Youth Worker / Pastoral Support Worker

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Burnley; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impactful work

Specialised SEMH training

Collaborative team

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment LTD. is partnering with a specialist SEMH school in Burnley to recruit a Youth Worker / Pastoral Support Worker.

The role involves 1:1 mentoring, small group interventions and daily emotional check-ins to help vulnerable students thrive. You will deliver pastoral care, implement trauma-informed strategies, support behaviour management, collaborate with classroom and clinical teams, and monitor wellbeing to inform individual support plans.

Qualifications

• Experience with children/young people in Youth Work, Pastoral Support, or SEMH settings.
• Enhanced DBS is required or willing to undergo checks.
• Qualification in Youth Work, Health and Social Care, Counselling, or Education is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Pastoral care & mentoring with daily emotional check-ins and small group guidance.
• Behavior support & de-escalation using trauma-informed practices.
• Remove barriers to learning by fostering coping and social skills.
• Collaborate with teachers, SENCOs, therapists and external safeguarding teams.
• Track wellbeing and progress for individualised education and support plans.

Skills

De-escalation

Conflict resolution

Communication skills

Rapport building

Education

Level 3 Youth Work qualification

Job description

Youth Worker / Pastoral Support Worker - Specialist SEMH School

Location: Burnley, Lancashire

Position: Youth Worker / Pastoral Support Worker

Focus: Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) Support, 1:1 Mentoring & Small Group Interventions

Contract Type: Full-Time / Permanent or Long-Term Supply options available

Salary/Pay Rate: £100 - £145 per day

About the Role

Are you an experienced youth worker, pastoral mentor, or support professional with a passion for helping vulnerable children and young people thrive? We are working in partnership with a dedicated, specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) School in Burnley that caters to students who experience significant barriers to learning, emotional distress, or behavioural challenges in traditional settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Pastoral Care & Mentoring: Act as a key trusted adult and point of contact for students, offering daily emotional check-ins, targeted 1:1 mentoring, and small group guidance.
• Behavior Support & De-escalation: Implement therapeutic behaviour management strategies, trauma-informed practices, and effective de-escalation techniques to support students through crisis points.
• Remove Barriers to Learning: Help students navigate social and emotional hurdles, fostering coping mechanisms, emotional regulation, and positive social skills.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with teachers, SENCOs, therapists, and external safeguarding/social care agencies to ensure a unified approach to student welfare and development.
• Track Well-being & Progress: Monitor and record student engagement, emotional growth, and behavioural milestones, contributing to individualised education and support plans.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: Proven background working with children or young people in a Youth Work, Pastoral Support, Residential Care, Sports Coaching, or SEMH/Alternative Provision school setting.
• Skills: Strong de-escalation, conflict resolution, and communication skills, with a natural ability to build rapport with disengaged or challenging young people.
• Personal Attributes: High levels of resilience, patience, empathy, emotional intelligence, and a calm, consistent approach under pressure.
• Qualifications: Relevant qualifications in Youth Work, Health and Social Care, Counselling, or Education (e.g., Level 3 or above) are highly desirable.
• Compliance: Must hold a current Enhanced Child Workforce DBS (or be willing to undergo checks).

What We Offer

• Impactful Work: Make a profound, lasting difference in the lives of children who need it most, helping them turn their futures around.
• Professional Development: Access to specialised training in SEMH, trauma-informed approaches, restorative practice, and safeguarding.
• Supportive Environment: Join a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team committed to inclusive education and staff wellbeing.