Pastoral Officer
Expanse Group Ltd
Role Purpose The Pastoral Officer will support the wellbeing, behaviour, engagement, and school attendance of children and young people with SEND aged 11-16. The role focuses on improving attendance, removing barriers to learning, and promoting positive engagement through a trauma-informed and inclusive approach. Job Description Statement This job description provides an outline of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to change following consultation. Safeguarding Statement Expanse Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to satisfactory disclosure and clearance prior to employment. It is unlawful for Expanse Learning to employ anyone who is barred from working with children. It is a criminal offence for any person who is barred from working with children to apply for a position at Expanse Learning. All applicants will be made aware that providing false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected, or summary dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and referral to the police and/or the DBS. Equality Statement We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in the way we deliver services to the community and in our employment arrangements. We expect all employees to understand and promote this policy in their work. Employees will be recruited based on their qualifications and experience to do the work to be performed, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief, political opinion, age, pregnancy & maternity, disability or trade union membership status. Health and Safety All employees have a responsibility for their own health and safety and that of others when carrying out their duties and must help us to apply our general statement of health and safety policy. Key Responsibilities: · Provide pastoral support addressing wellbeing, behaviour, and attendance. · Monitor attendance and implement intervention strategies. · Liaise with families and external agencies. · Complete Home visits. · Maintain accurate records and reports. · Act in the role of Dedicated Safeguarding Officer, reporting to the DSL as part of the Safeguarding team. NOTE TO APPLICANTS If you require any aids or adaptations to either our workplace or policies and practices that may assist or enable you to successfully carry out this role, please inform us. This job description is subject to annual review in accordance with the changing nature of students and institutional needs. The Person Specification: Criteria Essential/ Desirable Source Qualifications Level 3 qualification or higher in education, youth work, pastoral support, social care, or a related field. Desirable Application GCSE Grade C / 5 or above in English and maths. Essential Application Relevant safeguarding or child protection training. Essential Application Training related to attendance, behaviour management, or inclusion. Desirable Application Knowledge · Secure understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including: Essential Interview Strong knowledge of safeguarding and child protection legislation and guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education. Essential Interview Understanding of traumainformed practice and its impact on behaviour, engagement, and attendance. Essential Interview Knowledge of EHCPs and the pastoral role in supporting outcomes. Essential Interview Understanding of barriers to school attendance, including anxiety, unmet SEND needs, family circumstances, and disengagement. Essential Interview Knowledge of positive behaviour support, emotional regulation strategies, and restorative approaches. Essential Interview Awareness of statutory guidance relating to school attendance and persistent absence. Desirable Interview Skills Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with pupils who may have experienced trauma, disengagement, or prolonged absence. Essential Interview Ability to monitor, track, and analyse attendance data to identify patterns, risks, and priorities. Desirable Interview Skills to plan, implement, and review attendance support strategies for individual pupils and targeted groups. Essential Interview Ability to work proactively with families to improve attendance, engagement, and punctuality. Essential Interview Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people who may have experienced trauma or disengagement. Essential Interview Strong communication skills, able to explain expectations, support plans, and concerns clearly to pupils, families, and professionals. Essential Interview Ability to support pupils with SEND to reengage with education following absence, anxiety, behaviour difficulties, or exclusion. Essential Interview Confidence in managing difficult conversations linked to attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, or wellbeing. Essential Interview Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, including teachers, SENCOs, safeguarding leads, attendance officers, and external agencies Essential Interview Ability to maintain accurate records, write clear reports, and contribute to attendance plans and safeguarding documentation. Essential Interview Resilience, emotional intelligence, and professionalism when working in challenging and complex situations Essential Interview Experience Experience of working directly with children and young people with SEND, SEMH, or complex needs. Essential Interview Experience of a pastoral, inclusion, attendance, behaviour, or familysupport role within an education setting. Essential Interview Experience of managing or supporting school attendance, including persistent absence or reintegration Desirable Interview Experience of working with families and external agencies to support pupil attendance and wellbeing. Essential Interview Experience of working in a specialist/ primary or alternative provision setting Desirable Interview Safer Recruitment All successful candidates are subject to the following security checks. o Verification of the applicant's identity (where that has not previously been verified) o The receipt of two references (one of which must be from the applicant's most recent employer) which Expanse considers being satisfactory. o Where the position amounts to "regulated activity” the receipt of an enhanced disclosure from the DBS which Expanse considers to be satisfactory. o Where the position amounts to "regulated activity" confirmation that the applicant is not named on the Children's Barred List/Vulnerable Adult Barred List. o Verification of the applicant's medical fitness for the role. o Verification of the applicant's right to work in the UK. o Prohibition from teaching checks o Section 128 provisions check (prohibited from managing) o Any further checks which are necessary as a result of the applicant having lived or worked outside of the UK; and o Verification of professional qualifications which Expanse Group deems a requirement for the post, or which the applicant otherwise cites in support of their application (where they have not been previously verified). o An online search will be completed as part of Expanse Learning’s pre-employment checks. Essential Checks Note to Applicants: Applicants must try to show in their application evidence of their ability to meet the requirement of the person specification. If you require any aids or adaptations to either our workplace or policies and practices that may assist or enable you to successfully carry out this role, please inform us. How to apply: If you are interested in being considered for this position, please visit: https://www.expanselearning.co.uk/job-opportunities/ Alternatively, an application pack can be requested by contacting the Recruiting Manager, on 01942 877715. Your application for employment at Expanse Learning will not be processed unless supported with a fully completed application form. For a confidential discussion please contact the Recruiting Manager, on 01942 877715.
Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
ADHD
Moderate to Severe Learning Difficulties (MLD/SLD)
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
Location
Tyrer Avenue, Worsley Mesnes, Wigan, WN3 5XE, United Kingdom
Job ID
16066
