Principal Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service; HSS

Are you an experienced and passionate specialist teacher of deaf children and young people? Are you ready to take on a strategic leadership role within a highly respected SEND service?

Dorset Council is seeking an exceptional Principal Advisory Teacher for the Hearing Support Service (HSS) to lead a skilled, committed and forward‑thinking team.

This is an exciting senior leadership position within Dorset Children’s Services. You will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Hearing Support Service, ensuring high‑quality, equitable support for children and young people who are deaf aged 0-25 across mainstream and specialist settings.

Alongside your leadership role, you will hold a reduced specialist teaching caseload
, enabling you to maintain direct professional practice and model excellence. You will champion inclusive practice, influence provision at a system level, and help shape the future of SEND services in Dorset.

• Lead, manage and develop the Hearing Support Service and its specialist staff.
• Provide expert advice to schools, leaders and families on the educational management of children and young people who are deaf.
• Ensure high‑quality assessment, planning and specialist intervention across the service.
• Oversee and manage specialist resources, equipment and service budgets.
• Work collaboratively with professionals across Education, Health and Care to secure the best outcomes for learners.
• Contribute to service‑wide strategy, development planning, training and CPD.
• Support early diagnosis and intervention through effective liaison with Health partners.

• Qualified Teacher Status.
• Mandatory Qualification as a Teacher of the Deaf (QToD).
• At least 3 years’ experience as an Advisory Teacher for children and young people who are deaf.
• A deep understanding of deafness‑specific pedagogy, curriculum access, inclusion, and SEN processes.
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• The ability to manage competing demands, deploy resources effectively, and lead a diverse team with clarity and compassion.

• Management or strategic leadership experience.
• Additional specialist qualifications (e.g., MSI, ASD, complex needs).

Dorset Council is committed to inclusion, innovation and improving the lived experiences of children and young people with SEND. You’ll join a compassionate, collaborative service built on shared values:
Responsibility, Respect, Recognition and One Team
.

• A supportive leadership culture
• Ongoing professional development
• The opportunity to shape a service with county‑wide impact
• A stunning coastal and rural working environment