About the College
Sunderland College has been delivering highly successful courses for more than 20 years and is one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the North East with approximately 14,300 students.
The College has two campuses across the city of Sunderland, offering a wide range of academic and vocational provision for school leavers and adults. The College aims to develop and positively shape lives, communities, and the economy through teaching, learning and development of skills. Our students consistently achieve outstanding results and Sunderland College has been ranked in the top 25% in the country for student achievement rates. In October 2024, we were ranked as Ofsted outstanding, and we are proud of our diverse student and staff community that provide our students with bespoke education pathways to help them achieve their future career goals.
Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which we were graded as being Outstanding across all areas - Ofsted-Report-Outstanding
Our Journey & Values
As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.
Taking Teaching Further & Additional Incentives
If you’re making the move into further education teaching, you may be eligible for the Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme a funded route to help industry professionals retrain as FE teachers.
In addition, for roles in high-need subjects or regions you may also benefit from the government’s targeted retention incentive (formerly “levelling-up premium”) payments, worth up to £6,000 for eligible teachers in their first five years and teaching certain shortage subjects.
Please note eligibility for both TTF and the Targeted Retention Incentive varies by role, subject area and provider, they do not apply to every vacancy.
Find out more about both initiatives through the links below.
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Taking Teaching Further - Taking Teaching Further
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Targeted Retention Incentive - Targeted Retention Incentive
About the Candidate
We're looking for a passionate, resilient and compassionate individual who believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of the barriers they face.
You'll be someone who builds trust quickly, communicates with empathy and can motivate and inspire young people to achieve positive change. You will thrive in a collaborative environment, working alongside colleagues, families and external partners to develop personalised solutions that improve engagement, wellbeing and outcomes.
You'll demonstrate our values every day by showing Courage to challenge barriers, Authenticity in building honest and trusting relationships, Respect for every individual's unique experiences and Excellence through your commitment to delivering outstanding support.
As a Support and Engagement Coach, you will play a vital role in transforming the lives of young people whose mental health, wellbeing or personal circumstances are preventing them from engaging in education. Through early intervention, outreach and relationship-based practice, you will help learners overcome barriers, build confidence and progress towards sustained education, employment or training. Your work will contribute directly to creating more inclusive communities and reducing inequalities for some of our most vulnerable young people.
About the Role
This is an exciting 12-month fixed-term opportunity to deliver a targeted project supporting young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET due to mental health, emotional wellbeing and wider participation barriers.
You will provide personalised coaching, outreach and practical support to help young people engage successfully with learning and achieve positive outcomes. You will work collaboratively with curriculum teams, families and external agencies to coordinate support and remove barriers to participation.
This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop expertise in trauma-informed practice, mental health, engagement and multi-agency working, while contributing to an innovative pilot project that will help shape future approaches to supporting vulnerable learners across the College.
Role Responsibilities
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Build trusted relationships with young people through one-to-one coaching, outreach and personalised support.
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Identify barriers to participation and develop tailored engagement and wellbeing plans.
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Work collaboratively with curriculum teams, families and external agencies to coordinate holistic support.
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Monitor learner attendance, engagement and wellbeing, intervening early where concerns arise.
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Support learners to develop confidence, resilience, independence and readiness for education, employment or training.
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Record interventions, monitor outcomes and contribute to evaluating the impact of the project.
Qualifications
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English and Maths at Level 2 (GCSE Grade C/4 or equivalent).
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Coaching, Youth Work, Mentoring or equivalent Level 3 qualification (or willingness to work towards).
Essential Skills & Experience
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Experience of supporting young people with social, emotional or mental health needs.
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Experience of working with young people who face barriers to education, employment or training.
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Experience of building positive relationships with young people, families and professionals.
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Knowledge of trauma-informed, restorative and person-centred approaches.
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Excellent communication, organisational and partnership-working skills.
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Experience of developing and reviewing personalised support plans.
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Ability to work flexibly across college, community and home settings.
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Ability to maintain accurate records and monitor learner progress.
Desirable Skills & Experience – (Optional)
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Experience of working within further education, youth work, community or voluntary sector settings.
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Experience of multi-agency working and supporting learners with complex needs.
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Knowledge of safeguarding, SEND and mental health pathways.
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Experience of delivering outreach or community-based engagement activities.
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Understanding of the challenges affecting young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.
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Experience of supporting learners through transitions into education, training or employment.
What’s in it for you?
Join EPNE and you’ll be part of a culture that prioritises your development and wellbeing, which is why all employees receive an extensive benefits package.
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Enjoy a generous holiday allowance ranging between 35-48 days per year, plus public holidays - (Excluding Term Time Only contracts)
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Generous family leave and flexible working options (dependent on role)
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LGPS or Teacher Pensions Scheme - depending on role
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Access to myLifestyle benefits platform providing retail discounts and more.
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We offer dental, eye care & health cash plans.
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Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
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Free parking on most campuses.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
At Education Partnership North East (EPNE), we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We know that diverse perspectives strengthen our teams to enhance the education and support we provide to our learners and communities.
We recognise that talented individuals may not always follow a traditional career path and may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you are excited about the role and believe you can make a positive contribution, we encourage you to apply.
As a Disability Confident Employer and Armed Forces Covenant Member, and with Ofsted Outstanding status across all campuses, we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and high-performing environment where everyone can thrive.
Due to the nature of this post, you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure Check.
We believe in equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are committed to PREVENT and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
