Designated Teacher; Care Experienced Students

Designated Teacher (Care Experienced Students) Student Services Sunderland & Hartlepool

Location: Any Campus

Post Type: Full Time Term Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Monday 23 February 2026

Reference: 0930-25

About Education Partnership North East (EPNE)

At EPNE our ‘purpose’ is our north star. It is what we expect of ourselves every single day and why we ask all staff to keep our purpose front and centre in all that they do.

Our Purpose is to “unlock potential, create opportunities, and transform lives through outstanding education, skills and training”. Rooted in our transformative power, it communicates our work in tackling inequalities, removing barriers, and improving the life chances of the people and communities we serve.

We nurture our very special culture. Our unifying values framework “The actions we take the choices we make - The actions I take the choices I make”represent the character of our college group, and are grounded in the belief that every action, by every individual, contributes to our success. This why we encourage empowered individuals, personal accountability and growth.

Building on our remarkable past, creativity and pioneering spirit, we are moving forward with courage into the future, improving what we do, remaining action-orientated, and innovating to make an exceptional difference for the world we live in.
Shaping futures for a better tomorrow,join our
change making
community now.

Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which EPNE was graded as being Outstanding across all areas -
Ofsted-Report-Outstanding

Our Journey & Values

As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.

About the Candidate

We’re looking for a compassionate and proactive professional who believes in the power of education to change lives. The successful candidate will be a natural advocate for young people, combining emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience with a solution-focused approach.

As a Change maker, you’ll challenge barriers, champion inclusion, and create opportunities for care experienced students to thrive. You’ll model our College values every day — ambitious in your expectations, collaborative in your approach, and supportive in everything you do to make a lasting difference in students’ lives.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team as a Designated Teacher (Care Experienced Students), a key role that blends educational advocacy with safeguarding expertise.

You’ll work across campuses to support care experienced learners, ensuring they feel safe, included, and empowered to achieve their potential. This role offers the chance to work closely with curriculum teams, Virtual Schools, and external partners — providing a holistic support network for some of our most inspiring young people.

You’ll have access to ongoing professional development, including advanced safeguarding training, trauma-informed practice, and opportunities to progress within the wider safeguarding and wellbeing structure at Education Partnership North East.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead on the identification, monitoring, and support of care experienced students across all campuses.
• Act as a Designated Safeguarding Officer, responding promptly and appropriately to concerns.
• Build strong, positive relationships with students, carers, social workers, and partner agencies.
• Coordinate Personal Education Plans (PEPs), transition meetings, and reviews to track learner progress.
• Collaborate with curriculum and pastoral teams to remove barriers to learning and promote wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate, confidential case records and contribute to reporting and quality assurance.

Qualifications

• A recognised teaching qualification
• Proven experience supporting care experienced or vulnerable young people within an education or safeguarding setting.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and practice, including multi-agency…