Behaviour Buddy | Behaviour Mentor & Student Support

Central & South Bristol
Full-Time & Flexible Opportunities
Start Date: ASAP
Mainstream Secondary Schools

Could you be the positive influence a young person needs at school?

I am recruiting for Behaviour Buddies to work within mainstream secondary schools across Central and South Bristol, supporting young people who may need some extra guidance to successfully engage with education.

We're looking for confident, personable individuals who are naturally good at building relationships with young people. You don't need to be the strictest person in the room. Instead, we're looking for people who can stay calm, listen, build trust and know when to encourage, challenge or simply give a student some space.

You'll support students who may struggle with behaviour, emotional regulation, confidence or engagement, becoming a consistent and positive presence throughout their school day.

✅ What Does a Behaviour Buddy Do?

You could be:

• Providing 1:1 mentoring and student support
• Building relationships with students who are difficult to engage
• Supporting young people within mainstream lessons
• Helping students manage frustration and regulate their emotions
• Encouraging students to return to learning following difficult moments
• Supporting students within inclusion, pastoral or intervention spaces
• Delivering small-group interventions
• Promoting positive choices and behaviour
• Helping students build confidence, resilience and independence
• Working alongside teachers, SENCOs and pastoral teams
• Being a positive and consistent role model

Ultimately, you're there to help a young person have a better day at school and a more positive relationship with education.

✅ Who Might You Support?

Every student is different. You may work with young people who:

• Are disengaged or lacking motivation
• Have SEMH or SEND needs
• Have ADHD or Autism
• Struggle with emotional regulation
• Become frustrated or overwhelmed easily
• Display challenging or unpredictable behaviour
• Have low confidence or self-esteem
• Are at risk of suspension or exclusion
• Need a trusted adult who will remain consistent with them

You'll need to be comfortable working with a range of behaviours, personalities and emotions.

✅ What Makes a Great Behaviour Buddy?

We're looking for people who are:

✔ Brilliant relationship-builders

✔ Calm and confident when things become challenging

✔ Patient, resilient and not easily phased

✔ Able to have a laugh and connect with young people while maintaining professional boundaries

✔ Firm but fair when setting expectations

✔ Able to see the young person behind the behaviour

✔ Adaptable and able to think on their feet

✔ Reliable and consistent

✔ Genuinely passionate about helping young people succeed

✅ Your Experience Could Come From Lots of Places

You don't necessarily need to already be a Behaviour Mentor.

We'd be interested in hearing from people with experience in:

• Behaviour Mentoring
• Teaching Assistant / LSA work
• Youth Work
• Sports Coaching
• Pastoral Support
• SEMH Support
• SEND Support
• Alternative Provision
• Residential Childcare
• Children's Support Work
• Family Support
• Community or Outreach Work
• Tutoring or Youth Mentoring
• Mental Health Support

Previous experience working directly with children or young people is highly desirable.

✅ What You'll Need

• Confidence working with secondary-aged students
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to remain calm around challenging behaviour
• An understanding of professional boundaries
• Reliability and a positive attitude
• Commitment to safeguarding and inclusive education
• Enhanced Child-Only DBS, or willingness to apply for one

✅ Why Become a Behaviour Buddy?

• Make a visible difference to a young person's school experience
• Build meaningful professional relationships with students
• Gain valuable experience in behaviour, SEMH, pastoral and SEND support
• Work within mainstream secondary schools across Bristol
• Access CPD and training
• Develop experience for careers in teaching, youth work, pastoral care, psychology or SEND
• Long-term and permanent opportunities available

Apply Now

If you're calm, relatable, resilient and genuinely good with young people, I'd love to hear from you.

Emilia Harris
emilia.harris@teachingpersonnel.com
0117 239 1557

Sometimes one positive relationship is all it takes to change a young person's experience of education. Could you be their Behaviour Buddy?