Pastoral Practitioner
- Southampton
- Permanent
Full Job Description
We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge!
Job title: Pastoral Practitioner
Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
Salary: £26,775 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: October 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available
About the Role
We are looking for a dedicated and resilient Pastoral Practitioner to join our specialist school team. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference by supporting pupils with social, emotional, and behavioural needs, helping them develop the confidence, resilience, and skills they need to succeed both in education and beyond.
Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, teaching staff, families, and external agencies, you will play a key role in creating a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment where every pupil can thrive.
As a Pastoral Practitioner, you will provide front-line behaviour and pastoral support throughout the school day, helping pupils manage challenges, regulate emotions, and re-engage with learning. You will work proactively with identified pupils on a 1:1 basis, supporting their personal development, behaviour, attendance, and overall wellbeing.
You will also help ensure the consistent implementation of behaviour strategies across the school, contributing to a culture of high expectations, positive relationships, and meaningful outcomes for young people.
What You'll Be Doing
- Provide front-line pastoral and behaviour support, responding to incidents and helping pupils successfully return to learning.
- Work 1:1 with identified pupils to build resilience, emotional regulation, and engagement in education.
- Implement and promote consistent behaviour management strategies in line with the school's Behaviour Policy.
- Monitor, record, and analyse behaviour data, maintaining accurate incident records, risk assessments, and intervention plans.
- Support teaching staff with behaviour management and provide on-call assistance to minimise disruption to learning.
- Liaise with families, carers, school staff, and external agencies to coordinate effective support for pupils.
- Supervise pupils during unstructured times and encourage positive behaviour, social development, and participation in school life.
What We're Looking For
- Experience working with children or young people with social, emotional, and behavioural needs.
- Can build positive, trusting relationships with pupils while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Remains calm, confident, and resilient when managing challenging situations.
- Understands behaviour management strategies and restorative approaches.
- Is organised, proactive, and able to maintain accurate records.
- Works effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Is committed to supporting pupils to achieve positive outcomes.
- Driving licence required
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 School supports every child and young person to feel safe, be heard, discover their worth, develop their strengths and create a limitless future.
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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