New Advert - Tower Hamlets

Pastoral Lead / Pastoral Manager

Tower Hamlets 

SEMH Secondary Setting 

Immediate start 

8:00 - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Term Time 

Temp2Perm

Are you an experienced Pastoral Lead or Pastoral Manager with a strong understanding of SEMH, safeguarding and the emotional wellbeing of children and young people?

We are seeking an exceptional pastoral professional to lead and develop a high-quality pastoral provision within a specialist educational setting supporting young people with complex social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

This is an influential role for someone who can combine strong pastoral leadership with a trauma-informed, nurturing approach, ensuring that students feel safe, supported and able to engage positively with education.

As Pastoral Lead / Pastoral Manager, you will provide strategic and operational leadership of pastoral provision across the setting.

You will work closely with senior leaders, teaching staff, safeguarding and SEND colleagues, families and external agencies to ensure that students receive consistent, effective support for their emotional wellbeing, behaviour, attendance and wider needs.

You will play a key role in developing a positive, trauma-informed culture while also providing leadership during periods of heightened emotional need or dysregulation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing a whole-school pastoral strategy focused on student wellbeing, emotional regulation, positive relationships and engagement.
• Promoting a trauma-informed, nurture-based and emotionally safe culture across the setting.
• Leading and supporting pastoral staff, ensuring high standards of practice, consistency and professional development.
• Monitoring student wellbeing, behaviour, attendance and engagement, identifying emerging concerns and coordinating appropriate support.
• Overseeing targeted 1:1 and small-group interventions focused on emotional regulation, resilience, behaviour and wellbeing.
• Supporting students experiencing anxiety, trauma responses, emotional dysregulation or mental health difficulties.
• Developing and implementing individualised support and reintegration plans, including for students experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
• Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to identify, respond to and monitor safeguarding concerns.
• Liaising with families, social care, CAMHS, local authority services and other external professionals to ensure a coordinated approach to student support.
• Contributing to multi-agency meetings, professional reviews and EHCP annual reviews where appropriate.
• Supporting the implementation of behaviour, attendance, safeguarding and wellbeing policies.
• Using appropriate assessment and monitoring tools to evaluate student progress and the impact of pastoral interventions.
• Providing guidance and support to staff around behaviour, de-escalation, emotional regulation and trauma-informed practice.
• Supporting staff wellbeing and contributing to a positive and supportive professional culture.
• Working collaboratively with the SENCO and wider leadership team to ensure pastoral provision supports individual educational and SEND outcomes.
• Providing advice, guidance and practical support to parents and carers.

You will be an experienced Pastoral Lead, Pastoral Manager or similar pastoral professional who is passionate about improving outcomes for young people with complex needs.

You will have:

• Significant experience working with children or young people with SEMH and/or complex emotional needs.
• Experience leading or coordinating pastoral provision within a school, specialist setting, PRU, alternative provision or similar environment.
• A strong understanding of children's mental health, emotional wellbeing and safeguarding.
• Experience managing or coordinating pastoral, wellbeing or therapeutic staff.
• Experience supporting students experiencing emotional dysregulation, challenging behaviour, anxiety, trauma or mental health difficulties.
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed practice, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and neurodiversity.
• Experience working collaboratively with families and multi-agency professionals.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge, ideally including experience as or working closely with a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and conflict-resolution skills.
• The ability to remain calm, compassionate and solution-focused when managing challenging or high-pressure situations.

A relevant qualification in education, psychology, counselling, social care, mental health or a related discipline would be beneficial. 

Additional qualifications or training in Senior Mental Health Leadership, safeguarding, therapeutic practice, Youth Mental Health First Aid, trauma-informed practice or child and adolescent mental health would also be desirable.

If you are an experienced Pastoral Lead or Manager looking for an opportunity where your leadership, compassion and expertise can make a genuine difference, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please apply and get in touch with Elise Harnwell @ Parker Smith Inclusion, 0203 011 4848.