Pastoral Support Assistant

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £23,086 (FTE £33,789)

Working hours: 32.5 hours a week, term time only – will consider job share.

The Perse School Cambridge is one of the country’s leading independent co-educational day schools for children aged 3-18. 

Our aim is to be a leading employer of choice. This means we strive to be a school where staff say they are proud and excited to work, and feel valued, respected and motivated.

We are committed to providing a very competitive salary and benefits scheme at the same time as offering a wide range of opportunities for personal and professional development. We want our staff to feel engaged and purposeful so that they, in turn, help pupils to be happy and successful.

The Role

An interesting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join our pastoral team and help promote the welfare of our students.

The main purpose of this role is to oversee a dedicated room that serves as a safe space for pupils who are unable to remain in their usual lessons or social areas due to their emotional state, or who would benefit from a short break from the normal school routine to reset and continue their day.

Responsibilities include providing one-to-one support for pupils who arrive throughout the day, assessing their needs, creating a calm and safe environment, and communicating effectively with the wider pastoral team. The role also involves liaising with the attendance officer, tutors and classroom teachers.

This position complements the specialist support offered by the pastoral team, SEND team, senior tutors, emotional wellbeing support worker, counsellors and nurses on site.

When the room is not in use by pupils, the successful candidate will assist with pastoral       administration tasks. More detail can be found below.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Applicants should have experience working with young people in any capacity (school, youth work, volunteering etc) and an interest in young people’s wellbeing and emotional regulation. No formal qualifications are required, but a willingness to undertake training in areas such as basic mental wellbeing or skills to support young people with their mental wellbeing would be an advantage.

Our ideal candidate would:

• Demonstrate competency in using ICT systems, such as Microsoft Office, effectively for communication, data management, and reporting.
• Be able to take initiative, identify tasks without being prompted, and work independently to achieve objectives.
• Be comfortable working with colleagues, contributing positively to team dynamics and shared goals.
• Possess clear and effective verbal and written communication skills suitable for          engaging with staff and students.
• Possess some experience in supporting young people with their wellbeing or pastoral needs (specialist mental health training is not required).
• Be able to think critically and resolve issues efficiently.
• Maintain composure under pressure, respond thoughtfully to challenges, and       demonstrate resilience in a dynamic environment.

 It is desirable for the successful candidate to have:

• An understanding of the developmental, emotional, social and educational issues of  children and young people.
• An awareness of range of needs of people from diverse ethnic, cultural and social   backgrounds.
• Knowledge of wellbeing issues and SEND needs that affect young people.
• Minimum of 1 year's experience of working with children and young people.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for The Perse School, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 17th June at midday. Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early. 

Interview date 

Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd June.

Safer Recruitment

The Perse School recognises that an important element in safeguarding our pupils is a robust recruitment process that incorporates measures to deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children, or who are otherwise unsuited to work with them. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including: references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level, as well as eligibility to work in the UK (in compliance with UK immigration regulations). All work carried out at the School on a regular basis amounts to regulated activity. This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. The School is committed to acting in the best interests of the child so as to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The School requires everyone who comes into contact with children and their families to share this commitment. Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children.