Pastoral Officer in Plymouth

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.

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 includes 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata) and 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.