LAC Support
Mulberry Academy St Leonards, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 8HH7 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
23 October 2026 at 9am
Date listed
16 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Term time
Contract type
- Fixed term - 31.08.2027
Pay scale
- Grade 3 pro rata
What skills and experience we're looking for
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- Experience of working with children or young people in an educational, youth work, pastoral or similar setting.
- Experience of supporting pupils who experience barriers to learning.
- Experience of mentoring
- An understanding of the academic and pastoral needs of secondary-aged pupils.
- An understanding of the importance of positive relationships, consistency and high expectations.
- A willingness to develop knowledge and understanding of the specific needs of looked-after and previously looked-after children.
- Understanding of safeguarding and the importance of professional boundaries.
KEY SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to build positive, trusting and professional relationships with young people.
- A patient, empathetic and non-judgemental approach.
- Ability to motivate and encourage pupils who may have low confidence or limited engagement with education.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to maintain accurate records.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and deal sensitively with complex information.
- Ability to recognise concerns and follow appropriate safeguarding procedures.
- High expectations of pupils combined with a supportive and nurturing approach.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Experience of mentoring young people.
- Knowledge of attachment-aware or trauma-informed approaches.
- Experience of supporting pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Relevant teaching assistant, youth work, education or mentoring qualification.
What the school offers its staff
Why Mulberry Academy St Leonards?
We’re proud of our people. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards, we are building a culture where pupils, parents, teachers and staff work together in the service of our community. When you join our school, you will find a place where you belong and where your work truly makes a difference to the lives of young people.
Working in education is not always easy. We recognise the effort, creativity and commitment our staff bring every day. We value this deeply and show our appreciation by creating a culture where staff are supported to grow, develop and thrive.
Providing talent development opportunities
We want ambitious and talented people to join Mulberry Academy St Leonards because they want to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
Professional development is central to our culture. All teaching staff benefit from weekly professional development, and each year we dedicate a two-week professional development programme in October. During this time teachers deepen their practice and collaborate on improving teaching and learning, while colleagues in support roles have structured time designed specifically for their own professional development.
We also build coaching into teachers’ timetables, ensuring every teacher benefit from regular professional dialogue, reflection and support to continually develop their practice.
As part of the Mulberry Schools Trust, staff benefit from Trust-wide expertise, strong collaboration, and opportunities to grow professionally. The East London Teaching School Hub further enhances this offer, delivering nationally recognised programmes and enabling staff to engage in and contribute to training across all career stages.
Providing a good pension
When you join the Mulberry Schools Trust, you will have access to an excellent pension scheme — either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme, depending on your role.
Offering flexible working
We recognise the importance of balancing work and home life. We consider flexible and family-friendly working opportunities wherever possible, including part-time, term-time and job-share arrangements. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards we also design timetables to support staff wellbeing. All teachers receive a weekly PPA sessions and an afternoon/ morning well being time offsite.
Supporting your health and wellbeing
Balancing everyday life with the requirements of work can create pressures for all of us. Work is a significant part of our lives and we are committed to creating a healthy and supportive working environment.
All employees have free access to a 24-hour confidential counselling and wellbeing service, designed to support staff with a range of personal and professional challenges.
Recognising that the autumn term is the longest and most demanding, we restructured our calendar to better support staff wellbeing with a two-week break in October.
Actively promoting equality and diversity
Mulberry Academy St Leonards is committed to building an equal, diverse and inclusive community. We want the very best people to work in our school regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy, family status or marital status. We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates from historically under-represented and minority groups, helping ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve.
Further information about the job
About the role
The Support Assistant – Looked-After Children will provide targeted academic, pastoral and mentoring support to looked-after children and previously looked-after children across the secondary school.
The postholder will work closely with teaching staff, the Designated Teacher for Looked-After Children, SENCO, pastoral teams, safeguarding staff, and other professionals to ensure that pupils receive the support they need to achieve academically, develop positive relationships, build confidence and make sustained progress in their education and personal development.
A key element of the role will be to act as a consistent and trusted mentor and advocate for identified pupils. The postholder will develop positive, professional relationships with pupils, providing regular one-to-one mentoring, encouragement and guidance, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and safeguarding responsibilities.
The role will recognise that looked-after children may have experienced disruption, trauma, loss or instability and may therefore require additional support to engage successfully with school and learning.
Key Responsibilities
1. Academic Support
- Support pupils to access the curriculum and overcome barriers to learning..
- Help pupils to develop effective study habits, organisation, time management and independent learning skills.
- Support pupils with homework, revision, coursework and preparation for assessments and examinations.
- Encourage pupils to develop high aspirations and a positive attitude towards learning.
- Support pupils in understanding their academic targets and identifying practical steps towards achieving them.
- Celebrate progress and achievement and help pupils recognise their own strengths and successes.
2. Mentoring and Personal Development
- Provide regular, structured mentoring sessions for identified looked-after children.
- Develop positive, trusting and consistent professional relationships with pupils.
- Act as a reliable adult who pupils can approach for support, advice and encouragement.
- Provide pupils with a safe and supportive opportunity to discuss barriers to learning, school life and personal development.
- Help pupils to identify their strengths, interests, aspirations and areas for development.
