Deputy Pastoral Care Manager

Team: Pastoral
Location: Ashbrooke School, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Contract & Position Type: Regular, Full-time
Salary: £31,022 - £35,412 + Excellent Benefits
Closing Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Those Huge Small Victories

For children with complex, challenging needs, the level of care and education must go above and beyond. That’s what drives us here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in-house clinical teams, we’re proud to have won a reputation for excellence and market-leading Ofsted ratings.

Our young people face complex emotional and behavioural needs—including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) challenges—and they need more support than most. As Deputy Pastoral Care Manager, you will take a leading role in ensuring they receive high standards of care within a safe, positive learning environment where every young person can thrive.

One of the Best Environments in SEND

You’ll be joining Ashbrooke School, one of the leading SEN settings in the North East. Ashbrooke is a purpose-built school equipped with specialist classrooms, extensive grounds, sporting facilities, and a dedicated primary provision. Here, our team works cohesively to support young people with ADHD, ASD, SEMH, and Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN).

Get Out What You Put In

In this vital leadership role, you will help bridge the gap between education, care, and family life. You will:

Lead and Motivate: Take charge of enabling your pastoral team to meet our young people's complex emotional needs, providing staff appraisals, performance management, and regular supervision.
Develop Tailored Programmes: Work closely with families and multi-agency partners to establish and review individualised development plans based on careful assessment.
Inspire Resilience: Utilize Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies to cultivate a supportive framework that inspires pupils to engage, achieve, and build confidence.

Bring Your Whole-Self to Work

Our young people come from all walks of life, and our workforce reflects that diversity so our teams can authentically engage and inspire them. To excel as our Deputy Pastoral Care Manager, you will bring:

Experience: A minimum of 3 years’ experience working with ASC, ADHD, or SEMH pupils within a school or care setting, including experience supporting families in challenging circumstances.
Qualifications: An NVQ Level 3 in Care or a Level 2 Teaching Assistant Qualification. A leadership-related qualification is highly desirable.
Sector Knowledge: Experience in multi-agency working with a firm grasp of legislation, policies, and guidance surrounding safeguarding and child protection.
Key Skills: Proven experience in staff supervision, excellent listening and organizational abilities, and a natural capacity to lead a dedicated pastoral team with flexibility and empathy.

What We Do for You

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with an exceptional package, including:

Paid School Holidays: Benefit from full school holidays to recharge and relax.
Training & Progression: A comprehensive induction, specialized on-the-job training, and clear career progression routes (most of our head teachers and group leaders are promoted from within).
Health & Wellbeing: Private medical cover to claim back dental or optical expenses, an Employee Assistance Programme, and a variety of wellbeing tools.
Financial Benefits: A contributory pension scheme (matched up to 5%) and a £1,000 "Recommend a Friend" bonus scheme.
Flexible Perks: Beautiful working environments, high-street discounts, and customizable flexible benefits (such as life insurance adjustments).

Interested in Joining Us?

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We embrace individuality and champion difference—especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each team member brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or within the workplace, we will support you every step of the way.

Safeguarding Note: The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (the cost of which we cover) and an online background search. We are an equal opportunities employer.