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Safeguarding and Pastoral Support Officer

Business area: NESTA Bolton
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: Full time, term time only
Pay scale: £30,160

Role Purpose

The Safeguarding and Pastoral Support Officer is responsible for coordinating and supporting effective safeguarding practice and pastoral support at NESTA. The role ensures that learners are safeguarded from harm and receive appropriate personal, emotional, and social support to enable positive engagement and outcomes.
The post holder will coordinate day‑to‑day safeguarding processes, supporting the implementation of statutory safeguarding requirements and internal policies, and ensuring concerns are identified, recorded, and responded to appropriately. Working closely with staff, learners, families, and external agencies, the coordinator plays a key role in maintaining a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment.
The Safeguarding and Pastoral Support Officer will support and guide NESTA staff and learners, contributing to consistent practice and effective interventions. While not holding overall strategic responsibility, the role works in close partnership with the organisational Safeguarding Lead, DSL and NESTA Centre Manager, escalating concerns where appropriate and contributing to the continuous improvement of safeguarding and pastoral provision across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding, Pastoral Care and Learner Welfare

• Support the effective implementation of safeguarding and pastoral policies and procedures across NESTA, ensuring practice aligns with statutory guidance and organisational expectations.
• Respond to safeguarding concerns promptly and appropriately, assessing risk, prioritising concerns, and taking decisive action, including referral to external agencies where required.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding concerns for NESTA learners, ensuring timely follow‑up, escalation, and review in line with safeguarding thresholds.
• Promote the welfare and wellbeing of children and adults by ensuring safeguarding is embedded in day‑to‑day practice and learner support.

Pastoral Support and Learner Engagement

• Provide targeted pastoral support to NESTA learners, managing and coordinating a timetable of interventions tailored to individual needs.
• Conduct regular welfare checks and support home visits where appropriate, contributing to a holistic understanding of learners’ circumstances.
• Advocate for learners’ needs and best interests, ensuring their voice is represented in decision‑making processes and multi‑agency discussions.
• Promote learner engagement, attendance, and emotional wellbeing through consistent pastoral oversight and relationship‑based practice.

Multi‑Agency Working and External Partnerships

• Represent the organisation at professional meetings, reviews, and multi‑agency forums on behalf of NESTA learners.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with external partners, including local authorities, social care, health services, and other relevant agencies.
• Support positive engagement with parents and/or carers, fostering open communication and collaborative working to improve outcomes for learners.
• Signpost learners, families, and staff to appropriate internal and external support services, ensuring timely access to relevant provision.

Staff Support, Guidance and Development

• Provide advice, guidance, and support to the NESTA delivery team on safeguarding and pastoral matters, promoting confidence and consistency in practice.
• Support staff meetings, INSET days, and internal communications by sharing key safeguarding updates, learning points, and relevant information with the wider Navigators team.
• Educate staff, learners, and families on key safeguarding and pastoral themes, contributing to a culture of vigilance and shared responsibility.
• Uphold high standards and expectations for safeguarding and pastoral care across the organisation.

Compliance, Record‑Keeping and Professional Practice

• Maintain detailed, accurate, and timely safeguarding and pastoral records in line with organisational policy, data protection requirements, and best practice.
• Keep up to date with current safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and local safeguarding arrangements, applying learning to practice.
• Contribute to audits, reviews, and quality assurance processes related to safeguarding and pastoral provision.
• Participate in continuous professional development (CPD) to strengthen safeguarding knowledge, skills, and professional judgement.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates a highly empathetic, patient, and trauma‑informed approach, with the ability to build trusting relationships with learners, families, and colleagues.
• Resilient and emotionally robust, with a strong commitment to safeguarding and the ability to manage complex, sensitive, and distressing situations effectively.
• Highly organised and self‑directed, with the ability to manage a varied workload, maintain an intervention timetable, and prioritise competing demands appropriately.
• Approachable and professional, creating a safe and supportive presence for learners and staff seeking advice or support.
• Strong and up‑to‑date understanding of child and adult safeguarding, including statutory guidance, thresholds, risk assessment, and professional responsibilities.
• Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing positively to collaborative practice.
• Excellent written communication and literacy skills, with the ability to produce accurate, clear, and timely records, reports, and professional documentation.
• Confident in advocating for learners’ needs and best interests, representing them professionally in meetings and multi‑agency settings.
• Able to work under pressure while remaining calm, maintaining professional judgement and emotional regulation in challenging circumstances.
• Capable of making clear, timely, and decisive safeguarding judgements, with a strong understanding of accountability, thresholds, and the seriousness of safeguarding decision‑making.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information with tact, discretion, and integrity.

