Therapeutic Pastoral Lead


Company:	Compass Community
Salary:	£28,892 to £34,000 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 4ES
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	6 Nov 2026
Closing date:	19 Nov 2026

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Summary

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to transform the life of a child?

At Compass Community, children come first. Through our therapeutic and innovative approach, we help young people overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes. Our values of Integrity, Courage and Care shape everything we do. We listen deeply, challenge constructively and work together to make meaningful change.

This is the work. And we'd like you to be part of it.

Who We Are

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds, but all have Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Many also have additional Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including Autism, ADHD and communication difficulties.

As a trauma- and attachment-informed organisation, we provide extensive therapeutic training and support for all staff. Our collaborative approach places the child at the centre of decision-making, ensuring education professionals, therapists, parents, carers, local authorities and students work together to achieve outstanding outcomes.

The Role

We are a therapeutic school that believes in a healing approach to supporting and modifying challenging behaviour. The Therapeutic Pastoral Lead plays a key role in embedding this approach across the school community.

As a member of the school's leadership team, you will work closely with Regional SENCOs and the Therapeutic Development Manager to provide strategic and practical leadership. We are looking for someone with the skills, experience and professional capacity to contribute at this level.

The successful candidate will remain calm and sensitive during times of potential dysregulation and will have experience of effective de-escalation techniques. A strong understanding of theories and intervention frameworks that support children's emotional wellbeing is essential.

You will receive Continued Professional Development (CPD) training in our Assessing and Healing Childhood Trauma (AHCT) approach and will help colleagues understand and apply therapeutic practices across the school. The role also involves delivering meaningful intervention groups and modelling therapeutic interactions and best practice.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead and support students' pastoral development, SMSC provision, socio-emotional resilience and personal development.

- Assess, monitor and report on students' holistic progress and wellbeing.

- Ensure safeguarding remains paramount and all safeguarding procedures are followed.

- Contribute to the School Improvement Plan and School Evaluation Form.

- Maintain knowledge of Independent School Standards, Ofsted requirements, SMSC and Personal Development expectations, promoting these areas through everyday practice.

Benefits and Rewards

As a trauma-informed organisation, we invest heavily in the development and wellbeing of our staff. Benefits include:

- Ongoing therapeutic training and workshops, supporting high levels of CPD.

- Clear career progression opportunities within Therapeutic Services and the wider Compass organisation.

- Peer group supervision to support therapeutic and professional development.

- Membership of GRACE (Group and Regional Ambassadors Committed to Equality), promoting inclusion and reflective practice.

- Access to confidential therapeutic wellbeing sessions.

- Two annual engagement conferences with the national Therapeutic Services team, including accommodation and DBS costs covered.

- Medicash healthcare cashback scheme for medical and wellbeing appointments.

- Eight weeks' annual leave.

- Length of service awards of £200 after 2 years, £400 after 5 years and £600 after 10 years, plus up to £500 for exceptional practice.

We review applications regularly and reserve the right to close this vacancy early should suitable candidates be identified.

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

Successful applicants will be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS check, or Enhanced DBS with Children's Barred List check where applicable, and will be subject to pre-employment checks, including social media screening.

All school-based staff are responsible for promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and must work in accordance with the school's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times.

Compass Community is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives who share our commitment to improving the lives of children and young people.

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