Pastoral and Safeguarding Officer - St Mark\'s Church of England School in Southampton

St Mark's Church of England School is seeking to appoint a committed and talented Pastoral and Safeguarding Officer to join our dedicated Pastoral team in our Secondary Phase. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about supporting young people to achieve their very best and who aligns with our Christian values of Love, Service and Belonging. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a school community where pupils are known, valued, and encouraged to flourish. You will ensure that students' personal, social and emotional needs are met and support students to be the best versions of themselves, as well as supporting the leadership team, the Heads of Year and the Pastoral and Safeguarding Team in the day-to-day management of students' pastoral and behaviour issues.

About The Role

• Carry out all of the day-to-day operational elements of safeguarding and child protection. This includes following up and reporting concerns, liaising with outside agencies and monitoring the well-being of children who are LAC, CP, CIN or have a FEW.
• Keep up to date with legislation changes and make recommendations for policy changes to the senior leadership team.
• Lead initiatives that have a specific and measurable impact on the pastoral priorities set out in the School Improvement Plan (SIP). These will typically be linked to attendance, behaviour and safeguarding but may vary based upon specific groups of pupils or current priority.
• Work with key cases for attendance, where absence is a result of pastoral or parental issues.
• Advise on parenting skills training courses for parents/carers and act as the first point of school contact on all welfare issues for parents/carers.
• Investigate and support pupils with pastoral behaviour issues that arise and come to an effective outcome which makes appropriate use of all school policies and procedures.
• Provide effective mentoring (one-to-one) and small-group monitoring support and incentives for improving emotional well-being.
• Make judgements regarding when to refer students to external agencies for counselling or more specialised intervention as appropriate.

What We're Looking For

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Experience of working in an educational setting.
• Experience of working with young people including those who may have sensitive issues, be angry, difficult or upset.
• Experience of working on own initiative and making decisions.
• A genuine commitment to Inclusion in its widest sense and to the wellbeing, support and achievement of students.
• A caring, people person who is honest, approachable, empathic and demonstrates commitment to the well-being of staff as well as pupils.
• The ability to work well with others in local networks and communities.
• The ability to use their own initiative and manage their own time effectively to achieve challenging goals.

Why Join us?

• A strong Christian ethos where love, service, and belonging are lived daily.
• A supportive senior leadership team that values pastoral work.
• A school community where pupils are known, valued, and listened to.
• Opportunities to shape and strengthen whole-school pastoral practice.
• A role that balances strategic leadership with meaningful pupil contact.

What We Offer

• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Secure on-site car parking.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme, including confidential 24/7 counselling support.
• Access to a Benefits Hub, offering a range of discounts and offers.
• Occupational Health support.
• On-site hot and cold food options.
• Access to online training and personal development courses.
• The opportunity to work in a brand-new, high-specification school environment.
• Career development opportunities within a supportive organisation.

Additional Information

• Term-time only.
• Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to support sponsorship.
• Visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated professional to make a meaningful contribution within a caring and ambitious school community.

How To Apply

Applications can be made through TES or directly via the school website. Closing Date: 11:55pm on Monday 16th March 2026.

Safeguarding Statement

St Mark's Church of England School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. Southampton City Council is an equal opportunities employer.