Job Introduction
Due to the growth of our curriculum offer, you'll join our Secure and Specialist Education Service as a Learning and Skills Tutor within our provision at Swanwick Lodge Secure Children's Home. In this challenging, yet highly rewarding and meaningful role, you'll work as part of a welcoming and highly supportive multidisciplinary team, helping to design and deliver tailored education programmes for young people who may have experienced significant disruption to their education.
With a maximum of 10 young people in our home, and with learning sessions typically delivered in very small groups often around two at a time, you'll have the opportunity to build strong, positive relationships and tailor learning to individual needs. Our curriculum is broad and flexible, ranging from AQA Unit Awards and Entry Level qualifications through to Functional Skills and GCSE support. Teaching approaches are creative and responsive, with lessons often adapted in real time to maximise engagement, participation, and achievement.
Unlike a mainstream setting, education within a secure children's home is highly personalised and child-centred, placing equal importance on academic progress, emotional wellbeing, personal development, and engagement. You'll support young people who may have experienced trauma and who often present with social, emotional and mental health needs, SEND requirements, and other complex challenges, making a meaningful difference to some of the most vulnerable children in our care.
The role is worked year-round across 5 days a week, with typical hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm. Learner sessions are usually delivered between 9:30am and 3:00pm, with dedicated time for planning, administration, handovers, and collaborative working at the start and end of the day.
As an engaging and committed tutor, with strong experience supporting vulnerable learners and those with additional needs, you'll be motivated by the opportunity to positively impact young people's futures through education.
What you’ll do:
- Plan and deliver an engaging and inclusive curriculum tailored to individual learner needs.
- Design personalised learning programmes that support re-engagement, achievement, and progression.
- Work collaboratively with other tutors and professionals across the Secure and Specialist Education Service to maximise provision.
- Contribute to enrichment weeks, supporting a broad and balanced education offer.
- Accurately record progress, attainment, and engagement using digital systems.
- Promote equality, inclusion, and positive relationships in all aspects of your work.
- Work closely with residential care teams, therapists, healthcare professionals, social workers, and other professionals to provide a holistic approach to each young person's learning and development.
- Adapt lessons and learning activities to support engagement, emotional regulation, and positive outcomes.
What we’re looking for:
- A Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) or Level 5 equivalent teaching qualification.
- Experience delivering high-quality education to vulnerable learners, including those with SEND and poor mental wellbeing.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with learners, colleagues, and professionals.
- Resilience, patience, empathy, and compassion, with the ability to manage emotionally challenging situations.
- Confidence using IT systems and learning technologies.
- Strong knowledge of education policy, regulation and inspection, including Ofsted.
- The ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and contribute positively to individual care and education plans.
Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Learning and Skills Tutor role, team and our values. The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.
Why join us:
- Unlike mainstream education, progress at Swanwick Lodge is often measured through small but significant milestones in engagement, confidence, resilience, attendance, relationships, and personal development. You'll benefit from working alongside a highly experienced multidisciplinary team, including residential care staff, therapists, healthcare professionals, social workers, and education leaders, all committed to helping young people achieve positive futures.
- Staff also have access to specialist training and professional development opportunities in areas such as trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, SEND, de-escalation strategies, and supporting children with complex needs. Whilst the environment can be demanding and unpredictable at times, it offers a unique opportunity to see meaningful individual progress and make a genuine, lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.
- Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme - to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
- A competitive benefits package that includes generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.
To learn more about this role, please review our Candidate Pack available on our website. Please click on the Apply button for details.
Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.
Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK before applying.
Other roles you may have experience of may include: Teacher, Teacher, Teacher -Specialist Provision, Learning and Engagement Teacher, Tutor, Outreach Tutor, Teaching and Learning Practitioner, Lead Tutor.
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
