HLTA Link Tutor

We are looking for two highly experienced Link Tutors to join our pastoral support team and work alongside our current Link Tutors supporting students in KS3 and KS4. They are both fixed-term positions for one year in the first instance, covering members of the team who are embarking on a one year secondment opportunity within the service.

The role of Link Tutor is hugely rewarding and the successful candidate would find themselves working within a team of highly motivated and creative staff. The role has a pastoral focus, providing support to enable our students to access educational provision whilst they are with us, and to aid transition back to their main school or other identified setting. The role is peripatetic and county wide. Regular contact and visits to the home of our students is fundamental to the role. The visits enable our link tutors to work with our students to identify barriers to learning, key milestones, develop strategies and skills, and work on aspects of the wellbeing curriculum.

They have responsibility for liaising with Social Care, medical professionals, parents, the mainstream schools, and the academic teachers at GHES. Attendance at TAF, CIN, CP, PEPs and Graduated Pathway meetings are also part of this role. As a short-term service, re‑integration back into the student’s mainstream school, alternative provision or post 16 destination is a key feature. The Link Tutor is responsible for facilitating carefully planned and supported reintegration or transition.

We are looking for individuals who have experience of working with children with additional needs and professionals involved in the education system. The ideal candidate will:

• Understand the graduated pathway and the need for a student‑centred approach
• Have experience of, or a good working knowledge of the other professional agencies who provide support for young people of school age
• Place high value on the importance of safeguarding
• Be well organised, able to work on their own initiative and manage their time well
• Be flexible and creative to achieve successful outcomes for all of our students

Working in alignment with Non‑Violent Resistant (NVR) principles, demonstrating a commitment to de‑escalation, relational connection, and persistent, respectful support in the face of challenge. Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with students, parents, staff at GHES and professionals are all important qualities for this role. A firm belief that a medical condition should not stop a child reaching their full potential is essential.

Takes pride in their work and thrives in a busy environment. Has the ability to organise themselves and plan their week. Ensures student voice is at the heart of every decision. Provides the right level of support and challenge to access education. Is willing to be flexible and adaptable with tasks as they arise. Is able to confidently communicate with students, parents, professionals through the main schools in Gloucestershire and NHS professionals. Has good ICT skills, especially with Microsoft and SIMS.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the Hospital Education team. You can be confident of joining a highly professional, passionate, supportive and very experienced team of teachers, pastoral and administrative staff working tirelessly to ensure the best outcomes can be achieved for every individual despite the health barriers they may be facing.

The role is a term‑time only role, 36 hours per week (39 + 5.55 holiday weeks), at Grade 6. This works out as being approximately 0.87FTE. Work would be a blend of working from home, travelling to student homes or their main schools, and working from our classroom spaces in Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Benefits include:

• Membership of a Local Government Pension Scheme
• Discounts at major supermarket chains and high street retailers
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free, confidential, counselling and advice for employees 24 hours a day, online and by telephone
• Gloucestershire Salary Sacrifice Green Car Scheme (T&C's apply)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) network and the Young Employees Network

This Position is subject to a DBS check. The council is not currently able to offer sponsorship in this role. Candidates will need to have right to work that enables them to commit to at least six months’ employment. Right to work is not transferable from a sponsored role held with another employer. Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a ‘customer facing role’ must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English. Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.