Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) Mentor

Are you resilient, trauma-informed, and passionate about giving excluded young people a second chance at education?

A dedicated Alternative Provision / Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Preston, Lancashire is recruiting an experienced, calm, and proactive PRU Behaviour Mentor / Pastoral Support Assistant starting this September 2026.

This role involves supporting secondary-aged young people (11-16) who have been excluded from mainstream education or are at risk of permanent exclusion. If you come from a background in alternative provision, youth justice, residential care, sports mentorship, or military/security transition, your skills in de-escalation and rapport-building will make an immediate impact.

Position Overview:

Job Title: PRU Behaviour Mentor / Alternative Provision Support Specialist

Location: Preston, Lancashire (Easily commutable via M6, M55, A59, and Preston Railway Station)

Start Date: September 2026

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Term-time only - 30 to 32.5 hours/week)

Pay Rate: £90.00 - £110.00+ per day (PAYE, based on experience and restraint/de-escalation training)

Contract Type: Full-time, long-term placement for the 2026/27 academic year with permanent contract routes

Key Responsibilities

1-to-1 & Small Group Mentoring: Deliver structured pastoral guidance and re-engagement sessions to students facing severe SEMH needs, complex trauma, ACEs, and challenging behaviours.

De-escalation & Crisis Support: Identify early behavioural triggers and apply positive handling/de-escalation techniques (Team Teach / MAPA / CPI) to maintain a safe, low-arousal environment.

Classroom & Workshop Assistance: Support subject teachers and vocational instructors (construction, mechanics, sports, creative arts) to keep pupils focused on practical and academic tasks.

Emotional Regulation: Help students understand and regulate intense emotions, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build self-worth.

Reintegration & Progress Tracking: Work alongside SENCOs, social workers, and youth offending teams to monitor individual behaviour plans and support pathways back into mainstream or vocational settings.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Proven experience supporting disaffected youth, excluded students, or vulnerable teenagers in PRUs, AP academies, residential care homes, or community outreach.

Strong understanding of trauma-informed care, attachment disorders, and the root causes of anti-social or defiant behaviour.

Certified positive handling training (e.g., Team Teach, MAPA, CPI, Safety-Care) is highly advantageous (training updates can be provided).

Firm, fair, and consistent communication style with high emotional resilience and a good sense of humour.

Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to process a check before start).

Why Join This Preston Alternative Provision Team?

Direct Daily Impact: Work with smaller class sizes (typically 4-8 students per group) where individual relationship-building thrives.

Predictable Sociable Schedule: Sociable daytime weekday hours with no evening or weekend shifts, plus 13 weeks of paid school holidays.

Professional Development: Advanced training in SEMH, safeguarding, and specialised behaviour management.

Help vulnerable young people in Preston reset their direction and rebuild their future.

Apply online today or search "Preston PRU Mentor Jobs 2026" to submit your CV