Position reference: 50128195

Directorate: Growth and Sustainability | Service: Employment & Skills

Salary: £31,537 - £34,434

Working Arrangements: Agile Working

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Permanent

We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch.

See our range of Employee Rewards: Employee rewards and benefits

Closing date: 20/04/2026 at 23:59

Panel Interviews: Wednesday 29 April and Thursday 30 April (in person in Barnsley)

The successful candidate will be required to speak English to an appropriate standard.

This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check

If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email dbs@barnsley.gov.uk

When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.

We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.

There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent Employment & Skillsteam as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post:

We’re making lots of exciting changes here at Barnsley. Throughout this journey, our commitment to ensuring that our vulnerable post16 young people have access to high quality, meaningful work experience has never been stronger. That’s where you come in.
As a Pastoral Mentor, you will play a vital and rewarding role in supporting young people connected with the Council’s Inclusive Offer, an innovative programme providing paid and unpaid work placements across a wide range of council services. This is an exciting opportunity to help our learners’ overcome barriers, build confidence and progress successfully into employment, further training, or their next steps in life.
Shape a better future with us
Creativity, ambition and a focus on people. That’s what matters here. Our award winning council is on an exciting journey of change, putting local people at the heart of everything we do and working closely with our communities to make a real difference.
Here at Barnsley, our four core values guide everything: honesty, teamwork, excellent service and pride in what we do. As part of our team, you’ll be supported to excel and develop your skills.
We are excited about our future and we want you to be part of it. By working together, and with our communities, we can take pride in improving lives and creating a better Barnsley for everyone.
Your role in our journey
As a Pastoral Mentor, you will play a key part in enabling our young people to thrive. You will support individuals who may face personal, emotional, behavioural or social challenges that affect their learning or their ability to sustain a work placement.
You will:

Help learners overcome barriers preventing them from starting, attending, progressing, or achieving in their placement or programme.

Provide dedicated one to one pastoral support that promotes resilience, confidence and independence.

Work closely with colleagues, families, and partner agencies to identify the most effective actions for success.

Support young people to secure positive and sustainable outcomes — whether that’s paid employment, a traineeship, an apprenticeship, further education, or progression into the next stage of their development.

This role is an opportunity to make a lifechanging difference. You will be part of a team enabling vulnerable post16 learners across Barnsley to realise their potential, develop essential life and work skills, and move forward with confidence.
What you’ll need
To join us, you’ll need:

A relevant Level 4 qualification

GCSE English & Maths (Grade C/4 or above) or recognised equivalents

Willing to undertake a level 4 IAG qualification

Experience providing pastoral support to groups and individuals

A strong understanding of the barriers young people face when engaging with education, training, or employment

A passion for enabling positive outcomes for vulnerable young people

For more information, visit website: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/work-skills-and-training/pathways-to-work/employability-support-and-resources-for-businesses-and-schools/ways-employers-can-support-young-people-to-get-into-work/
For a confidential conversation, please contact: Debra Adams – debraadams@barnsley.gov.uk

Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form.

Job Profile: Pastoral Mentor Profile.docx

Vacancy Exposure Profile: Exposure Profile.pdf

Help with your application form

Why work for us?

Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your application form how you meet the required criteria.

We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities.

We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.

CV's are not accepted for this role.

At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances"

www.barnsley.gov.uk/jobs

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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Pastoral Mentor