Therapeutic Pastoral Lead in Colchester

We are a therapeutic school that believes in a healing approach to supporting and modifying challenging behaviour. The Therapeutic Pastoral Lead embodies, leads and facilitates this approach in our schools, working holistically into the local leadership group as a key member of the team. The successful candidate will be calm and sensitive at times of potential dysregulation and will be experienced in de‑escalation, applying key theories and frameworks of interventions that emotionally support children. They will receive CPD training in our Assessing and Healing Childhood Trauma (AHCT) approach and promote and enable all education staff to fully understand how this supports students in our care. The role includes running meaningful intervention groups with young people and modeling therapeutic interactions and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Pastoral, SMSC, socio‑emotional resilience and personal development of students.
• Assessment, monitoring, reporting on and supporting the overall holistic progress and personal development of students.
• Ensuring safeguarding is paramount and safeguarding policies are adhered to.
• Contributing to the annual School Improvement Plan and School Evaluation Form.
• Maintaining knowledge of and taking shared responsibility for the SMSC and Personal Development elements of the Independent School Standards and the Ofsted Inspection framework, promoting these on a day‑to‑day basis.
• Running meaningful intervention groups with young people and role modelling therapeutic interactions and best practice.
• Working as a key member of the local leadership team, co‑managed by Regional SENCOs and the Therapeutic Development Manager.

Benefits and Rewards

• Ongoing free training and therapeutic workshops which account for high levels of CPD hours.
• Career progression pathways within the therapeutic services and within the wider Compass organisation.
• Peer group supervision, providing therapeutic and clinical support for CPD growth.
• Inclusion group (GRACE) reflecting weekly inclusion activities.
• Access to confidential therapeutic wellbeing sessions within the Therapeutic Services team.
• Engagement conferences twice a year with the national Therapeutic Services team to develop theoretical knowledge and sense of belonging.
• Accommodation and DBB provided.
• Opportunity to win vouchers and cashback for medical and wellbeing appointments and treatments.
• 8 weeks annual leave.
• Length of Service bonuses: £200 after 2 years, £400 after 5 years, £600 after 10 years, plus up to £500 special recognition award for outstanding practice.

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools is highly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. Staff will hold or be willing to obtain an Enhanced DBS check and undergo due diligence checks on social media usage. All school‑based staff are responsible for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children and should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with it.

Information about the School

Compass Schools are unique and distinctive environments highly effective in supporting children with complex behaviours and needs. Our pupils have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences. We work with pupils to develop self‑belief and support children in learning how to be effective learners. Compass is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people.