Specialist Tutor

Help young people build brighter futures through education, skills and opportunity

Could you use your educational, vocational or industry experience to help young people discover their strengths and develop the skills they need for their future?

Southampton City Council's Young People's Service and Youth Justice Service are looking for a creative, adaptable and committed Specialist Education and Pathways Tutor to join our Education, Skills and Employability Team.

You might be a teacher or tutor, but you could equally come from vocational training, outdoor education, youth work, mentoring, employability support, careers education or an industry-based learning environment. What matters most is your ability to engage young people, turn practical experiences into meaningful learning and help them progress towards education, training and employment.

This is not a traditional classroom-based tutoring role. Although you may provide individual and small-group learning, you will also help develop and deliver practical and innovative opportunities in a range of settings. This could include working alongside young people on site, using outdoor and vocational activities to build skills, and helping to establish new skills development and progression pathways.

You will work with children and young people who may have experienced disrupted education, exclusion, special educational needs, trauma, poor attendance, exploitation, offending behaviour or other challenges that have affected their learning journey.

Through flexible, creative and relationship-based practice, you will help young people reconnect with learning, recognise their strengths, build confidence and take meaningful steps towards a positive future.

About the role

As a Specialist Education and Pathways Tutor, you will create and deliver flexible learning opportunities that respond to young people's individual strengths, interests, needs and aspirations.

Your work may include personalised education and accredited learning, but it will also involve practical, vocational and real-world activities. You will work directly alongside young people, helping them understand, develop and evidence the skills they gain through different experiences.

You will work with young people individually, in small groups and through practical or site-based activities. You will also contribute to the development of new provision and pathways that connect education, skills development, employability and preparation for adulthood.

You will:

• Develop and deliver engaging, flexible and high-quality learning opportunities.
• Work with young people individually, in groups and through practical or site-based activities.
• Develop practical, vocational and experiential learning in a range of settings.
• Support young people to re-engage with learning and improve their participation, confidence and educational outcomes.
• Assess learning needs and develop appropriate learning plans, goals and progression targets.
• Deliver or support accredited and non-accredited learning opportunities.
• Work alongside young people during activities, helping them recognise and evidence the knowledge and skills they are developing.
• Use activities and real-world experiences to develop confidence, resilience, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and employability skills.
• Contribute to the development of new skills pathways, including opportunities connected to outdoor education, vocational activity and the world of work.
• Use your professional, educational or industry expertise to translate practical experiences into meaningful learning and progression.
• Embed careers awareness and employability throughout individual, group, practical and site-based activities.
• Help young people understand and explore the education, training, apprenticeship and employment pathways available to them.
• Build positive and trusted professional relationships that motivate and inspire young people.
• Work closely with schools, colleges, alternative education providers, training organisations, employers and other professionals.
• Develop relationships with community partners and providers to broaden the opportunities available to young people.
• Work flexibly across different projects, settings and forms of delivery according to the needs of young people and the service.
• Contribute to the continued development of creative and innovative learning opportunities that prepare young people for adulthood and future employment.

What we are looking for

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of professional backgrounds.

You may have experience in:

• Teaching or tutoring.
• Vocational or practical learning.
• Outdoor education.
• Youth work or mentoring.
• Employability or careers support.
• Industry training.
• Alternative education.
• Skills development.
• Community-based learning.
• Supporting children and young people in another relevant environment.

You do not necessarily need to come from a traditional classroom teaching background. We are particularly interested in applicants who can combine an understanding of how young people learn with practical, vocational or industry experience.

Most importantly, you will be able to:

• Build trusted and respectful relationships with children and young people.
• Engage learners who may have become disengaged from formal education.
• Work directly alongside young people and remain actively involved in practical activities.
• Create learning experiences that are relevant, accessible and motivating.
• Recognise learning and skills development within practical and real-world experiences.
• Adapt your approach to meet a wide range of learning needs, interests and communication styles.
• Understand the barriers that vulnerable children and young people may experience.
• Work in a trauma-informed and child-centred way.
• Balance encouragement and aspiration with clear professional boundaries.
• Work independently while contributing effectively within a wider team.
• Work collaboratively with families, education providers, employers, community organisations and other professionals.
• Inspire young people to think positively about their future and understand the options available to them.
• Work flexibly across a range of environments, projects and forms of learning.

Experience of supporting young people to develop practical or employability skills, access training opportunities, understand career pathways or prepare for the world of work would be particularly valuable.

Why join us?

This is a unique opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of some of Southampton's most vulnerable children and young people.

You will join a supportive and innovative team committed to trauma-informed, child-centred practice. The team is passionate about creating opportunities that reflect young people's strengths, interests and aspirations, including opportunities outside traditional education settings.

The role offers the chance to help shape new approaches to education, skills development and progression. You will have the opportunity to use your own experience and creativity to develop provision that supports young people to learn through practical activity, positive relationships and real-world experiences.

Each day brings the opportunity to help a young person reconnect with learning, discover what they are capable of and take meaningful steps towards education, training, employment and a positive future.

Southampton City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this post.

What we can offer you:

Salary: The salary band for this role is £37,280 - £40,778 per annum. starting salary is £37,280 with annual progression through the salary bands.

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25-31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit:

Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)