- Support pupils to develop resilience, confidence, self-esteem and independence.
- Help pupils develop strategies for managing challenges, setbacks and difficult situations.
- Encourage pupils to take ownership of their education, behaviour and personal development.
- Support pupils in setting realistic short- and long-term goals and regularly review progress towards them.
- Help pupils develop skills in self-advocacy and encourage them to express their views and wishes appropriately.
- Where appropriate, support pupils in preparing for key transitions, including moving between year groups, changing schools and progressing to further education, employment or training.
3. Pastoral Support and Wellbeing
- Provide day-to-day pastoral support to identified pupils, helping them to feel safe, valued and included within the school community.
- Develop an understanding of each pupil's individual circumstances, needs, strengths and interests.
- Support pupils who may experience difficulties with attendance, punctuality, relationships, behaviour, emotional regulation or engagement.
- Help pupils develop positive relationships with peers and staff.
- Support pupils in developing appropriate strategies to manage emotions and respond positively to challenges.
- Encourage participation in enrichment, extracurricular and wider school activities.
- Promote pupils' sense of belonging and inclusion within the school.
- Identify emerging concerns and communicate these promptly to the appropriate member of staff.
- Contribute to attendance and engagement strategies for identified pupils.
- Support pupils before, during and after periods of transition or significant change.
4. Advocacy and the Voice of the Child
- Develop a strong understanding of each pupil's individual needs, experiences and aspirations.
- Ensure that pupils' views, wishes and feelings are listened to and appropriately represented.
- Encourage pupils to participate actively in decisions about their education and support.
- Help pupils understand their targets, support plans and educational priorities.
- Advocate for pupils where appropriate, while ensuring that concerns are communicated through the correct safeguarding and professional channels.
5. Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with teachers, pastoral staff, SENCO, safeguarding staff and the Designated Teacher.
- Liaise appropriately with carers, social workers, Virtual School representatives and other external professionals.
- Share relevant information promptly and appropriately, in accordance with school policies, safeguarding procedures and data protection requirements.
- Establish constructive relationships with parents/carers and professionals involved in supporting pupils.
- Maintain clear communication regarding pupils' progress, achievements and concerns.
7. Safeguarding and Professional Responsibilities
- Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people at all times.
- Follow the school's safeguarding and child protection procedures and report concerns immediately through the appropriate channels.
- Maintain professional boundaries with pupils at all times.
- Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
- Understand and follow school policies relating to safeguarding, behaviour, attendance, equality, inclusion, health and safety and data protection.
- Attend relevant training and maintain an up-to-date understanding of the needs of looked-after and previously looked-after children.
- Recognise that behaviour may be a form of communication and respond to pupils in a trauma-informed, consistent and supportive manner.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Mulberry Academy St Leonards
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- Up to 1500 pupils
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- g.sidders@stleonards.mulberryschoolstrust.org
- Phone number
- 01424448740
Why Mulberry Academy St Leonards?
We’re proud of our people. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards, we are building a culture where pupils, parents, teachers and staff work together in the service of our community. When you join our school, you will find a place where you belong and where your work truly makes a difference to the lives of young people.
Working in education is not always easy. We recognise the effort, creativity and commitment our staff bring every day. We value this deeply and show our appreciation by creating a culture where staff are supported to grow, develop and thrive.
Providing talent development opportunities
We want ambitious and talented people to join Mulberry Academy St Leonards because they want to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
Professional development is central to our culture. All teaching staff benefit from weekly professional development, and each year we dedicate a two-week professional development programme in October. During this time teachers deepen their practice and collaborate on improving teaching and learning, while colleagues in support roles have structured time designed specifically for their own professional development.
We also build coaching into teachers’ timetables, ensuring every teacher benefit from regular professional dialogue, reflection and support to continually develop their practice.
As part of the Mulberry Schools Trust, staff benefit from Trust-wide expertise, strong collaboration, and opportunities to grow professionally. The East London Teaching School Hub further enhances this offer, delivering nationally recognised programmes and enabling staff to engage in and contribute to training across all career stages.
Providing a good pension
When you join the Mulberry Schools Trust, you will have access to an excellent pension scheme — either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme, depending on your role.
Offering flexible working
We recognise the importance of balancing work and home life. We consider flexible and family-friendly working opportunities wherever possible, including part-time, term-time and job-share arrangements. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards we also design timetables to support staff wellbeing. All teachers receive a weekly PPA sessions scheduled as an afternoon, which can be worked remotely if teachers wish, supporting a healthy work life balance.
Supporting your health and wellbeing
Balancing everyday life with the requirements of work can create pressures for all of us. Work is a significant part of our lives and we are committed to creating a healthy and supportive working environment.
All employees have free access to a 24-hour confidential counselling and wellbeing service, designed to support staff with a range of personal and professional challenges.
Recognising that the autumn term is the longest and most demanding, we restructured our calendar to better support staff wellbeing with a two-week break in October.
Actively promoting equality and diversity
Mulberry Academy St Leonards is committed to building an equal, diverse and inclusive community. We want the very best people to work in our school regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy, family status or marital status. We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates from historically under-represented and minority groups, helping ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve.
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