LIFE Specialist Pastoral and Support Assistant

The starting salary for this permanent role £17,330- per annum based on working 18 hours per week, pro rata to £34,660 per annum for full- time working.

You will be required to work from 09:45- 15:45 over 3 days on site at our Frimley Green Learning Hub.

LIFE is a small, supportive post-16 alternative provision where we provide an individualised approach for young people who may have experienced barriers to education. Joining our committed team, you will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with learners and make a genuine difference by supporting their education, confidence, wellbeing and independence, while helping them develop the skills they need for employment and adult life.

We are looking for a Specialist Pastoral and Support Assistant to join our team and play a key role in supporting our young people both personally and educationally.

This is a varied and hands-on role. You will build positive and trusting relationships with learners, provide pastoral and practical support, deliver targeted interventions and lead learning sessions. You will help young people develop the confidence, independence and skills they need for their next steps.

You will work closely with the wider LIFE team to ensure each learner receives consistent support based around their individual needs, aspirations and outcomes.

At LIFE, relationships are at the heart of what we do. We recognise that many of our young people need something different from a traditional education environment. If you are passionate about helping young people succeed and are confident providing both pastoral support and direct interventions, we would love to hear from you.

Typical task and activities you will undertake in this role include:

• Building positive, professional relationships with young people and provide consistent pastoral support.
• Supporting learners with their emotional wellbeing, engagement and attendance and to overcome barriers that may affect their ability to access education.
• Planning and confidently delivering teaching and learning sessions for small groups of up to four young people. as well as 1:1 interventions.
• Adapting activities and teaching approaches to meet individual learning, SEMH and additional needs.
• Supporting learners to develop confidence, resilience, independence and practical life skills in preparation for adulthood.
• Encouraging participation in education, enrichment, employability and community-based activities.
• Working with colleagues to support individual learner plans, EHCP outcomes and agreed targets.
• Monitoring learner progress and provide feedback to inform ongoing support and planning.
• Recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding and welfare concerns.
• Working collaboratively with families, carers and other professionals where appropriate.

We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys working with young people and understands that progress can look different for every learner.

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, values and align with our behaviours:

• Warm, approachable and able to build positive relationships with young people.
• Patient, calm and consistent, particularly when a learner is finding things difficult.
• Able to deliver 1:1 interventions, small-group work and teaching sessions for groups of up to four young people.
• Comfortable taking the lead and working creatively and flexibly to and adapt your approach to individual learners making learning accessible, relevant and engaging.
• Able to balance pastoral support with appropriate challenge and expectations.
• Confident supporting young people with a range of social, emotional and additional needs.
• Able to maintain clear professional boundaries.
• A good communicator who works effectively as part of a small team.
• Organised and able to maintain appropriate records.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.
• Positive about supporting young people to develop independence rather than doing things for them.

If you have any experience of working with young people in education, alternative provision, SEND, SEMH, youth work, pastoral support or in a similar setting this would be highly transferable to this role.

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and personal statement.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.  

This role is subject to an online / social media check as part of our safer recruitment processes, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance. 

An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.  

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Jo Heath on 01276-800224  or by e-mail at jo.heath@surreycc.gov.uk

This advert closes at 23:59 on the 15th of November 2026.

Please note that the successful applicant must be available to commence employment on or before the 31st of January 2027. 

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1 April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is West Surrey Council subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year. Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council. 

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.   

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs. 

• BM-2026-217 - PS07 - LIFE Specialist Pastoral & Support Assistant.pdf - LIFE Specialist Pastoral and Support Assistant- Job Description