Specialist Learning Mentor
Salary: SO1 £34,434 - £36,363
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: The Reginald Centre with hybrid working.
As a Specialist Learning Mentor, you will thrive on supporting young people to build resilience and help those at risk of becoming NEET to overcome barriers and progress positively.
About You
* Strong group–work skills to deliver and evaluate engaging Resilience Programme sessions in primary and secondary settings.
* Excellent communication and partnership–working skills, with a strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and improving outcomes for vulnerable young people.
* A genuine passion for supporting young people to develop confidence, resilience, and positive next steps.
* The ability to build trust quickly with vulnerable learners and motivate them through effective one‑to‑one support, particularly those at risk of becoming NEET.
* A proactive, solution‑focused approach to identifying barriers early and helping young people make realistic, achievable plans.
About The Role
In this varied and rewarding role, you will deliver our structured resilience programmes in primary and secondary settings. Group sessions support young people to develop emotional resilience, communication skills, self‑esteem and strategies to manage challenges. You will deliver and evaluate engaging activities that encourage participation, improve wellbeing and build motivation. Alongside your group work, you will hold a caseload of Year 11 young people who are at risk of becoming NEET. You will provide one‑to‑one support to help them explore suitable post‑16 options and manage a successful transition into Year 12. This will include working closely with a wide range of professionals, as well as parents, families and carers.
The post is based at the Regional Centre; however, the duties of the role require travel to schools across the city and include the option for hybrid working.
What We Offer You
* A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
* Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
* A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
* A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
Job Description
Provide targeted support to young people through the delivery of resilience programmes and transition interventions within schools, aiming to reduce the risk of them becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and promote positive educational and personal outcomes. This role requires regular travel across Leeds to schools, homes, and partner agencies.
Responsibilities
* Deliver primary and secondary resilience group work programmes that strengthen emotional wellbeing, coping strategies, and confidence.
* Support young people to overcome barriers to post‑16 progression and access further education, training, or employment opportunities, working collaboratively with schools, families, and partner agencies.
* Ensure a holistic approach to support which meets the individual needs of each young person.
* Provide one‑to‑one transition support to a designated caseload of young people identified as at risk of becoming NEET through tools such as the RONI (Risk Of NEET Indicator).
* Identify and address individual support needs to raise aspirations and increase participation in education, employment, and training.
* Actively safeguard young people and promote their wellbeing, embedding resilience into everyday practice.
* Adhere to local, regional and national safeguarding policies and best practice, assessing risks and reporting concerns as required.
* Build strong relationships with school safeguarding leads and adhere to safeguarding policies.
* Attend and produce reports for Child Protection Conferences, Reviews, and Core Group Meetings.
* Liaise with schools regarding programme bookings and deliver information sessions to staff.
* Provide constructive challenge to ensure successful programme delivery and timely information sharing.
* Collaborate with pastoral teams, Youth Justice Teams, and other professionals to support students at risk of NEET.
* Attend multi‑agency meetings, including RONI Panels, Early Help Meetings, and Child Protection meetings as required.
* Work with post‑16 providers and careers services to ensure smooth transitions for young people leaving school.
* Embed the Leeds Practice Model and Re‑Think Formulation methodology in all aspects of practice.
* Manage a personal caseload, attending meetings related to education and post‑16 transitions.
* Maintain accurate records in line with Data Protection and Information Sharing Protocols.
* Promote resilience programmes to schools and align with Leeds CYPP outcomes and Child Friendly Leeds policies.
* Ensure accurate and timely recording of information.
* Evaluate sessions to ensure objectives are met and use feedback for continuous improvement.
* Contribute to operational work plans, reports, and service improvement recommendations.
* Attend training, meetings, and conferences to maintain best practice knowledge.
* Support induction, coaching, and mentoring of colleagues and student placements.
* Facilitate transport of resources to venues within and beyond Leeds boundaries.
* Adopt safe working practices for yourself and colleagues by adhering to Health and Safety policies and risk assessments.
* Develop constructive working relationships and work in partnership with schools, families, and external agencies.
* Engage young people with diverse and challenging needs.
* Provide solution‑focused responses to complex situations experienced by disaffected disadvantaged young people and their families.
* Promote effective inter‑agency working to meet the specific support needs of young people and their families.
* Work constructively with parents/carers from diverse backgrounds.
* Other duties within the spirit of the post may be required.
Qualifications
Must hold a relevant professional qualification in fields relating to working with young people such as Youth work, Social Work, Teaching, Youth Justice, IAG or equivalents, along with experience of directly supporting young people predominantly aged 13‑18 years.
Essential Requirements
* Work effectively as part of a team with organisational and time‑management skills to prioritise conflicting deadlines.
* Develop and maintain relationships with staff, external agencies, and families from diverse backgrounds.
* Travel throughout Leeds City Council boundaries and work flexibly across different sites.
* Monitor, evaluate, and gather information accurately using digital and manual systems and produce basic reports.
* Communicate appropriately with a wide range of people, using various methods to influence views and behaviour.
* Negotiate constructively on behalf of young people with agencies under conflicting pressures.
* Use initiative to develop solutions and apply negotiating skills to influence others.
* Use a range of ICT applications, including Word, spreadsheets, databases, and email.
* Adhere to Council values and be a positive role model.
* Knowledge and experience of a variety of casework techniques.
* Knowledge of safeguarding and child‑protection best practice.
* Knowledge of Leeds CYPP, the 12 wishes approach and how to relate these to improving outcomes.
* Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, and policies and ability to apply them consistently.
* Understanding of issues affecting young people and ability to discuss them appropriately with staff.
* Understand the needs of vulnerable groups and equal opportunities, including looked‑after children, minority ethnic pupils, and LGBTQ+ young people.
* Understand social inclusion issues and barriers to education and strategies to minimise them.
* Understand how poverty, low aspirations, social exclusion, gender, and sexual orientation can affect young people’s health.
* Understand mentoring, group work skills, techniques, and restorative practice.
* Understand responsibilities in Health, Safety, Wellbeing, Security, and Information Sharing Protocols.
* Understand importance of confidentiality and appropriate information sharing.
* Be aware of factors impacting transitions and related learning outcomes.
* Experience in building positive relationships with disadvantaged young people and formulating plans aligned with the Leeds Practice Model.
* Experience of working in or with schools, including delivering group work programmes.
* Experience of casework techniques such as Early Help Plans, solution‑focused casework, signposting/referral, and restorative practice.
Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics
* Willingness to engage in ongoing professional development.
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours.
* Committed to continuous improvement and to delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving communities and a resilient city.
* Understand and observe Council policies and procedures.
* Exercise duties under an employee’s health, safety, and wellbeing responsibilities.
* Participate in appraisal, training and development activities.
* Support equality and diversity, and challenge discrimination, bullying, harassment, and abuse.
* Remain flexible and adaptable to change to support other services.
* Work within the flexibility protocol adopted by the Council.
Equal Opportunities Statement
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds, including women, carers, veterans, LGBTQ+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care‑experienced people.
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