Description
As our apprenticeship provision continues to grow, we're excited to introduce a new opportunity for a Safeguarding and Wellbeing Mentor dedicated to supporting apprentices. This role sits at the heart of our commitment to providing essential statutory, pastoral, and welfare support to learners—both in college and in the workplace.
This role sits within our Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team and it is the key point of contact for apprentices and work-based assessors when challenges arise that may affect a learner's progress—such as mental health concerns, issues at home, or other barriers whilst in employment. You'll work closely with the Apprenticeship Team, learners, families, employers, and external professionals to ensure every young person receives the support they need to thrive.
This role has been created in direct response to the evolving needs of young people today. It's about more than just offering support—it's about helping learners overcome personal and professional obstacles so they can achieve their full potential.
We're looking for someone with excellent communication skills, a compassionate and proactive approach, and the ability to work collaboratively with learners, parents/carers, employers, and external agencies, with a full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle. Your ability to build trust and take initiative will be key to making a lasting impact.
If you're passionate about supporting young people and want to be part of a dynamic and caring team, we'd love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
To provide Statutory, pastoral and welfare responsibilities for a designated cohort of learners in a specific curriculum area. This includes monitoring attendance and intervening in cases of persistent absence, children missing education. As a key member of the Safeguarding and Welfare team, you will provide front line and early help support for learners facing a wide range of barriers to education. These barriers may include absences, home issues, mental health challenges, crises, or the need for critical support.
Responsibilities also involve identifying and monitoring vulnerable and 'at risk' learners within your remit. You will work closely with cross-college teams to ensure that these learners are retained by the college, maintaining detailed records of your interventions and support provided. Additionally, you will serve as the single point of contact for learners, parents, and staff, ensuring effective communication and support for all parties involved.
* 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 participation in LAC Reviews, Care Planning, Placement Planning Meetings, and Care Leavings, ensuring attendance at all relevant LAC reviews
* To assist the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Lead with managing a caseload of Child in Need Plans, ensuring compliance with statutory and legal requirements. Additionally, to act as the Lead Professional on Early Help Assessments when necessary, adhering to all relevant legal obligations
* Attendance – work closely with Curriculum Managers to improving attendance, meetings with parents and external agencies regarding attendance, coordinating through the attendance process as per the attendance policy. Lead college professional for attendance. Coordinating with externals agencies such as social care, education welfare
* Implement the positive behaviour policy by managing the incident process and outcomes, including Formal panels and reports. Handle a caseload of learners with behavioural issues, identifying actions that can lead to an improvement in behaviour, ensuring effective strategies for behaviour management are recorded and tracked
* Be the designated point of contact for parents and carers, fostering and maintaining positive, supportive relationships to help learners and families overcome barriers to education. Ensure that all contact details for parents and carers are kept up to date in the college systems
* To work closely with curriculum teams to support at risk and vulnerable learners by attending Support planning meetings, Student improvement meetings and Formal hearings where relevant
* Support the implementation of the college's Mental Health Strategy by serving as the first point of contact for learners experiencing poor mental health. Promote the vision of becoming a mentally healthy college by referring learners to appropriate internal and external services
* To promote and safeguard the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults at the college and refer/signpost to external agencies where appropriate
* Developing a positive and supportive connection with learners, create an atmosphere of trust and support, prioritising the safeguarding and wellbeing of all students
* Facilitate the successful transition of learners by coordinating with secondary schools, arranging transition visits, and providing support during college interviews. Liaise with social workers when necessary and ensure that all pre-enrolment support, such as bursaries and required kits, is provided so that learners feel confident when they start college
* Assist in the Enrolment process by capturing learner wellbeing and welfare information, ensuring that accurate parent contact details are recorded. Identify any concerns, issues, or barriers that students might face to ensure they receive the appropriate support once they start college. Refer any risk concerns to managers as needed
* Support in College induction program to ensure learners are informed of where to seek help and what support is available and know how to keep themselves safe
* Maintain accurate records of interventions, ensuring learners vulnerabilities and support needs are recorded and highlighted
* To conduct home visits where there is an attendance/welfare/safety concern
* To undertake training and CPD as required for the role, including a minimum of one Safeguarding Board Training session per year, to keep up to date with local procedures and emerging themes
* Any other duties, of a similar level of responsibility, as may be required
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Qualifications
Essential Criteria
* Level 2 or GCSE 4 or above in English and Maths
* Educated to Level 3/A Level or above (evidence of ongoing industry CPD considered)
* Full UK driving Licence and access to a vehicle
* Mental Health First Aid qualification or willingness to undertake training
How Identified: Application/interview
Desirable Criteria
* Teaching qualification e.g. Level 3 Cert of Education and Training (PTLLS)
* First Aid qualification or willingness to obtain.
