Pastoral Care Assistant

Overview

Please note: This role is due to commence February 2026

£24,796 – £28,598 + excellent benefits

Witherslack Group is dedicated to providing high standards of care and education for children with complex needs. We pride ourselves on a high staff-to-child ratio, in-house clinical teams and market-leading OFSTED ratings.

As a Pastoral Support Assistant you’ll help us meet our young people’s emotional needs. Our young people have challenging, complex emotional and behavioural needs (Autistic Spectrum Disorder / Social, Emotional and Mental Health) and need more support than most. You’ll ensure they receive this by applying high standards of care. This includes working with families and developing programs for each individual young person. Through careful assessment and planning, you’ll create a positive learning environment where every young person can thrive.

With experience working with young people with BESD or ASD in a school or care setting, you will understand our young people’s developmental needs and what pastoral care entails. A good listener who can motivate and work in a team, you’ll inspire young people to achieve. Flexibility and good organisational skills mean you’ll be an asset to the Witherslack Group.

Frome Hall and our environment

Frome Hall is a purpose-built, brand new, state-of-the-art school. The school caters to children with a wide range of needs including autism and social, emotional and mental health needs. This exciting opportunity serves Bristol and the wider communities, and you will be at the heart of its development. Our aim is to ensure that every pupil has an outstanding educational experience with individual pupil progress and care at the heart of what is offered.

What we do for you

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with a competitive salary and benefits package in the education sector. You’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people, including:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training

• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays

• Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers and leaders have been promoted from within our group

• Flexible benefits: You can adjust benefits such as life insurance

• Wellbeing: A host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance

• Medical cover: Cover for eye tests, dental appointments and a range of high-street discounts

• Beautiful working environments: with the very best facilities – see our schools

• A recommend a friend scheme offering a £1,000 bonus

• Contributory pension: matched up to 5%

Bring your whole-self to work

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs. Our workforce reflects that diversity, so our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. You’ll be more than a Pastoral Assistant, you’ll be able to connect with our pupils because of:

• Previous experience with ASC, ADHD or SEMH pupils and with working with families in challenging circumstances and expertise to support and resolve difficulties

• Experience of multi-agency work with an understanding of safeguarding and child protection policies and guidance

• Ideally – NVQ 3 in Care / Level 2 Teaching Assistant Qualification

Interested in joining us?

Our young people deserve the best possible future and we feel the same about our teams. You deserve a career with a purpose-led employer in an environment that allows you to be yourself.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (costs covered) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

For a full job description and person specification, please see the attached document. For a full job description and person specification, please click here.

To view our ex-offenders policy please click here. To view our Child Protection Policy, please visit the Parents and Carers section of this School/Learning centre. You can find all our schools here.