Student Engagement Mentor

Optimistic – Equity – Kindness – Innovation – Collaboration

Derby College Group (DCG) are recruiting a Student Engagement Mentor to join our dedicated Student Experience and Pastoral Support team, based at our Roundhouse Campus.

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people who face social, emotional and behavioural challenges that can affect their learning. By providing tailored support and guidance, mentors will help students overcome barriers that hinder academic progress, re-engage positively with their education and build resilience for the future.

Working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, mentors will focus on raising aspirations, promoting positive learning behaviours and supporting students to develop essential skills for both education and personal growth. Through one ‑ to ‑ one mentoring, targeted interventions and consistent, calm support, this role empowers students to build confidence, strengthen relationships and develop strategies to successfully navigate challenging situations.

As a visible, approachable and authoritative presence around the college, mentors will contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment. They will use effective behaviour management strategies, model calm de ‑ escalation and help students reflect, repair and return to learning following incidents or moments of heightened emotion.

For a full explanation of the roles and responsibilities, please see the

Job Description
here
.

You will be confident, resilient and motivated by making a difference — even on the most challenging days. Skilled at working with young people who require high levels of structure, consistency and encouragement, you will bring strong behaviour management skills and the ability to remain calm, assertive and solution ‑ focused under pressure.

You’ll be highly capable of communicating effectively with a wide range of people and possess excellent interpersonal skills. You should feel comfortable working proactively and reactively, balancing positive relationship building with firm, consistent boundaries and clear expectations. Experience of supporting young people with complex social, emotional or behavioural needs is beneficial, as is knowledge of restorative practice, trauma ‑ informed approaches or positive behaviour strategies.

You will have experience responding to behavioural incidents, following safeguarding procedures and working within defined behaviour policies. We welcome reflective practitioners who are keen to learn from experience, adapt the approach and work collaboratively with staff to support a calm, safe college environment.

For a full explanation of the person specification, please see the

Job Description
here
.

• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with a 19.9% employer contribution
• Discount at our Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ onsite Little Explorers Nursery
• TOTUM discount card (aka NUS/Student Discount Card) / discounted Tastecard
• Discounts on East Midlands Railway Annual Season Tickets
• Microsoft Office for FREE with 1TB of One Drive cloud storage
• Discount on treatments at SENSI our onsite salon at the Roundhouse
• Flint Bishop Solicitors – free will writing, 1-hour free consultation with family department, 10% discount on Conveyancing services
• Continuous development and progression opportunities

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace which promotes and values diversity. We welcome all talent irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. We ensure that our policies and procedures treat all applicants consistently and fairly during our recruitment process.

DCG is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. An online search of the preferred candidate is completed…