Are you an inspiring Support & Achievement Mentor, with a passion for supporting learners to gain the core skills they need to thrive in work and life? Join a forward-thinking college where education changes lives. Here at Barking & Dagenham College we are seeking a Support & Achievement Mentor to join our Student Support team, for a maternity cover role up to June 2027. You will join us on a full-time, 36 hours per week, term-time only basis (38 weeks per year). Previous applicants need not apply. The Support and Achievement Mentor (SAM) role: Reporting to the Support and Achievement Manager you will act as the first point of reference for students for pastoral support, working with internal and external support teams to support and put in place intervention and support initiatives. What you will be doing: Deliver the colleges tutorial programme to groups of learners Support a caseload of students 1:1 and group basis ensuring all learners including vulnerable learners are identified, monitored and reviewed regularly. Ensure timely interventions and pro-active actions are taken for students at risk. Explore and agree actions to address issues affecting learning such as low motivation, poor attendance or poor performance Promote, maintain appropriate behaviours and respond to behavioural issues, attendance and punctuality and ensure appropriate support is in place to address issues What we are looking for in our Support and Achievement Mentor (SAM): Be willing to work towards a Level 3 Teaching qualification. Hold relevant qualifications relating to the support of your people and /or the ability to explain how your professional experience demonstrates a capacity to excel in the role Have experience in working in an education environment Experience in working within a safeguarding role/prevent duty role and responding to safeguarding issues You will have excellent communications (oral and written) and presentation skills including effective use of IT systems and tools You will be a team player, enthusiastic, with the ability to work independently. If you are passionate about success and can do the above, then we want to hear from you! What’s In It for You? We offer a wide range of benefits, including: A competitive salary of £28,041 - £29,560 per annum, inclusive of London Weighting, dependent on qualifications and experience Generous holiday and pension packages Ongoing CPD and strong links with industry Free parking and access to travel-to-work and technology assistance schemes The opportunity to be part of a passionate, supportive team focused on learner success You will need to submit a covering letter within your application demonstrating how your personality, skills and experience meet our values for this role. PLEASE NOTE; All applications forms must be fully completed, showing full education and employment details. An incomplete application will not be considered for shortlisting. We have the right to interview candidates before the application deadline. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020 Barking & Dagenham College is committed to best practice relating to safer recruitment and safeguarding. Please note that all employment checks are made in-line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines and Barking & Dagenham College use AI automation as part of our candidate processing. Job offers will be subject to onboarding checks including social media checks. For further information relating to onboarding expectations/our safeguarding framework, please speak with the Talent team directly. Barking & Dagenham College is proudly an inclusive employer, striving towards an open culture where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, safely and without fear of judgment or persecution. We welcome applications from all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, beliefs, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation or age. Should you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know. You will not be disadvantaged for stating your needs and we want to support you to do your best in this process. Safeguarding at BDC All employment offers are made subject to checks in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines. These include (some of which are dependent upon the role and the individual): enhanced DBS including children’s barred list check, DfE teaching/management barred list check, on-line searches, overseas criminal record check, evidence of identity and right to work in the UK, satisfactory references, confirmation of medical fitness, evidence of relevant qualifications and a check of previous employment history. You will be required to become familiar with College’s policies and comply with the requirements to safeguard and protect the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are asked to complete mandatory training on KCSIE and other key areas, and to read the relevant policies. Closing date for applications: 20/05/2026 Interviews; 11/06/2026 If you would like to learn more about our Support & Achievement Mentor role, then please click ‘ apply ’ today!