Responsible to: Alternative Education & Post-16 Manager

Rate of Pay: Actual salary £9,123.11 (inclusive of holiday pay) (full-time equivalent salary £27,612).

Hours of Work: 15 hours per week / 40 weeks per year pro rata (term time + 1 week)

Work Base: Blend Cycle Workshop (or nominated site)

Job Description

Purpose & Scope

To assist with the development and delivery of alternative education pathways, supporting both practical and academic activities, providing learning opportunities for socially and educationally excluded young people.

To take an active role in the operation of the cycle workshop, maintaining bicycles, tools and equipment, overseeing workshop safety and stock management, and supporting young people to develop practical cycle maintenance skills, employability skills, and accredited learning outcomes.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Teaching & Learning Delivery

To build and maintain positive relationships with young people, providing a non-judgmental adult role model with a commitment to inclusive practice.
To work effectively in individual & team contexts, in conjunction with designated staff and volunteers, in accordance with flexible timetable requirements.
To provide consistent and comprehensive evidence of student participation in activities, including photographs, observation records, witness statements, and portfolios of work.
To support the delivery of SMSC, Accreditation and Maths & English sessions to groups or individual students, as directed by the Lead Tutor or Specialist Teacher.
To help to deliver schemes of work, appropriate learning tasks and vocational activities that meet the needs of the young people, as directed by the Lead Tutor or Specialist Teacher.
To teach and demonstrate safe bicycle maintenance techniques, including servicing, repairs, fault finding, and refurbishment.
To help supervise students throughout the day during educational and recreational periods.
To maintain a clean, safe, and hazard-free workshop environment, ensuring all areas are safely accessible to students and staff.

Networking & Partnerships

To inform the Alternative Education & Post-16 Manager and/or Specialist Teacher: SEN & Progression of any significant communication with referring agencies promptly.
To maintain professional relationships with other agencies and professionals in the interests of maximising opportunities for positive learning experiences for young people.
To establish and maintain positive relationships with local cycle retailers, suppliers, cycling organisations, employers, and external contractors.
To support opportunities for young people to engage in community cycling projects, work experience placements, and progression opportunities.

Operations & Quality Assurance

To contribute to the completion of pupil tracking documents, progress reports, and moderation documents from referring agencies as required.
To oversee the maintenance, servicing and refurbishment of bicycles used within the programme.
To implement and maintain service schedules and maintenance records for all bicycles and workshop equipment.
To identify and respond appropriately to mechanical faults, safety concerns, and equipment defects.
To manage stock levels of tools, parts, consumables, and safety equipment, ordering replacements as required.
To support the development of cycle maintenance qualifications, vocational learning opportunities, and employability pathways.
To work closely and communicate positively with Alternative Education Tutors, ensuring practical activities are integrated effectively into individual learning programmes.
To ensure all bicycles used by young people meet appropriate safety standards before use.

Policy & Procedure

To work in accordance with all Blend Youth Project core policies and procedures, thereby promoting learning experiences which are safe, inclusive and learner focused.
To be aware of, and comply with policies relating to safeguarding, equality & diversity, and health & safety, complying with all risk assessments, and ensuring that they are securely To ensure compliance with workshop risk assessments and safe working procedures.
To implement and maintain safe storage systems for tools, equipment, and consumables.
To ensure compliance with relevant health & safety legislation relating to workshop activities, manual handling, use of tools and equipment.
To promote a culture of safe cycling, personal responsibility and respect for equipment and facilities.

Self-Management and Professional Development

To contribute to reports as required by the Alternative Education Manager and/or Specialist Teacher.
To attend meetings and supervision sessions as requested.
To identify your CPD needs and undertake training and professional development opportunities as agreed with your Line Manager.
To maintain and develop professional knowledge relating to bicycle maintenance, cycle safety, vocational education, and youth work practice.

As part of the wider Valley CIDS Youth Team

To uphold and promote the ethos and values of Valley CIDS/Blend Youth Project at all times.
To develop a good knowledge of the organisation’s other projects/services.
To be involved in Valley CIDS and Blend Youth Project promotional events.
To contribute to the development of new vocational and alternative education opportunities for young people.

Person Specification

Characteristics & Values

Essential:Can embrace fully the ethos, vision, and values of Valley CIDS/Blend Youth Project.
Essential:Has a passion and enthusiasm for young people’s well-being, learning & development.
Essential:Has a passion and enthusiasm for alternative education learning contexts.
Essential:Is self-motivated, resourceful and has the ability to motivate young people.
Essential:Committed to promoting inclusion & anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of work.
Essential:Well organised and able to work effectively alone or as part of a team.
Essential:Committed to promoting and adhering to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Skills

Essential:Ability to communicate effectively with young people and colleagues.
Essential:Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with staff and volunteers.
Essential:Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with visiting representatives of external agencies.
Essential:Ability to teach and facilitate cycle maintenance activities safely and effectively with young people.
Essential:Ability to diagnose, maintain and repair bicycles to a safe operational standard.
Essential:Ability to maintain a safe and organised workshop environment.
Desirable:Ability to interpret and deliver content from teaching resources and schemes of work.
Desirable:Comprehensive ICT skills and competent in the use of Microsoft Office software.

Knowledge

Essential:Knowledge of Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures.
Essential:Knowledge of Health & Safety and risk assessment issues and procedures.
Essential:Knowledge of and commitment to Equal Opportunities practices.
Essential:Knowledge of bicycle maintenance, repair techniques, and cycle safety standards.
Essential:Knowledge of workshop health and safety requirements, including safe use of tools and equipment.
Desirable:Knowledge and understanding of a range of alternative education accreditation routes.
Desirable:Knowledge of lesson planning and educational/learning outcomes.
Desirable:Knowledge of statutory policies and good practice frameworks.

Experience

Essential:Experience of working with young people who have social, emotional, and/or behavioural difficulties.
Essential:Experience of bicycle maintenance, servicing and repair in a workshop, community project, or commercial setting.
Desirable:Experience of supporting young people to develop practical vocational skills.
Desirable:Experience of teaching and learning in an alternative education context.
Desirable:Experience of delivering education in alternative education learning environments.
Desirable:Experience of responding effectively to challenging behaviour to promote engagement.

Qualifications

Essential:Willingness to undertake further training & CPD opportunities.
Desirable:Recognised cycle maintenance qualification (e.g., Cytech Level 2 or equivalent experience).
Desirable:Minimum Level 2 Maths and English qualifications.

Other Requirements

Essential:Willingness to support occasional evening, weekend, non-term time, and holiday activities as required.
Essential:Full UK Driving Licence.
Desirable:Ability to transport bicycles and equipment where required.

If you are interested in applying for this post, please download the application pack (found on our website) which details the full job description and person specification.

Benefits

Enhanced Annual Leave
Company Sick Pay Scheme
20% discount in all Lighthouse Charity Shops
Company Pension
Employee Assistance Programme
Access to exclusive shopping and lifestyle discounts
Christmas Saver Scheme
Company Events

Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will therefore be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Connect with a cause that needs you!

Cycle Technician & Support Tutor