• Paul Lavery Support - Buckinghamshire based

  •  

     

    Welcome to the Paul Lavery Support Freelance Agency Mentor Application Form

     

     

    Thank you for your interest in joining Paul Lavery Support as a Freelance Agency Mentor.

    Before completing this application, please take a few minutes to read the Job Description below. It contains important information about the role, responsibilities, essential requirements and how freelance agency work with PLS operates.

     

    PLS Job Description

     

    Position Title: Freelance Young Person Mentor

    Goal Of The Position: To develop positive, constructive, professional and meaningful relationships with young people to help them move forward in life.

    Role: The Mentor's role is to support their mentees by -

    • Empowering them to resolve current issues and to develop coping strategies for the future.
    • Provide a model for a healthy, trusting relationship through clear communication and setting appropriate boundaries.
    • Acknowledging their strengths, talents and gifts and encouraging them to find ways to use them.
    • Be an active listener and offer support and encouragement where appropriate.
    • Engage in activities of interest.
    • Supporting them to make positive choices in life and to become more reflective. (This list is not exhaustive).

    Responsibilities:

    • Safeguarding the young person.
    • Maintaining confidentiality.
    • Provide clear communication and/or reports with the family, caseworker and other professionals in the young person's network.

    Stages of Application: 

    • Complete online application form.
    • Confirm / Provide Proof of Right To Work in the UK Status.
    • Provide 2 professional references. One must be your current or most recent employer or, if you're self-employed, an organisation you've recently worked for. 
    • Arrange and complete interview.
    • Give consent for background checks.
    • Provide evidence of current Safeguarding, First Aid and Health & Safety training, and the documents listed below. If you don't hold current Safeguarding, First Aid or Health & Safety certificates, PLS can arrange the training. We'll talk this through with you if you're invited to interview.

    Required Documentation:

    • Enhanced DBS registered on the Update Service. If you don't have one, PLS can arrange it for you. There is a cost for this, which we'll explain if you're invited to interview.
    • Full UK Driver's Licence.
    • Car Insurance with Business Cover.
    • Valid MOT.
    • Breakdown Cover.

    Time Commitment: As a freelance agency mentor this will be down to your own availability (our work can be at any time of day).

    Where will the work be? 

    • Predominantly Buckinghamshire based.
    • In the community.
    • At our Reachout farm project.
    • In a young person's home environment.
    • School sites.
    • Alternative provision sites.
    • Residential children's homes.
    • Hospitals.
    • Sports environments.

    Benefits of being a Freelance Agency Mentor:

    • Freedom to choose your own hours / work patterns.
    • Make a difference in the life of a young person.
    • Learn about yourself, personal development.
    • Contribute and give back to the community.
    • Have fun! 

     

  •  

    Professional Standards - Overview

     

    Being a Positive Role Model


    Children and young people are highly observant and often judge adults by what they see as much as by what they hear. As a Mentor, your actions, language and behaviour should consistently reflect the values you encourage in others.

    This includes maintaining professional standards in person, online and within your community. We recognise that no one is perfect, but we expect everyone working with us to act with integrity, reflect on their own practice and continually strive for personal and professional growth.

    By modelling respectful, healthy and responsible behaviour, Mentors help create a safe, consistent and trustworthy environment in which children and young people can thrive.

    Before applying, we'd like you to understand the professional standards expected of everyone working at Paul Lavery Support.

    The overview below sets out our values, expected behaviours and professional conduct. It is intended to help you decide whether this role is right for you.

    If your application is successful, you will receive our full Company Handbook together with all relevant policies and procedures as part of your induction. These documents must be read and acknowledged before you begin working with children and young people.

     

    Professional Standards - Overview

    At Paul Lavery Support (PLS), we support some of the country's most vulnerable children and young people. Our aim is not simply to meet expectations, but to exceed them. We want every child and young person to become the very best version of themselves. By helping individuals to grow and succeed, we believe we can create lasting positive change in their lives and, ultimately, in the wider community.

    This overview sets out the professional standards expected of everyone working with PLS, including employed staff and freelance agency mentors.

    Training and Compliance

    All Mentors are expected to complete and maintain the training required for their role. Where necessary, Paul Lavery Support will provide or arrange this training as part of the induction process. This may include:

    • An Enhanced DBS registered with the DBS Update Service.
    • Safeguarding training.
    • Emergency First Aid training.
    • Health & Safety training.
    • Any additional training identified as necessary for the role.

    Professional Responsibilities

    • Do not smoke in front of or around our young people and their families and do not buy or give items of this nature to them.
    • Do not buy or consume energy drinks or alcohol around young people and their families.
    • Do not engage in any activities or actions that are deemed inappropriate as laid out in safeguard / child protection training.
    • Do not use inappropriate or rude / sexual / aggressive language in or around young people and their families.
    • Do not allow public access to your social media platforms and remember to keep any posts or engagements appropriate and within the laws of the land.
    • Do not use a mobile phone for personal use whilst engaged in a session.
    • Do not engage in any activities or behaviours that may seem inappropriate or illegal.
    • Do not force or coerce any young person or their families into any actions, behaviours, or belief changes.
    • Do not carry young people or their family members in a vehicle that is not legal or safe as per legal minimum standards.
    • Do not discuss young people's situations with anyone outside of the specific professional network.

