Pastoral Support Mentor (SEN Focus – Classroom-Based) 

Location: Guildford, Surrey

Pay: £108.00-£115.00

Hours: Monday – Friday | Full-time/Part-time

Start Date: ASAP 

Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs? Do you have the resilience, empathy and emotional intelligence to make a meaningful difference every single day?   

We are currently recruiting for a committed Pastoral Support Mentor to join a specialist SEMH school. This is a highly rewarding opportunity to support pupils who require consistent pastoral guidance, emotional regulation support, and positive role modelling to re-engage with education.

About the School

This specialist SEMH setting supports young people who have experienced significant barriers to learning, including trauma, adverse childhood experiences, behavioural challenges, and unmet emotional needs. The school provides a structured, nurturing and therapeutic environment where pupil welfare is at the heart of everything they do.

With smaller class sizes and a high staff-to-student ratio, the school prioritises relationship-building, consistency, and personalised support. A strong safeguarding and pastoral framework ensures that pupils feel safe, understood, and supported both academically and emotionally.

The leadership team promotes a trauma-informed and restorative approach to behaviour. Staff work collaboratively across pastoral, teaching and therapeutic teams to develop individual support plans that focus on emotional regulation, resilience, and long-term personal development. This is a setting where patience, empathy and consistency are essential, and where staff genuinely see the impact of their work.

The Role

As a Pastoral Support Mentor, you will:

• Provide intensive 1:1 and small-group pastoral and welfare support
• Support pupils with SEMH needs, helping them develop emotional regulation strategies
• Act as a positive role model, promoting resilience and self-belief
• De-escalate challenging situations using trauma-informed and restorative approaches
• Support pupils during lessons, transitions, and unstructured times
• Contribute to individual behaviour and welfare plans
• Liaise closely with teaching staff, SENCO, DSL and external professionals
• Monitor wellbeing, attendance and engagement

This role would suit individuals with experience in SEMH schools, alternative provisions, youth work, mentoring, care work, or outreach support.

The Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have experience working with young people with SEMH or behavioural needs
• Be calm, emotionally resilient, and consistent under pressure
• Understand trauma-informed practice and restorative approaches
• Have strong safeguarding knowledge and awareness of child protection procedures
• Be confident managing and de-escalating challenging behaviour
• Be patient, empathetic and genuinely passionate about supporting vulnerable pupils

Team Teach or de-escalation training is desirable but not essential.

Why Work with Milk Education?

• Support and guidance if you wish to progress into a permanent school role

• Free classroom resources to support your work

• 24/7 access to your own dedicated consultant

• Training opportunities and CPD to enhance your skillset

• Proud to be an eco-friendly, purpose-driven agency committed to rewarding and valuing our staff

Apply now! 

Izzie.hand@milk-education.co.uk

01483 323 100

INGUIL

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are APSCo Compliance+ accredited, meeting the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education and APSCo guidelines.

Milk Education is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. By applying, you agree to our Privacy Policy, available on our website. Milk Education is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.