Youth Mentor

Location: Huddersfield

Salary: Full-Time, Permanent

Start Date: ASAP

Do you have the passion, patience, and dedication to make a real difference in the lives of young people? Are you ready to support and guide students with diverse needs, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their potential? If so, we want to hear from you.

We are proud partners of a dedicated Pupil Referral Unit that supports students aged 11-17 who have been excluded from mainstream education. Our students face a range of challenges, including Autism, Learning Difficulties, and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. With a focus on inclusivity and growth, we create a nurturing environment where every young person can flourish—academically, socially, and emotionally.

The Role: As a Youth Mentor, you’ll be a cornerstone of our students’ development, offering them the guidance, support, and encouragement they need to thrive. This dynamic role goes beyond the classroom, allowing you to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Individualised Support: Mentor students one-on-one, fostering their academic, social, and emotional growth.
• Classroom Collaboration: Work closely with teachers, ensuring students stay engaged and supported during learning activities.
• Behavioural Coaching: Use positive reinforcement and de-escalation techniques to manage and guide student behaviour.
• EHCP Alignment: Support students with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCP), tailoring your approach to meet their unique needs.
• Social Development: Lead group activities to build self-esteem, resilience, and social skills.
• Team Communication: Collaborate with teachers, parents, and multidisciplinary teams to provide a holistic support network.
• Safety and Well-being: Create a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment where all students feel valued.
• Crisis Management: Stay calm and resourceful in challenging situations, offering immediate support to students in distress.

What Makes a Great Youth Mentor?

• A genuine passion for helping young people succeed.
• Empathy, patience, and the ability to build trust.
• Experience working with young people, especially those with Autism, Learning Difficulties, or SEMH needs.
• Familiarity with EHCPs and experience in tailoring support plans.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to connect with students, parents, and professionals.
• A team-oriented mindset and a collaborative spirit.
• Previous experience in alternative education or working with excluded students (preferred but not essential).
• Relevant qualifications or training in youth work, education, or similar fields (desirable but not required).

Why choose Engage?

• We put the ambitions of our teachers first, ensuring you have the support to teach the way you want to, and pride ourselves on providing high levels of service to our teachers and support staff.
• We are widely-recognised, giving us the reach we need to secure reliable work for our supply teachers.
• We offer an excellent 'refer-a-friend' scheme that pays you £150 for every teacher you refer to us (after they work 10 days or more).
• We pay our teachers in line with the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) meaning you will be paid the same as a permanent employee, regardless of how many days you work.
• You will have your own dedicated consultant, who is fully-trained to answer all your questions and provide ongoing support and guidance.
• We will also invite you to our CPD training sessions, which are delivered by our in-house team of former senior leaders, and are entirely free to attend!

I’m interested - how do I apply?

Great! If you meet the criteria to become a supply teacher with Engage, you can apply below or contact us directly. All applicants require the appropriate qualifications and training. If you don’t hear from us within 2 working days, unfortunately you have been unsuccessful for this role. However, we’ll keep your CV on file and get in touch if something suitable comes up. (You can still apply for our other roles, too!)

Engage Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.

By applying for this role, you are consenting to Engage Education Ltd storing your personal details in our fully encrypted database, in line with the new GDPR requirements.

We look forward to working with you!