Youth Worker / Pastoral Support Worker - Specialist SEMH School

Location: Burnley, Lancashire

Position: Youth Worker / Pastoral Support Worker

Focus: Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) Support, 1:1 Mentoring & Small Group Interventions

Contract Type: Full-Time / Permanent or Long-Term Supply options available

Salary/Pay Rate: £100 - £145 per day

About the Role

Are you an experienced youth worker, pastoral mentor, or support professional with a passion for helping vulnerable children and young people thrive?

We are working in partnership with a dedicated, specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) School in Burnley that caters to students who experience significant barriers to learning, emotional distress, or behavioural challenges in traditional settings.

The school is seeking a compassionate and resilient Youth Worker / Pastoral Support Worker to join their team. In this role, you will play a vital part in providing a safe, nurturing, and structured environment, delivering tailored pastoral care, 1:1 mentoring, and small group interventions to help students regulate their emotions, build resilience, and re-engage with their education.

Key Responsibilities

• Pastoral Care & Mentoring: Act as a key trusted adult and point of contact for students, offering daily emotional check-ins, targeted 1:1 mentoring, and small group guidance.

• Behavior Support & De-escalation: Implement therapeutic behaviour management strategies, trauma-informed practices, and effective de-escalation techniques to support students through crisis points.

• Remove Barriers to Learning: Help students navigate social and emotional hurdles, fostering coping mechanisms, emotional regulation, and positive social skills.

• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with teachers, SENCOs, therapists, and external safeguarding/social care agencies to ensure a unified approach to student welfare and development.

• Track Well-being & Progress: Monitor and record student engagement, emotional growth, and behavioural milestones, contributing to individualised education and support plans.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: Proven background working with children or young people in a Youth Work, Pastoral Support, Residential Care, Sports Coaching, or SEMH/Alternative Provision school setting.

• Skills: Strong de-escalation, conflict resolution, and communication skills, with a natural ability to build rapport with disengaged or challenging young people.

• Personal Attributes: High levels of resilience, patience, empathy, emotional intelligence, and a calm, consistent approach under pressure.

• Qualifications: Relevant qualifications in Youth Work, Health and Social Care, Counselling, or Education (e.g., Level 3 or above) are highly desirable.

• Compliance: Must hold a current Enhanced Child Workforce DBS (or be willing to undergo checks).

What We Offer

• Impactful Work: Make a profound, lasting difference in the lives of children who need it most, helping them turn their futures around.

• Professional Development: Access to specialised training in SEMH, trauma-informed approaches, restorative practice, and safeguarding.

• Supportive Environment: Join a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team committed to inclusive education and staff wellbeing.

Interested? Contact Tradewind Recruitment today to find out more and apply!

Please click 'Apply Now' or submit your CV directly to christina.grindy@twrecruitment.com or call 01772 977 333.