Children's Residential Support Worker
Tradewind Recruitment
Ready to step away from 12-hour shifts, night rotas, and weekend work while keeping the rewarding core of what you do?
A welcoming secondary school in Blackpool is seeking a dedicated Pastoral Mentor / SEMH Support Assistant to join their student support team this September 2026.
If you have experience as a Children's Residential Support Worker, your expertise in de-escalation, trauma-informed care, relationship-building, and safeguarding makes you an ideal fit for secondary pastoral and behaviour support.
Position Overview:
Job Title: School Pastoral Mentor / Behaviour Support Assistant (Transition from Residential Care)
Location: Blackpool, Lancashire (Excellent public transport links & on-site staff parking)
Start Date: September 2026
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Term-time only - no nights, no shift work, all school holidays off)
Pay Rate: £85.00 - £100.00+ per day (PAYE, based on care/support experience)
Contract: Full-time, long-term for the 2026/27 academic year with permanent school contract pathways
How Your Care Skills Transfer Directly to the Classroom:
De-escalation & Crisis Management: Your training in managing complex behaviours, diffuse situations, and positive handling (Team Teach, MAPA, CPI, or similar) ensures a calm, safe environment for students facing emotional crises.
Trauma-Informed Support: Deep understanding of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), attachment needs, and SEMH (Social, Emotional & Mental Health) challenges to support vulnerable 11-16 year olds.
Building Rapport & Boundaries: Ability to connect with hard-to-reach young people, establish firm yet empathetic boundaries, and act as a consistent, trustworthy role model.
Safeguarding & Multi-Agency Working: Strong background in logging logs, recognising vulnerabilities, and collaborating with safeguarding leads, SENCOs, and social services.
Key Responsibilities:
Providing 1-to-1 mentoring and targeted small-group intervention for secondary students struggling with attendance, behaviour, or emotional regulation.
Supporting pupils within inclusion suites, nurture bases, or mainstream classrooms to help them stay engaged with learning.
Assisting students through daily triggers, sensory overload, and emotional resets.
Working alongside heads of year, pastoral managers, and SEND teams to track pupil welfare and individual progress plans.
Candidate Requirements:
Experience working in children's residential care homes, respite centres, supported living, or alternative youth provisions.
Resilient, compassionate, and solution-focused approach to working with young people.
Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or equivalent in Health & Social Care / Youth Work) is welcomed, though relevant practical experience is the primary priority.
Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to process one prior to September).
Why Make the Move to Education?
Consistent Schedule: Work regular, sociable school hours (30-32.5 hours per week).
Work-Life Balance: 13 weeks of paid holiday time across the year.
Meaningful Progression: Clear progression routes into Pastoral Leadership, Behaviour Management, or School Safeguarding Lead roles.
Trade shift patterns for term-time weekdays while continuing to change young lives in Blackpool.
Apply online today or search "Blackpool Secondary Pastoral Support Jobs" to submit your CV!
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