Safeguarding and Wellbeing Mentor - Term Time Only + 4 Weeks (Maternity Cover

Are you passionate about supporting young people facing significant challenges to education, wellbeing and safety? We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Safeguarding and Wellbeing Mentor to join our Safeguarding and Wellbeing team on a maternity cover basis. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of learners who require targeted support to overcome barriers and achieve positive outcomes.

In this specialist role, you will work with a designated cohort of learners who have identified vulnerabilities or barriers to learning, attendance and progression. This may include learners experiencing safeguarding concerns, mental health difficulties, family challenges, social care involvement, attendance issues, behavioural concerns, housing instability, exploitation risks, or other circumstances impacting their ability to engage successfully in education. As a key member of the Safeguarding and Wellbeing team, you will deliver targeted interventions, coordinate support plans and act as a trusted professional for learners, families and curriculum staff.

You will also respond to safeguarding and wellbeing referrals from across the wider college, working closely with Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, curriculum teams and external agencies to ensure concerns are identified, assessed and addressed appropriately. The role combines frontline safeguarding practice, early help and pastoral support. You will be responsible for managing a caseload of vulnerable learners, contributing to multi‑agency planning, supporting attendance and engagement, undertaking risk assessments where required, and ensuring that accurate, timely records are maintained.

A trauma‑informed approach sits at the heart of our work. We recognise that many young people have experienced adversity and require consistent, relational support to feel safe, valued and able to succeed. You will use strength‑based practice to build positive relationships, reduce barriers to participation and help learners develop resilience, confidence and independence. We are looking for an individual with experience of working with young people who face complex challenges, alongside a strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection and early help.

You will be confident working in partnership with families, curriculum staff, local authorities and external professionals, whilst maintaining a clear focus on safeguarding and learner welfare. If you are committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable young people and want to be part of an experienced, supportive and highly regarded safeguarding team, we would love to hear from you.

• To provide Early Help support for both the college and Local Authority as soon as issues arise. This includes assistance with safeguarding, pastoral care, social and welfare needs, wellbeing, and health care, all aimed at identifying and removing barriers to accessing education.
• To lead on Personal Education Plans (PEP) for Looked After Children (LAC), Children with a Social Worker, children working with Youth Justice in collaboration with Social Services, ensuring that external assessment criteria are met.
• Provide comprehensive support for Care Experienced students, including effective participation in LAC Reviews, Care Planning, Placement Planning Meetings, and Care Leavings, ensuring attendance at all relevant LAC reviews.
• Manage cases at Child in Need and Early Help Assessment level, ensuring compliance with statutory and legal requirements. Contribute to work under the new Family First Partnership framework, working collaboratively with partner agencies to support the development and delivery of the right plan for the family.
• Responsible for the attendance management of an identified cohort, implementing and coordinating targeted interventions to improve attendance, working with families and external agencies through a relational practice approach. Lead responsibility for supporting learners at Tier 3 within the Attendance Policy (persistent absence) and for responding to attendance concerns where vulnerabilities or risk are identified at any stage of a learner's…