Freelance Pastoral Support Worker

You will work closely with Anjali’s dancers to create a safe and inclusive environment, working to ensure dancers retain their autonomy and independence. You will ensure dancers feel safe, supported and settled outside of studio hours, particularly during residential training periods and projects away from their homes.

Our Residential training is primarily held in Nottingham, with potential additional opportunities to work on projects across the UK. Work will be offered on an ad hoc basis, with dates agreed in advance by mutual agreement.

Work May Include:

• Assisting the Main Company dancers when staying at accommodation. This may include accompanying travel to and from the site, supporting guest check-in and check-out, assisting at mealtimes, supporting transitions to bedtime, and helping to create a safe and calm environment
• Supporting social time, including informal group activities and opportunities for rest and connection, in a way that support group cohesion and wellbeing
• Liaising with accommodation providers, venues, and members of the public as a point of contact, sharing relevant information and escalating any concerns to the Anjali team as appropriate
• Supporting practical arrangements around food and refreshments, which may include purchasing meals or snacks, assisting dancers to buy food or drinks and supporting access to appropriate options while travelling or on location
• Offering pastoral and practical support on a responsive basis, supporting dancers with questions, ideas, and concerns as they arise
• Supporting travel to include travelling with dancers to/from venues, bookings taxis, planning journeys and engaging with train passenger assistance
• Working in line with Anjali Dance Company’s safeguarding policies and procedures, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and raising any concerns promptly with the Anjali team
• Participating in evaluation and feedback processes, offering input to support organisational learning.

Please note:

• There is no personal care required as part of this role
• Overnight support is provided on a sleep-in/on-call basis. The freelancer will be able to rest overnight and will only be required to respond if support is needed.

Who We Are Looking For:

We think personality and approach is key to succeeding in this work. The type of person our dancers respond best to is someone who is:

• Warm and personable, with a supportive approach
• Able to balance equal attention to ensure each dancer feels seen and heard
• Comfortable with on-the-spot problem solving, responding calmly in dynamic situations
• Respectful of their independence and autonomy, encouraging them to take ownership, without being overbearing or patronising
• A strong communicator who is good at listening
• Genuinely interested in working with learning disabled artists
• Skilled in best safeguarding practice and able to assert boundaries as required.

It will be helpful if you have experience or an understanding of access, learning disabilities and safeguarding.

* We are open to the same person applying for both freelance opportunities (Creative Enabler & Pastoral Support Worker).

Practical Information:

Up to 2 individuals will be offered a freelance contract, with work offered as required.

We pay between £125.00 – £150.00 for overnight periods, depending on the type of work and responsibility. Where support is required for evening-only or morning-only periods, fees will be adjusted accordingly and agreed in advance.

Travel expenses are offered in addition, based on second class rail fare and where appropriate, meals are covered.

Our main company training takes place on Monday and Tuesday daytimes. Other project work varies based on bookings and scheduling.

You will be required to have an enhanced DBS check to fulfil this work due to being with vulnerable children and adults.

Those undertaking the work will be responsible for paying their own NI and tax.