     

  • Thank you for taking the time to read our Job Description and Professional Standards. If you share our values and want to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people, we'd love to hear from you. Please continue to the application form on the next page.

    If you have any questions before applying, contact admin@paullaverysupport.co.uk or visit our website.

     

  • Image field 327

  • Your Application

     

    Our Commitment to Safe and Fair Recruitment

    At Paul Lavery Support (PLS), we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people at risk and expect all our colleagues to share these values. We are also committed to treating all applicants equally and fairly based on their skills, experience, and ability to fulfil the duties required of the role applied for. This is regardless of any protected characteristics (ethnicity, gender or gender re-assignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, physical / mental disability, age, pregnancy or maternity, marriage, or civil partnership).

    Please ensure that you provide all the information requested within this application form. We understand that some of the questions ask for personal information and would like to reassure you that everything you share with us will be treated confidentially and handled fairly throughout the recruitment process.

  • Where did you see the post advertised?*
  • From which date are you available to receive offers of work through PLS?*
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year

  •  

    Personal details

  • Have you been known by any other names?*
  • Date of Birth*
     - -
  • What is your legal sex (as stated on your birth certificate or passport)?*

  • Please upload a clear, smiling headshot
    This photo will be used for internal records and will not be used as part of the selection process.
    Your headshot should be:
    – Clear and well-lit
    – Just you in the photo
    – Facing the camera and smiling
    – Head and shoulders only

     

    If you're successful, this image may be used to create an ID badge and mentor profile.

  • Browse Files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  •  

    Contact details

  •  

    Right to work

  •  

    Driving

  • Do you hold a current, in-date full UK driving licence?*
  • Do you have access to a car for work?*

  •  

    Passport

  • Do you hold a current, in-date passport?*
  • Expiry date*
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year

  •  

    Disclosure & Barring Service

  • Do you currently hold a DBS certificate?*
  • Date of issue*
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • Is your DBS registered on the Update Service?*

  • An enhanced DBS registered on the update service is required for this role. If you don't have one, PLS can arrange it for you. There is a cost for this, which we'll explain if you're invited to interview. 

    Due to the nature of this role, enhanced DBS and security checking will be required as part of the application process and will involve disclosure of all spent and unspent criminal convictions. We would therefore encourage you to disclose any such convictions at this stage so they can be discussed in full. 

     

    This role involves regulated activity with children. You should not apply if you are on the Children's Barred List.

  • Browse Files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  •  

    Health concerns

  • Is there anything about your health or a disability you'd like us to know, so we can support you through the recruitment process?*

  •  

    Reasonable adjustments

    This question is to help us make the application process fair and accessible to all applicants. Your response will not affect how your application is processed.

  • If you're invited to interview, will you need any reasonable adjustments?*

  •  

    Current work

  • Which best describes your current work situation?*
  • Are you currently employed?

  • Current or most recent work

  • Start date*
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • End date (leave blank if ongoing)
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Employment history 

    • Please provide your full employment history since leaving education, starting with your most recent role and working backwards, including any part-time, voluntary and self-employed work with start and end dates. Use months as well as years and avoid vague entries. In line with our safer recruitment policy, any gaps* in your employment or training history of more than one month have to be explained. Applications with unexplained gaps will not be progressed to interview.

      Please note: we do not accept CVs in place of this section, and applications that rely on CVs or contain incomplete employment history will not progress.

      *Please use the section provided at the end of employment history to explain any gaps in your employment, education or training history.

    • Apart from your current or most recent work above, have you had any other roles (including employed, self-employed, part-time or voluntary work) since leaving education?*

    • Previous role 1

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 2

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 3

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 4

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 5

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 6

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 7

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 8

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 9

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 10

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 11

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 12

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 13

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 14

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 15

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 16

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 17

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 18

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 19

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 20

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another role to add?*

    • Previous role 21

    • Start date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • End date*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Gaps in employment, education or training history 

    • Please detail each period (of more than one month) when you were not in employment, education or training.

      Every gap of more than one month since leaving education must be explained. Applications with unexplained gaps will not be progressed to interview.

