Specialist Support Lead

About Us

The Sheffield College is a thriving further and higher education community, empowering around 13,000 learners each year to achieve their goals. Driven by our mission to transform lives through learning, we foster an inclusive environment — recognised through our 2026 Investors in Diversity Gold award and 3rd‑place ranking in the National Centre for Diversity’s 2025 Top 100 Most Inclusive UK Employers.

The post-holder will report to the Head of Learning Support:
Compliance, Quality and Specialist Support and be responsible for the provision of specialist learning support across all provision types at The Sheffield College.

They will line‑manage the Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) team to ensure early intervention and support individuals with neurodivergent conditions through screening, diagnostic assessments, study skills mentoring and assistive technology training to help students and apprentices thrive in college.

They will also line‑manage the Communication Support Worker (CSW) team to facilitate seamless interactions between hearing individuals and people who are deaf or hard of hearing to provide effective learning support.

In addition, they will work with key partners to source and implement specialist support, as required, to meet all students and apprentices’ needs in an effective and value for money manner.

They will champion a culture where assessment of need is robust, timely and promotes inclusive learning opportunities.

• Ensure the suitable, timely and effective provision of specialist support for all students and apprentices
• Develop strong partnerships with key organisations to support the delivery of specialist learning support
• Develop strong partnerships with Academy and Sector Leadership teams, raising their awareness of services and processes to ensure their students’ needs are met
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators for the specialist teams, ensuring that they are providing value for money and an effective service
• Support the development of effective learning support policies, procedures and systems that lead to seamless specialist support for our students and apprentices.

The Specialist Learning Support Lead will be responsible for the provision of specialist learning support provision across the Sheffield College (TSC).

The Specialist Learning Support Lead will maintain awareness of good practice in relation to the provision of specialist learning support within the context of a General Further Education college as it applies to the delivery of all provision types, to ensure awareness of all relevant legislation, funding requirements, policies and procedures as related to the operation and integrity of specialist learning support delivered by TSC.

• Providing support to the Head of Learning Support:
  Compliance, Quality and Specialist Support to ensure arrangements satisfy regulatory and/or legislative obligations
• Pro‑actively identifying, anticipating and managing all issues with potential to cause an adverse effect to the provision of specialist learning support
• Investigation of any irregularities threatening the integrity of the delivery of specialist learning support and ensure timely notification and reporting to Head of Learning Support:
  Compliance, Quality and Specialist Support
• To support and advise Vice Principals, Assistant Principals, Academy Directors, Heads of School, Sector Directors, Head of Data Services and Exams and Heads of Quality Improvement on all issues relating to compliance within the delivery of specialist learning support.

• Sample compliance of the delivery of specialist learning support against college policy and procedures, ensuring it meets JCQ requirements where appropriate
• Prepare reports to provide lines of enquiry which feed into Quality Review processes and/or reports that provide assurance to the Executive Leadership Team
• Prepare for and manage audit activity as may be agreed by the Executive Leadership Team
• Work with managers in reviewing and updating learning support policies and procedures ensuring regulatory compliance and quality are fully embedded

• Su…