Pastoral Care Assistant

Pastoral Care Assistant

Chigwell Full-Time 24800 - 30000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
Witherslack Group

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support young people with emotional needs and create positive learning environments.
  • Company: Join Witherslack Group, renowned for excellence in special education and care.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, full school holidays, training, and wellbeing support.
  • Other info: Flexible benefits and a diverse workplace that values your individuality.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while working in a supportive team.
  • Qualifications: Experience with ASC, ADHD, or SEMH pupils; NVQ 3 in Care preferred.

The predicted salary is between 24800 - 30000 £ per year.

£31,975 – £35,369 + excellent benefits

Those Huge Small Victories

For children with complex, challenging needs, the level of care and education must go above and beyond. That’s what drives us, here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in-house clinical teams, we’re proud to have won a reputation for excellence and market leading OFSTED ratings.

Get out what you put in

As a Pastoral Support Assistant you’ll help us meet our young peoples’ emotional needs. Our young people have challenging complex emotional and behavioural needs [Autistic Spectrum Disorder/Social, Emotional and Mental Health] and need more support than most. You’ll make sure they get it by applying high standards of care. It means working with families and developing programs for each individual young person. With careful assessment and planning, you’ll create a positive learning environment where every young person can thrive.

With experience working with young people with BESD or ASD in a school or care setting you will understand our young peoples developmental needs and what pastoral care entails. A good listener who can motivate and work in a team, you inspire young people to achieve. Flexibility and good organizational skills mean you’ll be an asset to the Witherslack Group.

One of the best environments in SEND

Luxborough Court School is a brand-new, purpose-built school registered for 150 pupils aged 5 – 19 with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. There is a large sports hall with changing facilities (the site was formally a Premier League football club’s training ground), a bespoke 6th form suite plus a number of other smaller individual spaces used for therapeutic intervention and bespoke support. The School benefits from extensive outdoor space plus a large central courtyard garden in the centre of the school and separate secondary and junior playgrounds, with a multi-use games area.

There are good public transport connections with Chigwell Station less than a mile away, providing Central Line Tube services to London and Essex. The road links are good – the site is located near the M11, Junction 4.

What we do for you

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

  • Training: A full induction and on the job training

  • Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays

  • Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers and leaders have been promoted from within our group

  • Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here

  • Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance

  • Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts

  • Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here

  • A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time

  • Contributory pension scheme – matched up to 5%

Bring your whole-self to work

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. You’ll be more than a Pastoral Assistant, you’ll be able to connect with our pupils because of:

  • Previous experience with ASC, ADHD or SEMH pupils and with working with families in challenging circumstances and expertise to support and resolve difficulties

  • Experience of multi-agency work with an understanding of legislation, policies and guidance around safeguarding and child protection

  • Ideally – NVQ 3 in Care/Level 2 Teaching Assistant Qualification

Interested in joining us?

Our young people deserve the best possible future and we feel the same about our teams. You deserve to have the career you want, with a purpose-led employer, in an environment that allows you to be yourself.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

For a full job description and person specification, please see the attached document.

For a full job description and person specification, please click here.

To view our ex-offenders policy please click here.

To view our Child Protection Policy, please visit the \’Parents and Carers\’ section of this School/Learning centre. You can find all our Schools here.

Witherslack Group

Contact Detail:

Witherslack Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Pastoral Care Assistant

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Social, Emotional and Mental Health challenges. Understanding these conditions will help you demonstrate your knowledge during any discussions or interviews.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the field of special education and pastoral care. Attend relevant workshops or seminars to meet others who work in similar roles, as they may provide insights or even referrals that could help you land the job.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your experience working with families in challenging circumstances. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've supported young people and their families, as this is a key aspect of the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your flexibility and organisational skills during the interview process. Think of examples where you've had to adapt to changing situations or manage multiple tasks effectively, as these qualities are essential for a Pastoral Care Assistant.

We think you need these skills to ace Pastoral Care Assistant

Experience with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Understanding of Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs
Ability to develop individualised care programmes
Strong communication skills
Teamwork and collaboration skills
Flexibility and adaptability
Organisational skills
Experience in multi-agency work
Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection legislation
Empathy and active listening skills
Motivational skills to inspire young people
NVQ Level 3 in Care or Level 2 Teaching Assistant Qualification
Experience working with families in challenging circumstances

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities of a Pastoral Care Assistant. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of young people with complex emotional and behavioural challenges, as well as the importance of creating a supportive learning environment.

Tailor Your CV: Highlight your relevant experience working with children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Include specific examples of how you've supported young people in previous roles, focusing on your ability to motivate and inspire them.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to express your passion for pastoral care and your commitment to making a difference in the lives of young people. Mention any relevant qualifications, such as an NVQ in Care or a Level 2 Teaching Assistant Qualification, and explain how they equip you for this role.

Showcase Your Teamwork Skills: Emphasise your ability to work collaboratively with families and multi-agency teams. Provide examples of how you've successfully navigated challenging circumstances and contributed to a positive team dynamic in previous positions.

How to prepare for a job interview at Witherslack Group

✨Understand the Role

Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Pastoral Care Assistant. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of young people with complex emotional and behavioural challenges, such as those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Social, Emotional and Mental Health issues.

✨Showcase Your Experience

Be prepared to discuss your previous experience working with young people in similar settings. Highlight any relevant qualifications, such as an NVQ 3 in Care or Level 2 Teaching Assistant Qualification, and share specific examples of how you've supported children with BESD or ASD.

✨Demonstrate Empathy and Listening Skills

During the interview, showcase your ability to listen and empathise with young people's needs. Share examples of how you've motivated and inspired young people in the past, and explain how you would create a positive learning environment for them.

✨Prepare Questions

Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask the interviewer about the school and its approach to pastoral care. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the environment aligns with your values and career goals.

Pastoral Care Assistant
Witherslack Group
Location: Chigwell
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>