Student Support & Outreach Worker in Dawlish

Chances have consistently delivered excellent results. The staff are a mixture of quality teachers and highly trained youth workers, allowing us to focus on education, but also offer a holistic wrap‑around approach to the care we provide. Students are at the heart of every decision we make, fostering enthusiasm, confidence, and a passion for learning. After time at our provision, with the support of our great teachers and skilled youth workers, most students reintegrate back into their mainstream school successfully.

Chances Educational Support Services is a vibrant alternative provision dedicated to early intervention for students facing challenges in mainstream education. We are an OFSTED registered ‘Good’ school with an impressive record of improving behaviour, attendance and successful reintegration back into mainstream settings. Chances works across two models:

• Short‑term placements where students remain on roll at their mainstream school
• EBSA placements where students are on roll at Chances and receive bespoke support to rebuild engagement and attendance

Chances is part of DYS Space Ltd, and our core values are:

• Resilience
• Respect
• Opportunity

Do you want to help us unlock potential with young people and their communities? Do you enjoy working directly with children, being flexible, and making a real difference in challenging but rewarding situations? Chances is seeking two passionate Outreach Workers to join our team. You will work directly with students and families, mainly in their homes, acting as a bridge between home, school, and external agencies. This is a relational, child‑centred role, focusing on early intervention, prevention, and reintegration.

The role is primarily home‑based, supporting EBSA students to access education at Chances, stabilise attendance and engagement, and transition successfully to their long‑term mainstream placement. You will also work closely with the Chances team to support educational tasks where needed, and spend some time in‑centre writing reports, contributing to planning and team discussions. This role involves working directly with students in their homes to build strong, trusting relationships and support their re‑engagement with education. Although the post is based at Chances School, the role requires regular travel to and from students’ homes. You will support students to transition into education at Chances school and, over time, help them reintegrate into an appropriate long‑term education setting. You will work closely with students and their families, acting as a vital link between home, school, and external agencies. The role focuses on building positive relationships with pupils experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and supporting them to access education and progress into mainstream or alternative provision. This is a new and developing role, so flexibility, creativity, and resilience are essential. You will have the opportunity to shape the role as it grows. This role is ideal for someone who values partnership over paperwork, understands SEMH and EBSA, and wants to make a meaningful difference.

What is the role

• Relationship Building and Outreach
  • Engage with children and families in their homes and communities
  • Build trust and support attendance, engagement, and wellbeing
  • Encourage re‑engagement with school and support transitions
• Supporting Learning and Wellbeing
  • Work alongside Chances teachers to support educational tasks if required
  • Support students 1:1 or in small groups as appropriate
  • Contribute to personalised intervention plans
• Collaboration and Multi‑Agency Work
  • Liaise with mainstream schools, families, and external agencies
  • Attend meetings and provide reports as required
  • Help coordinate interventions and plans for students
• Monitoring and Reflection
  • Keep accurate records of engagement, progress, and interventions
  • Contribute to team discussions and planning
  • Reflect on and adapt your practice to meet children's needs
• Flexibility and Development
  • Work patterns may vary day‑to‑day, including home visits, in‑centre support, and team meetings
  • Role will evolve over time, offering opportunities to shape practice and processes
  • Work for DYS Space Ltd during school holidays as part of wider organisational delivery

Experience working with children or young people, particularly those with SEMH or attendance challenges

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Flexible, reflective, and solution‑focused

Organised and able to maintain accurate records

Driving licence

Experience with EBSA students or alternative provision

Experience liaising with schools, families, and external agencies

Relevant qualification in youth work, education, or SEMH support

As part of our commitment to equality and diversity, we particularly welcome applications from those who identify under any of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

What We Offer

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Continuous Professional Development
• Value‑driven, supportive culture
• Opportunity to shape a developing outreach model
• The chance to make a tangible difference for students and families
• Cycle to work scheme

Safeguarding Statement and Pre‑Employment Checks

At SPACE, we work with young people and are fully committed to ensuring their safeguarding and welfare is a priority at all times. As part of our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, all of our employees, contractors and volunteers will be expected to comply. Upon a conditional offer of appointment being made, all employees will also be required to satisfy our pre‑employment screening process which will include:

• An identity check (photo ID)
• Receipt of satisfactory references cover for 3 years to current
• Documentary evidence of right to work in the UK
• A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)