At a Glance
- Tasks: Support learners with additional needs to achieve their full potential and ensure their wellbeing.
- Company: Join Mencap, a compassionate organisation dedicated to empowering young people with SEND.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days of paid holiday, discounts, health plans, and more perks.
- Other info: Flexible working options available, with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in pastoral care, mental health, and working with young people is essential.
The predicted salary is between 31003 - 31003 £ per year.
At Mencap we are looking for a compassionate and proactive Pastoral Officer to join our supported internships team. The focus of this role is to ensure the welfare and pastoral needs of learners on our Supported Internship are met. You’ll support learners with additional needs to achieve their full potential — ensuring their welfare, wellbeing, and pastoral needs are met every step of the way.
The Pastoral Officer position is for a full time (37.5 hours per week) permanent basis. You'll be providing both remote and in-person support across our sites in Staffordshire and Northamptonshire. Depending on the successful applicant, we may be able to discuss a part time contract.
The successful Pastoral Officer will:
- Work closely with delivery teams to build their skills and confidence around learner welfare, safeguarding and wellbeing across each programme.
- Work directly with learners and their families, on a 1:1 basis or as part of group sessions within local services.
- Support staff in identifying and responding to safeguarding, Prevent, and pastoral concerns.
- Promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that enables learners to succeed.
- Collaborate effectively with internal teams and external agencies to ensure consistent, high-quality support.
- Identify learners who need additional welfare support and develop individual support plans.
Do you have the key skills and essential experience?
- Experience of dealing with mental health, safeguarding & prevent concerns.
- Experience of providing pastoral care & support.
- Experience of working with learners who have a learning disability, learning difficulty or autism.
- Excellent communication skills and able to efficiently work with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Knowledge of the issues facing young people statutory Safeguarding and Prevent Legislation.
- Experience of working with young people in an education setting.
- Well organised & self-motivated.
- Experience to inspire learners and provide effective engagement and support strategies.
- Training or qualifications relating to welfare/pastoral support would be desirable. For example, mental health first aid, designated safeguarding lead training, etc.
- Experience of dealing with welfare issues of young people.
At Mencap, we value our people and the passion they bring. You’ll be joining a supportive, inclusive team where your work directly helps young people with SEND gain the confidence and skills to thrive in adult life.
Ready to make a difference? If you're ready to help shape brighter futures through education, health and care planning, we’d love to hear from you.
Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated. Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high‑street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest‑free loans, and many more exciting offerings.
£28,706 - £31,003 per annum (dependent on qualifications)
Pastoral Officer employer: Royal Mencap Society
At Mencap, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. As a Pastoral Officer, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people with additional needs while enjoying a comprehensive benefits package that includes 32 days of paid holiday, discounts at high-street retailers, and access to health cash plans. Our commitment to employee growth and wellbeing ensures that you will thrive both personally and professionally in our collaborative team across Staffordshire and Northamptonshire.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Pastoral Officer
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Royal Mencap Society.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Royal Mencap Society!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Royal Mencap Society, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Royal Mencap Society or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Pastoral Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Royal Mencap Society:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Royal Mencap Society! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Mencap Society
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
