Safeguarding and Wellbeing Mentor - Term Time Only 4 Weeks (Fixed Term until February 2027) in Middleton

Are you passionate about supporting and empowering young people to thrive? We are pleased to offer an opportunity to join our Safeguarding and Wellbeing team as a Safeguarding and Wellbeing Mentor. In this role, you will provide statutory, pastoral and welfare support to a designated cohort of learners within a specific curriculum area. This includes monitoring attendance, intervening in cases of persistent absence and children missing education, and acting as a consistent and trusted point of contact for learners who may be facing barriers to engaging in education.

As a key member of the Safeguarding and Wellbeing team, you will deliver front‑line and early help supporting learners experiencing a wide range of challenges. These may include mental health concerns, difficulties at home, crisis situations, or the need for critical or multi‑agency support. You will work closely with learners, families, curriculum staff and external professionals to ensure timely, appropriate and effective interventions are in place. This role reflects our continued commitment to responding to the increasingly complex and evolving needs of young people. It goes beyond day‑to‑day support and focuses on early intervention, advocacy and safeguarding, helping learners to overcome obstacles, build resilience and achieve positive outcomes.

A trauma‑informed approach sits at the heart of this role. You will be expected to understand the impact of adversity on young people, respond with empathy and consistency, and use relational, strength‑based practice to help learners feel safe, valued and able to re‑engage in their education. This includes adapting your approach to meet individual needs, reducing barriers, and promoting resilience, trust and positive relationships. We are looking for someone who is compassionate, proactive and highly organised, with excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with learners, parents/carers and partner agencies. You will be confident in building trusting relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries and a strong focus on safeguarding and wellbeing.

If you are motivated by making a genuine difference to young people’s lives and want to be part of a skilled, supportive safeguarding team, we would welcome your application.

• To provide statutory, pastoral and welfare responsibilities for a designated cohort of learners in a specific curriculum area. This includes monitoring attendance and intervening in cases of persistent absence, children missing education.
• As a key member of the Safeguarding and Welfare team, you will provide front line and early help support for learners facing a wide range of barriers to education. These barriers may include absences, home issues, mental health challenges, crises, or the need for critical support.
• Responsibilities also involve identifying and monitoring vulnerable and 'at risk' learners within your remit. You will work closely with cross‑college teams to ensure that these learners are retained by the college, maintaining detailed records of your interventions and support provided.
• Additionally, you will serve as the single point of contact for learners, parents, and staff, ensuring effective communication and support for all parties involved.
• To provide early help support for both the college and Local Authority as soon as issues arise. This includes assistance with safeguarding, pastoral care, social and welfare needs, wellbeing, and health care, all aimed at identifying and removing barriers to accessing education.
• To lead on Personal Education Plans (PEP) for Looked After Children (LAC), Children with a Social Worker, children working with Youth Justice in collaboration with Social Services, ensuring that external assessment criteria are met.
• Provide comprehensive support for Care Experienced students, including participation in LAC Reviews, Care Planning, Placement Planning Meetings, and Care Leavings, ensuring attendance at all relevant LAC reviews.
• To assist the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Lead with managing a caseload of Child in Need Plans, ensuring compliance with statutory and legal requirements. Additionally, to act as the Lead Professional on Early Help Assessments when necessary, adhering to all relevant legal obligations.
• Attendance – work closely with Curriculum Managers to improve attendance, meetings with parents and external agencies regarding attendance, coordinating through the attendance process as per the attendance policy. Lead college professional for attendance. Coordinating with external agencies such as social care, education welfare.
• Implement the positive behaviour policy by managing the incident process and outcomes, including formal panels and reports. Handle a caseload of learners with behavioural issues, identifying actions that can lead to an improvement in behaviour, ensuring effective strategies for behaviour management are recorded and tracked.
• Be the designated point of contact for parents and carers, fostering and maintaining positive, supportive relationships to help learners and families overcome barriers to education. Ensure that all contact details for parents and carers are kept up to date in the college systems.
• To work closely with curriculum teams to support at risk and vulnerable learners by attending support planning meetings, student improvement meetings and formal hearings where relevant.
• Support the implementation of the college’s Mental Health Strategy by serving as the first point of contact for learners experiencing poor mental health. Promote the vision of becoming a mentally healthy college by referring learners to appropriate internal and external services.
• To promote and safeguard the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults at the college and refer/signpost to external agencies where appropriate.
• Developing a positive and supportive connection with learners, create an atmosphere of trust and support, prioritising the safeguarding and wellbeing of all students.
• Facilitate the successful transition of learners by coordinating with secondary schools, arranging transition visits, and providing support during college interviews. Liaise with social workers when necessary and ensure that all pre‑enrolment support, such as bursaries and required kits, is provided so that learners feel confident when they start college.
• Assist in the enrolment process by capturing learner wellbeing and welfare information, ensuring that accurate parent contact details are recorded. Identify any concerns, issues, or barriers that students might face to ensure they receive the appropriate support once they start college. Refer any risk concerns to managers as needed.
• Support in college induction program to ensure learners are informed of where to seek help and what support is available and know how to keep themselves safe.
• Maintain accurate records of interventions, ensuring learners vulnerabilities and support needs are recorded and highlighted.
• To conduct home visits where there is an attendance/welfare/safety concern.
• To undertake training and CPD as required for the role, including a minimum of one Safeguarding Board Training session per year, to keep up to date with local procedures and emerging themes.
• Any other duties, of a similar level of responsibility, as may be required.

Qualifications

• Essential Criteria: Level 2 or GCSE 4 or above in English and Maths; Educated to Level 3/A Level or above (evidence of ongoing industry CPD considered); Full UK driving Licence, access to a vehicle and business insurance; Mental Health First Aid qualification or willingness to undertake training.
• Desirable Criteria: Teaching qualification e.g. Level 3 Cert of Education and Training (PTLLS); First Aid qualification or willingness to obtain.

Experience

• Essential Criteria: Experience of working with 16-18-year olds in an education setting; Experience of supporting learners and families with safeguarding issues inc. CIN, LAC, EHA; Experience of dealing with behaviour management / challenging learner behaviour; Experience and understanding of attendance management; Experience of working with cross college teams in a fast‑paced environment; Experience of working with young people in a pastoral and wellbeing setting; Experience of dealing with safeguarding and mental health concerns; To have empathy with young people, approachable but with the confidence to assert authority when required; Experience of effective team working and promoting relationships between staff, students and the community; Experience of working under pressure, including handling difficult situations on your own and de‑escalating them; Experience of working with outside agencies such as safeguarding professionals, schools, social workers, Youth Justice Team, Positive Steps, Parents and Key Workers.
• Desirable Criteria: Experience of the Education Inspection framework; Experience of the Prevent Strategy.

Specialist Knowledge

• Essential Criteria: Good working knowledge of safeguarding and child protection, Child in need and Early help Processes; Specific knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by young people that impact on their wellbeing, safety and mental health; Understanding a Trauma‑informed approach; Good understanding of mental health issues and how they impact on learners; Committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults; Able to interact positively with young people and adults; Committed to the principles of equality and diversity; Ability to communicate, negotiate and work effectively with internal and external partners; Ability to work unsupervised and manage own time and priorities; be well organised and self‑motivated; To have flexibility and willing to try out new ideas; Ability to keep and evaluate records and statistical data.

IT Skills

• Essential Criteria: Good working knowledge of IT and digital safeguarding systems; Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs; Understanding of college systems.