How Identified: Application/interview
Experience
Essential Criteria
* Experience of working with 16-18-year old's in an education setting
* Experience of supporting learners and families with safeguarding issues inc. CIN, LAC, EHA
* Experience of dealing with behaviour management / challenging learner behaviour
* Experience and understanding of attendance management
* Experience of working with cross college teams in a fast-paced environment
* Experience of working with young people in a pastoral and wellbeing setting
* Experience of dealing with safeguarding and mental health concerns
* To have empathy with young people, approachable but with the confidence to assert authority when required.
* Experience of effective team working and promoting relationships between staff, students and the community
* Experience of working under pressure, including handling difficult situations on your own and de-escalating them.
* Experience of working with outside agencies such as safeguarding professional, schools, social workers, Youth Justice Team, Positive Steps, Parents and Key Workers
How Identified: Application/ Interview
Desirable Criteria
* Experience of the Education Inspection framework
* Experience of the Prevent Strategy
How Identified: Application/ Interview
Specialist Knowledge
Essential Criteria
* Good working knowledge of safeguarding and child protection, Child in need and Early help Processes
* Specific knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by young people that impact on their wellbeing, safety and mental health
* Understanding a Trauma-informed approach
* Good understanding of mental health issues and how they impact on learners
* Committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
* Able to interact positively with young people and adults
* Committed to the principles of equality and diversity
* Ability to communicate, negotiate and work effectively with internal and external partners
* Ability to work unsupervised and manager own time and priorities; be well organized and self-motivated
* To have flexibility and willing to try out new ideas
* Ability to keep and evaluate records and statistical data.
How Identified: Application/ Interview
IT Skills
Essential Criteria
* Good working knowledge of IT and digital safeguarding systems.
* Basic know of Microsoft Office Programs
* Understanding of college systems
How Identified: Application/ Interview
About Hopwood Hall
We are a Further Education College and University Centre offering a range of full and part time courses employing over 600 staff on our campuses in Rochdale and Middleton situated to the north-east of Manchester. Both campuses have ample free parking and subsidised restaurants.
We offer staff a range of benefits including free gym membership at our Middleton Sports Arena and generous holiday entitlement.
We are committed to being a great place to work and have membership status of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. We are a Living Wage employer and an accredited Disability Confident Employer. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion statement is designed to ensure that unfair discrimination does not take place in any part of our recruitment process.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners and colleagues and we expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. The college complies with Safer Recruitment guidance in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education and all successful applicants are required to undertake a DBS check and other pre-recruitment checks in line with our Safer Recruitment policy. It is an offence to apply for a regulated role at the College if you are barred from working with children (or vulnerable adults if in a role where this applies).
STAFF BENEFITS
Working at Hopwood Hall College comes with a wide range of benefits including generous holiday and sick pay entitlements.
Other benefits include:
* Career average pension scheme
* Free gym membership at our Middleton Campus Sports Arena
* Purchase loans for computers and bikes
* Staff discount at the College's Riverside Salon, Sports Arena and Holiday Clubs
* On-site nursery (Rochdale Campus)
* Credit union for savings, low cost loans and life assurance
* Free on-site parking
* On-site Dog Kennels (spaces not guaranteed)
* An electric and hybrid car salary sacrifice scheme (with charging points on site)
* A cycle to work scheme
* Discounted public transport tickets
* Generous holiday entitlement (Teaching staff: 53 days, Business Support staff: 28 days plus bank holidays
* Christmas/New Year closure and the opportunity to buy additional holidays)
* Subsidised bistro and refectory