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Proven strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with learners, families, colleagues, and external professionals.
• Experience of safeguarding and pastoral support within an education setting or similar, with practical involvement in responding to concerns and supporting safeguarding processes.
• Excellent English and maths abilities, enabling the production of clear, accurate written records and effective professional communication.
• Proficient in the use of technology and digital tools, including safeguarding recording systems, email, and standard office software.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of safeguarding processes and procedures, including referral pathways, thresholds, and information‑sharing requirements.
• A full, valid driving licence and access to a vehicle with appropriate business insurance, enabling travel to learners’ homes, placements, and external meetings as required.
• Maths and English GCSE at grade C/4 or Functional skills level 2

Desirable

• Level 3 DSL qualification (or willingness to work towards)
• Degree in a relevant field, such as education, social care, psychology, youth work, or a related discipline.

Behaviours and Attitudes

• Empathy: The ability to show compassion and empathy for students and their lived experience. To demonstrate a deep understanding of the challenges faced by students, their families and the local community. To demonstrate active listening skills and respond to needs and concerns sensitively with compassion with a trauma informed lens.
• Work Ethic: To demonstrate a strong commitment to the role, organisation and cohort, consistently going above and beyond to ensure that each Navigators student is securely and consistently supported.
• Integrity: To uphold ethical standards in all interactions, ensuring transparency and accountability and confidentiality of sensitive information. To understand our students rights, relevant legislation and willingness to advocate to achieve best results for the student.
• Resilience: To demonstrate a positive attitude in the face of challenges, adapting strategies to overcome obstacles to achieve the best outcome for the student whilst adhering to legislation and statutory requirements.
• Trust: To build trusting relationships with students, parents, colleagues and external professionals and agencies. Fostering an environment where stakeholders feel comfortable sharing concerns and collaborating on solutions.
• Authenticity: The ability to encourage open and honest communication, creating a safe space for students, families and staff to express their concerns, support requirements and aspirations.
• Commitment: To demonstrate a dedication to continuous professional development, actively seeking opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills related to child protection and contextual safeguarding. To show dedication and belief in the organisations ethos, encompassing high standards throughout.
• Honesty: To communicate and behave in an open and truthful manner with all stakeholders, colleagues and services users providing clear information about the organisations standards, duty of care, expectations and available support.
• Enjoy: To promote and contribute to a positive, safe community that encourages students to engage in their Navigators journey, trust professionals and develop and grow their self-worth.
• Learn: To demonstrate a willingness to reflect on experiences, seek feedback and professionals support to ensure students and stakeholders received the best support to ensure best outcomes and experience.
• Respect: To demonstrate treating all individuals with dignity and acknowledging differences, valuing different perspectives and adopting an inclusive, secure environment for students with varying needs.

Declarations
We aim to create and maintain a safe environment and community where all young people and adults feel safe, secure and valued. We work hard to create strong relationships and show a commitment to safeguarding all young people.
Our work is classified as Regulated Activity as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA). This role will include regular contact with Children 121 or group setting. This includes those that could be classified as vulnerable and both an understanding of and experience in adhering to UK safeguarding legislation is required.
Further information relating to our Safeguarding, Child Protection, Ex-offender or Safer Recruitment policies are available upon request.
All applications are assessed on an individual basis in relation to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

This post will require the successful candidate to complete our Disclosure Barring Service, Vulnerable Child and Adult register checks as well as reference checks. We may also carry out additional online searches such as social media as part of the selection process.

Salary
30160 - 30160 GBP (yearly)

Work Location: In person