Pastoral Support Officer / Head of Year

Are you an empathetic, driven pastoral professional, youth worker, or experienced learning mentor looking for your next rewarding role in education? A vibrant and supportive secondary school in the Blackpool area is seeking a dedicated Pastoral Support Officer / Non-Teaching Head of Year to join its student welfare team. In this pivotal pupil-facing role, you will champion student well-being, manage year-group pastoral care, and serve as the primary bridge between school, students, and families. By removing non-academic barriers to learning-such as attendance concerns, peer dynamics, emotional distress, and social anxieties-you will empower Key Stage 3 or Key Stage 4 students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Key Responsibilities Student Welfare & Well-being: Act as the first port of call for students needing pastoral care, guidance, and emotional support throughout the school day. Conflict Resolution & Restorative Practice: Address friendship fallouts, peer friction, and bullying allegations using restorative conversations and practical conflict resolution strategies. Parent & Multi-Agency Liaison: Build strong, positive partnerships with parents/carers; attend multi-agency meetings (including Early Help, Social Care, CAMHS, and Youth Services). Attendance & Punctuality: Monitor year-group attendance trends, conduct morning check-ins with persistent absentees, and implement targeted re-engagement plans. Safeguarding Support: Act as a key pastoral link to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), identifying vulnerabilities and accurately recording concerns via CPOMS/MyConcern. Behaviour & Reintegration: Work alongside the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Heads of Department to coordinate individual behaviour plans, support reintegration meetings, and maintain high standards of conduct. Essential Requirements & Experience Pastoral / Youth Experience: Demonstrated experience supporting secondary-aged young people (ages 11-16) within an education, youth work, social care, or community setting. Communication & Mediation: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to diffuse difficult situations, de-escalate emotional heightened states, and conduct constructive parent meetings. Record Keeping & Systems: Experience using school management and safeguarding systems (e.g., CPOMS, SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom) is highly advantageous. Resilience & Professional Boundaries: A calm, patient demeanor with firm personal boundaries and an understanding of trauma-informed approaches. Qualifications: Minimum Level 3 qualification in a related field (e.g., Youth Work, Education, Health & Social Care) or equivalent professional experience. Compliance & Safer Recruitment Valid Right to Work in the UK. An Enhanced Child Workforce DBS registered on the DBS Update Service (or readiness to apply for one). Complete 10-year employment and education history with satisfactory, verifiable references. Full compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidelines. What the School Offers A highly collaborative, experienced pastoral team with strong leadership backing. Ongoing continuous professional development (CPD), including certified Safeguarding, Mental Health First Aid, and De-escalation training. On-site parking and accessible public transport links across Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre. A balanced term-time working schedule giving you all school holidays off. How to Apply To apply for this Pastoral Support Officer / Non-Teaching Head of Year opportunity in Blackpool, please submit your CV highlighting your pastoral experience and passion for youth welfare. Safer Recruitment Statement: The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Rigorous pre-employment vetting checks, including overseas police checks (where applicable), identity verification, and an Enhanced DBS check, will be conducted prior to appointment