Designated Lead

RNN Group; North East; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension scheme

41 days annual leave

Staff health & wellbeing

Job summary

RNN Group is recruiting a Designated Lead across Dearne Valley College, Rotherham College and North Notts College in Rotherham and Worksop. The role is permanent, full‑time (37 hours per week) with a salary of £29,455 and benefits.

You will advocate for care‑experienced learners, coordinate ePEPs, monitor attendance and progress, and build partnerships with Local Authorities and Virtual Schools to ensure students succeed and transition to higher education or work.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering learner support strategies for vulnerable groups (e.g., looked after children, care leavers, young carers).
• Experience coordinating plans and liaising with colleges, local authorities and virtual schools.
• Ability to monitor attendance, progress and outcomes for vulnerable learners within statutory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Ensure statutory compliance and act as lead contact for multi‑agency support.
• Coordinate and chair electronic Personal Education Plans (ePEPs) within deadlines.
• Monitor attendance, retention and progression of vulnerable students and report findings.

Skills

Learner support

Vulnerable learners

Multi‑agency liaison

Education

Level 2 English & Maths

Level 3 health and social care / youth work / social studies

Teaching qualification (Level 3+) advantageous

Job description

Designated Lead

Location: Working across all of our sites (Dearne Valley College, Rotherham College and North Notts College) in Rotherham and Worksop

Salary: £29,455 a year + benefits

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time (37 hours per week, all year round)

Closing Date: Monday 28 September 2026

Are you a passionate advocate for vulnerable young people? Do you have the drive to break down barriers to education and help care-experienced learners thrive? You will be the dedicated advocate and bridge connecting students, curriculum teams, and external agencies to ensure these learners are fully integrated into the College community, make exceptional progress, and successfully transition into employment or higher education.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Statutory Compliance: Ensure RNN Group remains compliant with all DfE guidance and statutory duties, serving as the lead operational contact for multi‑agency support.
• ePEP Coordination: Schedule, chair, and complete electronic Personal Education Plans (ePEPs), ensuring all documentation is submitted within strict statutory deadlines.
• Tracking & Monitoring: Proactively monitor the attendance, retention, achievement, and progress of vulnerable students, including collecting destination data.
• Attendance Intervention: Operate a robust attendance monitoring system, contacting students and support networks early to implement rapid intervention strategies.
• Reporting: Prepare comprehensive termly and annual reports for college committees and the Leadership Team regarding student performance and unmet needs.
• Liaison & Partnership: Establish and maintain strong working relationships between the College, Virtual Schools, and Local Authorities.
• Policy & Admin: Contribute to the review of college policies to ensure they do not unintentionally disadvantage vulnerable groups (e.g., young carers/parents), while managing the administrative systems required by various Virtual School networks.
• Promoting Educational Achievement: Providing targeted pastoral support, mentoring, and advocacy so care‑experienced learners achieve on par with their peers.
• Embedding Trauma‑Informed Practice: Providing expert advice and guidance to curriculum colleagues on trauma‑informed strategies to support individual students.
• Fostering Aspiration: Cultivating an environment where vulnerable learners believe they can succeed, encouraging progression into higher education and sustainable careers.
• Ensuring Emotional Support: Acting as / facilitating access to an "Emotionally Available Adult," offering the stability students need to engage with their learning.
• Continuous Service Improvement: Working collaboratively with the Head of Student Support and the wider Welfare team to constantly elevate our pastoral service.

You will... Experienced within learner support strategies, working with vulnerable young people specifically 'looked after children', 'care leavers' and 'young carers' to develop positive support strategies, to motivate and inspire others to overcome barriers and succeed.

You will hold a Level 2 (or equivalent) qualification in English and Maths (or be willing to undertake), a level 3 (or equivalent) qualification in health and social care, youth work or social studies. Having a Level 3 (or higher) teaching qualification would be advantageous.

Department Info

You will be joining a forward‑thinking, collaborative team reporting directly to the Director of Safeguarding and Student Support. Working alongside Safeguarding, Student Support, and Curriculum teams, you will be part of a joined‑up ecosystem entirely focused on student success. If you are ready to make a tangible, lasting difference in the lives of young people who need it most, we want to hear from you.

Our excellent benefits and rewards package

• Access to local government pension scheme
• Up to 41 days annual leave per year including closure during Christmas period
• Access to our gyms, restaurants and salons
• Staff health & wellbeing and benefits schemes including in‑house Occupational Health service
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Full, part time and flexible working hours available in many roles
• Free Parking available at all of our sites
• Fantastic career development opportunities including funding for teacher training, apprenticeships and various other industry‑recognised qualifications

What is the RNN Group?

RNN Group's main goal is to be an 'outstanding' education and training provider and this is at the heart of everything that we do. To help us achieve this we are looking to recruit highly motivated, innovative and dynamic individuals to join our existing teams. To be a part of the team at RNN Group we will expect you to be committed to our values too.