Youth Support Worker

Youth Support Worker: Pupil Referral Unit

Location: Caerphilly
Hours: Part-time, term time only, Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 15:00
Pay: £100 per day via PAYE weekly pay
Start date: 2nd November 2026

Do you see behaviour as communication, not a problem?

We're looking for calm, confident and resilient people to join a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Caerphilly. You'll support young people who have struggled in mainstream school and need consistent, caring adults to help them get back on track.

If you're the person who stays steady when things get lively, who can set a boundary without losing the relationship, and who gets a buzz from seeing a young person turn a corner, this role is for you.

About the Setting

The PRU is a small, supportive environment where young people get more structure, more attention and a fresh start. Class sizes are small, relationships come first, and every member of staff plays a part in helping students re-engage with learning. You'll be part of a close team that shares ideas, backs each other up and celebrates the small wins, which are often the big ones.

Your Role

You'll work alongside teachers and the pastoral team to keep lessons calm, focused and productive, and to help each student make progress, academically and personally. Every day is different, but your core purpose stays the same: build trust, keep expectations clear and help students succeed.

You will:

• Support small groups and individual students in lessons, using pre-prepared lesson plans (no planning workload)
• Use calm, consistent, de-escalation-focused strategies to manage behaviour positively
• Build positive relationships with young people who may find trust and routine difficult
• Encourage students to reflect, regulate and make better choices
• Work closely with teachers, pastoral staff and external agencies to support behaviour and wellbeing
• Model respect, patience and resilience in everything you do
• Follow safeguarding procedures and record and report concerns accurately

Who You Are

You don't need a teaching qualification. You need the right mindset. You might be:

• Someone who enjoys working with behaviour and understands that challenging behaviour usually has a reason behind it
• Calm under pressure, able to stay composed, think quickly and not take things personally
• Firm but fair, consistent with boundaries while still showing warmth and respect
• A natural role model, someone young people can look up to and trust
• Resilient and flexible, able to bounce back after a tough day and start fresh the next
• A team player, happy to communicate, ask for support and share what works

Experience in youth work, sports coaching, mentoring, behaviour support, care or SEN settings is welcome, but not essential. If you've led a team, coached young people or worked in a fast-paced environment, you already have transferable skills.

You'll need to be DBS-checked, or happy to apply for an enhanced DBS through us.

Why You'll Love It

• Make a real difference to young people who need someone in their corner
• Great work-life balance: weekdays only, term time, consistent hours
• Career-building experience if you're considering teaching, SEN/ALN support, pastoral leadership, youth work, social work or educational psychology
• Training and development, with access to specialist courses such as:
  • Positive behaviour management and de-escalation
  • Safeguarding and child protection
  • ALN and trauma-informed approaches
  • Team Teach
  • Cover supervisor certification

Ready to Apply?

If you're calm, caring and ready for a role where no two days are the same, we'd love to hear from you.

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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