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.

• 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).

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

This is a full time role at 32.5 hours per week.

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders. See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process.