Pastoral Support Assistant in Dorking

We are seeking a team member with drive and enthusiasm to work as a Pastoral Support Assistant as part of our Pastoral Team. You will provide behaviour support to students to facilitate learning, reduce barriers to learning, improve attainment and educational outcomes. You will promote self‑confidence and resilience and support the emotional well‑being of students. A key focus will be to support the education team to deliver learning pathways and encourage student engagement in learning. You will contribute to school‑wide knowledge and skills in behaviour management.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide and mentor students so that targeted, measurable and significant improvement is secured both in and outside of the classroom.
• Assist with the development and implementation of positive behaviour plans (PBSs), risk assessments and therapy programmes.
• Establish positive relationships with students and interact with them according to individual needs.
• Provide 1:1 support via reflective and restorative practice, where necessary.
• Liaise with teachers, staff and parents or carers about the needs and progress of students receiving support.
• Promote the safety, safeguarding and well‑being of students, by following the latest requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education and the School’s child protection policy.

Key Requirements

• GCSE grade C or Level 2 equivalent functional skills in English and Maths.
• Experience of working with young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties and/or challenging behaviour.
• An understanding and knowledge (practical and theoretical) of behaviour management strategies.
• Effective and professional communication skills with the ability to engage young people.

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward‑thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees.

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme – you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
• Employee Wellbeing – We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more).
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), medical, online and social media prohibition from teaching, right to work, satisfactory references, suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.