adult role models.