    • Do you have any gaps of more than one month to explain?*

    • Gap 1

    • Gap 1 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Gap 1 – to*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another gap to explain?*

    • Gap 2

    • Gap 2 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Gap 2 – to*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another gap to explain?*

    • Gap 3

    • Gap 3 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Gap 3 – to*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another gap to explain?*

    • Gap 4

    • Gap 4 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Gap 4 – to*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another gap to explain?*

    • Gap 5

    • Gap 5 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Gap 5 – to*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    •  

  •  

    Education

    In chronological order, please include all periods of education or training starting with secondary schooling

  • From*
     - -
  • To*
     - -
    • College/University qualifications 
    • Have you studied at college or university?*

    • College / University 1

    • College / University 1 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • College / University 1 – to
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another college or university to add?*

    • College / University 2

    • College / University 2 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • College / University 2 – to
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another college or university to add?*

    • College / University 3

    • College / University 3 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • College / University 3 – to
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another college or university to add?*

    • College / University 4

    • College / University 4 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • College / University 4 – to
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another college or university to add?*

    • College / University 5

    • College / University 5 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • College / University 5 – to
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another college or university to add?*

    • College / University 6

    • College / University 6 – from*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • College / University 6 – to
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Professional registration 
    • Do you hold any professional registrations or qualifications?*

    • Professional registration 1

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another professional registration to add?*

    • Professional registration 2

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another professional registration to add?*

    • Professional registration 3

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • First Aid, Safeguarding and/or Health & Safety training 
    • Do you hold any current First Aid, Safeguarding or Health & Safety certificates?*
    • Upload a File
      Drag and drop files here
      Choose a file
      Cancelof

    • Certificate 1

    • Date issued*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another certificate to add?*

    • Certificate 2

    • Date issued*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another certificate to add?*

    • Certificate 3

    • Date issued*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another certificate to add?*

    • Certificate 4

    • Date issued*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another certificate to add?*

    • Certificate 5

    • Date issued*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another certificate to add?*

    • Certificate 6

    • Date issued*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Short courses 
    • Have you completed any other short courses?*

    • Short course 1

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another short course to add?*

    • Short course 2

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another short course to add?*

    • Short course 3

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another short course to add?*

    • Short course 4

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another short course to add?*

    • Short course 5

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another short course to add?*

    • Short course 6

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another short course to add?*

    • Short course 7

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Do you have another short course to add?*

    • Short course 8

    • Date awarded*
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year

  • Supporting statement

  • Upload a File
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  • Professional references only

    Please provide contact details for two professional referees who are able to comment on your suitability for the role applied for. You are responsible for providing accurate contact details so that referees can be contacted.

    Your first referee must be your current or most recent employer. If you're self-employed, this should be an organisation you've recently worked for. Both referees must be providing the reference in a professional capacity - for example, as a manager, supervisor, or someone authorised to give references on behalf of your workplace.

    We cannot accept references from relatives or friends.

    Please give a professional email address and telephone number for each referee (for example, their work or organisation email address). We cannot accept personal email addresses such as Gmail, Hotmail or Outlook.

    Under How do they know you?, tell us how and when you worked with them – for example, "my line manager at ABC School, 2021–2024".

  • Referee 1*
  • Referee 2*

  • Data Protection Consent

     

    At Paul Lavery Support (PLS), we work with vulnerable children, young people and their families in a variety of settings, including schools, homes and the wider community. To meet our legal, safeguarding and contractual responsibilities, we are required to collect and securely retain certain personal information relating to our freelance agency mentors.

    This information may include:

    • Name
    • Address
    • Email address
    • Application form
    • DBS certificate number and issue date (any scanned copy of a DBS certificate will be securely destroyed after three months)
    • Relevant training records and certificates
    • Passport copy
    • Driving licence copy
    • MOT certificate
    • Motor insurance certificate (including business cover)
    • Breakdown cover details

    This list may change from time to time to reflect changes in legislation or regulatory requirements. Freelance agency mentors are responsible for ensuring that any time-sensitive documents remain valid and for providing updated copies when requested.

    The information we hold is used to support safer recruitment, meet our legal and contractual obligations, verify eligibility to work, and demonstrate compliance with safeguarding requirements. Where necessary, information may be shared with organisations such as local authorities, schools, educational settings, social care providers or other organisations we work with where this is required for the provision of our services. Information may also be disclosed where we are legally required to do so, including to HMRC, the Police or other government agencies.

    By submitting this application, you confirm that the information you have provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge and acknowledge that Paul Lavery Support may verify the information supplied during the recruitment process and, where applicable, throughout your time working with PLS.

    Paul Lavery Support processes personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

    If you have any questions about how your information will be used, please contact us before submitting your application.

  • Date*
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year

  •  

    Thank you for taking the time to complete your application and for considering a role with Paul Lavery Support.

    Once you're ready, click Submit Application.

    Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we're not always able to respond to every applicant individually. If your application is shortlisted, we'll contact you to discuss the next stage of the recruitment process. If you haven't heard from us within 10 working days, please assume you haven't been successful on this occasion.

    We genuinely appreciate your interest in working with us and wish you every success.

     

  • Image field 655

  • www.paullaverysupport.co.uk

  • Should be Empty: