Behaviour Support Worker in Bradford

A secondary school in Bradford is seeking a Behaviour Support Worker to join its dedicated pastoral and student support team. This is a full-time, 12-week temp-to-perm opportunity, offering the potential for a permanent position for the right candidate. The school is a large secondary setting for pupils aged 11–18, with a strong focus on developing young people into confident, responsible and well-rounded individuals. The school’s current approach places an emphasis on “high challenge with high support”, with dedicated staff responsible for behaviour and attitudes, behaviour and culture, safeguarding, SEND and student support.

The school also has dedicated provision for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, including autism, alongside a wider SEND team and alternative provision. This makes the role particularly suited to someone who understands that behaviour can be a form of communication and who can respond calmly, consistently and positively to pupils who may find the mainstream school environment challenging.

The school is on an important journey of development. Its most recent full Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, identified behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management as areas requiring significant improvement. The inspection highlighted inconsistencies in pupils’ behaviour and the need for stronger systems and greater consistency. Since then, the school has continued to place a clear emphasis on strengthening its culture, behaviour and attitudes, with behaviour leadership and pastoral support embedded within its current staffing structure.

This is therefore an excellent opportunity for a resilient, proactive and relationship-focused Behaviour Support Worker who wants to make a genuine difference and play an active role in helping young people overcome barriers to learning.

Your Role:

• Providing targeted one-to-one and small-group support for pupils experiencing behavioural, emotional or social difficulties
• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils and becoming a consistent and reliable adult presence
• Supporting pupils to understand and regulate their behaviour, emotions and responses
• Helping pupils to successfully access lessons and remain engaged with their learning
• Working closely with teachers, pastoral staff, Learning Coaches, Student Support Leaders and the wider safeguarding/SEND teams
• Supporting pupils who may display challenging, disruptive or dysregulated behaviour
• Helping to de-escalate difficult situations calmly and appropriately
• Identifying potential triggers and helping pupils develop strategies to manage them
• Reinforcing the school’s expectations around behaviour, attendance, respect and positive relationships
• Supporting pupils during lessons, transitions, social times and other key points of the school day
• Providing appropriate feedback to teaching and pastoral staff about pupil progress, behaviour and emerging concerns
• Contributing to a positive, safe and inclusive school environment
• Following safeguarding, behaviour and school policies consistently and maintaining accurate records where required

The ideal candidate:

• Has previous experience working with young people with behavioural, emotional or social needs, either within a school, alternative provision, youth setting, care environment or similar
• Is calm, patient and emotionally resilient when faced with challenging behaviour
• Has excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Can establish boundaries while remaining approachable, empathetic and supportive
• Understands the importance of consistency, routine and clear expectations
• Is confident using positive behaviour strategies and de-escalation techniques
• Can remain composed and professional in pressured situations
• Is proactive and able to think on their feet when situations change
• Has a genuine passion for helping young people overcome barriers to learning and achieve their potential
• Can work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary pastoral and support team
• Has an understanding of SEND, including autism, ADHD, SEMH or other additional needs
• Is reflective and willing to adapt their approach to meet the individual needs of pupils
• Has high expectations of pupils while recognising that some young people require additional support to meet them

You do not necessarily need to have worked as a Behaviour Support Worker before. Experience as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, Youth Worker, Support Worker, Sports Coach, Residential Support Worker or similar could provide valuable transferable skills.

The school environment:

This is a large, mixed secondary school serving pupils aged 11–18. The school places significant emphasis on creating a safe and supportive environment while maintaining high expectations. Its current stated approach of high challenge with high support is particularly relevant to this position: successful candidates will need to be able to hold clear boundaries and expectations while also recognising the individual needs and circumstances behind a pupil’s behaviour. Safeguarding is also a central part of school life, with dedicated safeguarding staff and systems in place. The school describes itself as a place where pupils are encouraged to report concerns and access support from trusted adults. For the right person, this provides an opportunity to join a school where behaviour support is a genuine priority and where you can make a tangible contribution to improving pupils’ engagement, relationships and outcomes.

Highlights of becoming a Behaviour Support Worker:

• Full-time, 12-week temp-to-perm opportunity
• Potential to secure a permanent position following the initial temporary period
• Work within a dedicated pastoral and behaviour support structure
• Gain valuable experience supporting pupils with a range of behavioural and SEND needs
• Develop your skills in behaviour management, safeguarding, pastoral support and inclusion
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference to pupils who may face barriers to learning
• Excellent experience for those considering a long-term career in education, youth work, SEND or pastoral support

Why choose Engage Education?

• We pay all our staff in line with the Agency Worker Regulations, meaning your pay will be equal to that of a permanent employee
• You will benefit from your own dedicated Engage consultant who will provide ongoing support and guidance
• You will be invited to our wide range of continued professional development (CPD) training sessions, provided by our in-house team of experienced senior leaders. These are completely free to attend!
• Receive a £50 Amazon voucher when you refer friends!

All candidates will be required to undertake a valid enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance will be provided. By applying for this role, you are consenting to Engage Education Ltd storing your details in our fully encrypted database, in line with GDPR requirements.