Pastoral Support Worker

Pastoral Support Officer – Durham Secondary Schools September 2026 | Competitive Daily Rates | Long-Term Temporary

Every secondary school has students who need more than academic support — young people navigating difficult home circumstances, friendship breakdowns, mental health challenges, or simply struggling to find their place. Teaching Personnel is recruiting a Pastoral Support Officer for a long-term temporary position across secondary schools in Durham from September 2026, to work directly with those students.

This isn't a classroom support role. It's a people role. You'll be working within the pastoral and inclusion team, building trusted relationships with some of the school's most vulnerable students, and acting as a consistent, reliable presence for young people who may not have many of those in their lives.

If you have a background in youth work, social care, mental health support, or education — and you're drawn to the relational, interventional side of school life rather than the purely academic — this is a role worth exploring.

What the role involves:

• Acting as a key point of contact for students experiencing personal, social, or emotional difficulties
• Delivering structured 1:1 mentoring and pastoral support sessions
• Working alongside the SENCO, heads of year, and wider pastoral team
• Liaising with families and external agencies where appropriate
• Monitoring attendance, behaviour, and wellbeing and contributing to reviews
• Supporting reintegration after exclusion or prolonged absence
• Maintaining accurate records and contributing to individual support plans

The right candidate will bring:

• Experience in a pastoral, youth work, social care, or educational support role
• A warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental approach
• Confidence working with young people who present with complex needs
• Strong communication skills across students, staff, and families
• An understanding of safeguarding and its application in a school setting
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service
• A relevant qualification in youth work, mental health, or education is desirable

With Teaching Personnel you'll receive:

• Competitive daily rates reflecting your experience
• Weekly pay via PAYE
• Dedicated consultant support
• Free CPD and pastoral development training
• Opportunities for permanent employment

Contract: Long-term temporary | Start: September 2026 | Location: Durham secondary schools

Send your CV or call 0191 223 5071.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
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