Tuition Services Navigator

Tuition Services Navigator
Grade : 6
Salary : £33699 - £36363 per annum
Working Pattern : Full-time - 37 hours per week
Location : Bunnyhill Centre
Closing date : 14th July
Interview date : 21st July

Join our Team

Together for Children Sunderland is on a transformative journey to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people in Sunderland. We are an outstanding Ofsted-rated Children’s service, if you’re committed to helping children, families, and our community thrive and have the skills to support our mission, we would love to hear from you. You can learn more about us here: Together for Children.

About the role

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Tuition Services Navigator to join our Tuition Services team at a critical time for inclusion across the city.

These are challenging times for education, so the Tuition Navigator is a new and high-profile role within the Tuition Service. You will support the Tuition Service Lead and the Virtual School Headteacher as we continue to ensure our children and young people get the very best education that meets their needs.

This is a  preventative frontline role  focused on supporting children and young people at risk of disrupted education due to medical needs, including Emotion Based School Avoidance (EBSA). You will work directly with families, schools and partner agencies to prevent severe absence and escalation into statutory and crisis services.  You will also support our Post 16 team to facilitate the delivery of employability skills for young people not in education, training or employment.

You will manage a caseload of young people with complex EBSA cases, providing independent advice, professional challenge and coordinated multi-agency support to help children remain safely included in education wherever possible. The role has a particular focus on children with a social worker, where complexity and risk are often greatest.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of children and young people with complex medical needs, including mental ill health.
• Raise awareness of the particular vulnerabilities of children with a social worker when they are absent for extended periods from a school or education provision.
• Provide independent advice to carers and partners around attendance and reintegration back to school or alternative education settings following absence.
• Facilitate the delivery of employability skills for care-experienced young people not in employment, education or training.
• Quality assure the suitability of education offers to ensure the provision and curriculum meet the child’s needs.
• Ensure high-quality tuition education plans are put in place by home schools, with SMART targets aligned to SEN support plans or EHCP targets.
• Provide support and professional challenge to schools and agencies when support for children to return to their mainstream setting is neither timely nor adequate.
• Chair multi-agency meetings and coordinate responses.
• Represent the local authority at school, social care, health and partnership meetings.
• Contribute to quality assurance, data monitoring and statutory responsibilities (e.g. CME, Section 19, Medical absence).Act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead within the 

About You

We are looking for an experienced pastoral or inclusion leader who:

• Has significant experience supporting children and families with complex attendance needs, ideally in an education setting.
• Has a strong understanding of SEND, safeguarding, core curriculum, and national statutory guidance relating to medical absence.
• Can build trusted relationships while providing clear professional challenge where attendance or safeguarding responsibilities are not being met.
• Confident leading meetings, writing professional reports and managing sensitive, high-stakes cases.
• Shares our commitment to early intervention, prevention and improving life chances for vulnerable children and young people

What We Offer

• A high-impact role at the heart of Sunderland’s inclusion system.
• The opportunity to work directly with children, families and over 100 schools.
• Access to TfC leadership, coaching and professional development programmes.
• A supportive, values-driven organisation focused on prevention and system improvement

We want you to apply if you:

• Hold a degree or equivalent
• Leadership qualification or willingness to work towards
• Evidence of continual professional development.

Contact Helen Whewell at View email address on northeastjobs.org.uk for an informal discussion

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.We will also carry out an online internet search for information that is publicly available online that might suggest that you are not fit to work with children or young people

“Due to recent changes in UKVI rules, this role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under the updated eligibility requirements effective 22 July 2025.” 

Why work with us?

· Make a difference : Our work matters. The work we do is incredibly rewarding. Join us and make a difference in the lives of our children, families, and community.

· Inclusion : Thrive in our diverse and inclusive culture and be part of our employee networks, including Accessibility, LGBTQ+, Racial Equality, Armed Forces and Menopause.

· Work-Life Balance : We offer a hybrid model of working with agile and flexible working arrangements, including part-time opportunities, flexible hours, and the possibility of remote work arrangements.

· Professional Development : Advance your career with our comprehensive induction, supervision, peer support, and supportive environment.

· Be part of a happier, healthier workforce : Benefit from our wide range of wellbeing activities and employee assistance programmes.

· Attractive Salary, Benefits and Rewards : for additional information please follow this link: Together for Children Benefits and rewards

What our team think: About Us

We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to various ages, disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, beliefs, races, and ethnicities. We aim for our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

We are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. Please reach out to our EDI Lead View email address on northeastjobs.org.uk or View email address on northeastjobs.org.uk so we can discuss any adjustments or support we can provide during the recruitment process or within the workplace.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked-after young person, are care experienced, or are a veteran.

Are you ready to make a difference?