Pastoral Support Worker

We have an excellent opportunity for a dedicated Pastoral Support Worker to join our pastoral team. In the role you will be responsible for addressing barriers to learning both in and out of school to raise aspirations and enable all students to achieve their full potential. The role is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience of working with young people in an educational, youth work or social care setting.

**Who are we looking for?**

To succeed in the role you will have an in-depth knowledge of issues affecting the mental health of young people and a proven track record of implementing strategies to support positive mental health. You must be skilled at developing a rapport with young people, and experience of working with disaffected and/or those with Special Educational Needs/ SEMH would be advantageous. A good level of ICT skills is essential and experience with the use of the SIMS database would be useful.

Woodkirk Academy is a high performing, successful, well established, fully comprehensive, co-educational 11-18 maintained Academy. We have a proud record in academic, intellectual, social and sporting, musical, dramatic and community developments. Our latest Ofsted report noted a ‘passion and commitment to continuous improvement’ and that ‘leadership at all levels is focused on the progress of pupils.’ We enjoy an excellent reputation as an employer and our ethos and working practices are well regarded. We take pride in looking after staff and supporting everyone in their roles in order to deliver excellent education to our students.

At Leodis Academies Trust we pride ourselves on our collaborative approach to working together. We look for individuals who can contribute to this and make a difference to the academies that form our Trust. In return for joining us as our Pastoral Support Worker we can offer:

- An opportunity to use your skills and knowledge to make a real difference to the children within our community, whilst working within a school that fosters positivity and care.
- Access to an expanding range of lifestyle benefits including Simply Health cash plan, free flu vaccinations and a cycle to work scheme.
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Free parking on site.
- A wide range of possibilities to develop as a professional, with access to job related learning and development opportunities across the Trust.

**Purpose of the role**

Work closely with Heads of Year, Learning Mentors, teachers, the SENDCo, the Director of Student Support and other senior staff to support the removal of barriers to learning in and out of school,
- To raise aspirations and enable all students to achieve their full potential.
- To contribute to creating and maintaining a calm and supportive learning environment for all students
- To support the development of individual action plans which target needs of individual students.
- To support students to develop a sense of self and promote positive mental health.

Woodkirk Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment.

The specific roles of each Pastoral Support Worker will reflect the current needs of the students and the staff team and will include:
**Working with students**:

- Support the development and implementation of individual action plans for targeted students who need particular support.
- Use knowledge of the range of activities, courses, opportunities and organisations available to students that can be utilised to provide extra support for students.
- Monitor the implementation of all plans and provide feedback to the students on progress and achievement.
- Act as a key worker for identified students.
- Deliver 1:1 or group short interventions which are evidence based and target driven using pre and post assessment tools (SDQ or Goal Based Outcomes).
- Help to ensure that the Academy’s Positive Behaviour policy is followed, and applied fairly and consistently.
- Ensure that students are aware of what is expected and that they have contributed to the setting of standards
- Act as a Mental Health First Aider to promote strategies to support positive mental health. Deliver 1:1 and group support for mental health concerns as timetabled in B16.
- Identify students who need extra help to overcome barriers to learning inside and outside school in particular those students with SEMH and SEND needs.
- Work alongside trained colleagues in the writing and the implementation of the Early Help process
- Provide information and advice to enable students to make choices about their own learning / behaviour / attendance.
- Attend to students’ personal needs and provide advice to assist in their social care, health and hygiene development.
- Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to students’ responses/needs.
- Determine th