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Are you a compassionate, proactive, and experienced professional with a passion for promoting the health and welfare of young people? This school is a dynamic and inclusive secondary school in Preston, Lancashire, is seeking a dedicated Pastoral Health and Welfare Officer to join our thriving pastoral team. This pivotal role focuses on ensuring the holistic well-being, safety, and engagement of all our students, significantly contributing to their positive school experience and successful development.
The Opportunity:
As our Pastoral Health and Welfare Officer, you will be a key member of our student support services. You will work directly with students, parents, and staff to address a wide range of needs, from daily pastoral care and proactive health and well-being initiatives to critical safeguarding support. This is an impactful role for someone who is empathetic, proactive, and skilled in building positive relationships with young people and their families.
Key Responsibilities:
- Pastoral Support: Providing first-line pastoral care and guidance to students, responding to their social, emotional, and practical needs within the school environment.
- Health & Well-being:
- Promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being across the school, delivering proactive interventions, and signposting students to appropriate internal and external services (e.g., CAMHS, school counsellor).
- Supporting students with physical health needs, administering basic first aid, managing minor injuries, and overseeing the management of students' long-term medical conditions in liaison with parents/carers and healthcare professionals.
- Leading or assisting with health-related education workshops (e.g., healthy eating, stress management).
- Safeguarding: Playing a critical role in the school's safeguarding team, identifying and reporting concerns, maintaining accurate records, and liaising with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and relevant external agencies to ensure the safety and protection of all students.
- Attendance & Engagement: Monitoring student attendance and punctuality, working with students and families to address barriers to consistent attendance and promote active engagement in school life.
- Behaviour Support: Assisting with the implementation of the school's behaviour policy, offering support to students to develop positive behaviours, conflict resolution skills, and self-regulation strategies.
- Liaison: Building strong, professional relationships with students, parents/carers, staff, and external support agencies, facilitating effective communication and collaborative solutions.
- Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate, confidential, and up-to-date records of student interactions, support plans, interventions, and safeguarding concerns, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
- Contributing to a positive school culture where all students feel safe, respected, healthy, and ready to learn.
The Ideal Candidate:
- Proven experience working directly with children or young people, particularly adolescents, in a pastoral, welfare, health, or support role within an educational or community setting.
- A strong understanding of the physical and mental health challenges faced by young people today and effective strategies for their support and engagement.
- Essential knowledge of safeguarding procedures and a steadfast commitment to child protection.
- A proactive, problem-solving, and solution-focused approach to student welfare.
- Relevant qualifications in Youth Work, Social Work, Counselling, Health & Social Care, Education Support, or equivalent professional experience are highly desirable. First Aid certification is a strong advantage (or willingness to undertake training).
What We Offer:
- A highly rewarding opportunity to directly impact the holistic health and well-being of young people in a vibrant Preston secondary school.
- A supportive, dedicated, and experienced pastoral team.
- Opportunities for continuous professional development and training in areas such as mental health first aid, safeguarding, and specific well-being interventions.
How to Apply:
If you are a passionate and committed individual looking for a fulfilling Pastoral Health and Welfare Officer role in a Preston secondary school, we encourage you to apply! Please submit your CV and a compelling cover letter outlining your suitability for this position to
Closing Date: open-ended.
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and satisfactory professional references.
