Therapeutic Pastoral Lead

Application Closing Date: 31/08/2026

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

Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fixing what needs fixing, together.

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

Compass Community School Willow Dean is an independent specialist school providing high-quality, therapeutic and child-centred education to boys and girls from 6 to 17 years of age In Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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

The work we do is both varied and challenging and, as a trauma and attachment informed organisation, all staff are provided with extensive therapeutic training and support.

Our closely triangulated approach places the child at the centre of decision making, ensuring that education and therapy professionals, parents/carers, local authority teams and, most importantly, our students can work together to secure outstanding outcomes for all.

The Role

We are a therapeutic school and believe in a healing approach to supporting and modifying challenging behaviour. Our Therapeutic Pastoral Lead needs to embody, lead and facilitate this in our schools by working holistically.

Therapeutic Pastoral Leads work within our leadership group in school as a key member of the local leadership team. They are co-managed by Regional SENCOs and the Therapeutic Development Manager. We view this position as an integral role within our school community and, as such, we are looking for someone with capacity and skills to work at this level.

The successful candidate will be calm and sensitive at times of potential dysregulation and they will be experienced in de-escalation, having a working and practical knowledge of key theories and frameworks of interventions which will emotionally support children.

The successful applicant will receive Continued Professional Development training (CPD) in our Assessing and Healing Childhood Trauma (AHCT) approach and, in turn, promote and enable all education staff to fully understand how this supports students in our care

You will run meaningful intervention groups with young people and role model application of therapeutic interactions and best practice.

Please note that this is a fixed term contract for 12 months and has the option of being part-time.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• The pastoral, SMSC, Socio-Emotional resilience and personal development of students.

• Assessment, monitoring, reporting upon, and supporting the overall holistic progress and personal development of students.

• Ensuring that safeguarding is paramount and safeguarding policies are adhered to.

• Contributing to the annual School Improvement Plan and School Evaluation Form

• Maintaining knowledge of, and taking shared responsibility for, the SMSC and Personal Development elements of the Independent School Standards and the Ofsted Inspection framework, working to promote these on a day to day basis.

Benefits and Rewards

Asa trauma informed organisation, all our staff are provided with extensive therapeutic training and support. With Compass Community Schools, you’ll be part of a passionate team of professionals, benefitting from:

• Training - Ongoing free training and therapeutic workshops which account for high levels of CPD hours.

• Career Progression - As Therapeutic Services is continuing to expand there are strong career pathways both within our team and within the wider Compass organisation.

• Peer group supervision - therapeutic & clinical supporting your CPD growth.

• Inclusion - Membership of GRACE (Group and Regional Ambassadors Committed to Equality) inclusion reflective weekly group.

• Wellbeing - Access to confidential therapeutic wellbeing sessions within our Therapeutic Services team.

• Engagement conferences - Two per year with the national Therapeutic Services team to continue to develop your theoretical knowledge and sense of belonging. Accommodation & DBB provided.

• Awards - The chance to win up to £150 in vouchers every month from our company REACH Awards and monthly vouchers within Therapeutic Services.

• Medicash - Receive cashback for various medical and wellbeing appointments and treatments.

• Annual Leave - 8 weeks annual leave.

• Length of Service bonus - Receive £200 (2 years), £400 (5 years) and £600 (10 years) service awards, plus up to £500 special recognition award for outstanding practice.

We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates. 

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools are highly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau) and undergo due diligence checks on social media use.

All school-based staff have the responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. All school staff should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with this document at all times.

Compass is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.