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Job Title: Pastoral Practitioner
Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday–Friday | 8.30am - 4.30pm
Salary: £26,775 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
As a Pastoral Practitioner, you will play a central role in maintaining a positive, safe and supportive school environment. Working closely with the Headteacher, Deputy Head and Assistant Heads, you will help deliver a consistent, high‑quality pastoral service that supports pupils’ emotional wellbeing, behaviour and engagement in learning.
You will work directly with identified pupils — particularly boys — helping them build resilience, develop social skills, and re-engage positively with lessons and school routines.
What you will be doing
- Provide front‑line behaviour intervention, de‑escalating incidents and supporting pupils to return to learning.
- Monitor, analyse and accurately record pupil behaviour, incidents, risk assessments and interventions.
- Work 1:1 with identified pupils to implement behaviour improvement strategies and build resilience.
- Support teaching staff by responding to on‑call requests and assisting with reintegration into lessons.
- Ensure consistent application of the School Behaviour Policy and contribute to its annual review.
- Liaise with families, carers and external agencies to provide integrated support for pupils.
- Collaborate with senior leaders to plan supervision rotas and maintain high standards during unstructured times.
- Support staff in developing effective behaviour management practice and maintaining consistent routines across the school day.
What we're looking for
We are looking for someone who is:
- Calm, patient and emotionally resilient — especially when faced with challenging behaviour.
- Skilled at building trusting relationships with young people.
- Confident in managing behaviour and de-escalating conflict.
- Highly organised, with strong communication and record‑keeping skills.
- Physically and mentally fit to manage the demands of the role, including occasional physical intervention when required.
- Driving licence required
Experience in pastoral care, behaviour support, youth work or similar settings is highly desirable.
About Us
Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school in Southampton, supporting pupils with SEMH needs, communication difficulties, and associated complex behaviours. The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where small classes and personalised support help every pupil thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our broad and purposeful curriculum combines formal learning with life skills and enrichment activities to develop confidence, independence, and resilience. Pupils benefit from staff who understand their individual needs and remove barriers to engagement. Working closely with families, the school fosters strong relationships and a supportive community. Dibden Park empowers every pupil to achieve their full potential and prepare for life beyond school.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
- Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
- Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
- Hundreds of UK and international discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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