LA Education Link Coordinator

Portsmouth City Council; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is seeking a Link Coordinator for our new Support Hub. You will work closely with schools, families and partner agencies to identify emerging needs early and ensure timely, coordinated support for vulnerable children and young people.

The role focuses on safeguarding practice, early help interventions and strengthening multi-agency working. You will visit schools, facilitate discussions, support Family Support Plans and advise on attendance and exploitation concerns.

Qualifications

• Experience working within a safeguarding or education environment.
• Strong partnership-working, communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Regularly visit allocated schools and work with families to identify needs early.
• Facilitate problem-solving discussions and support Family Support Plans.
• Advise on attendance and exploitation concerns with a restorative approach.
• Help education professionals navigate available support across the city.
• Provide guidance, coaching and challenge to improve safeguarding practice.

Skills

Partnership working

Communication

Problem solving

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Floor 2, Core 2 Civic offices

Do you have a background in safeguarding or education and a passion for helping children and families access the right support at the right time?

Your new role

As a Link Coordinator within our new Support Hub, you will work closely with schools, families and partner agencies to identify emerging needs early and ensure timely, coordinated support for vulnerable children and young people. Acting as a trusted advisor and key point of contact for education settings, you will provide guidance, challenge and support to improve safeguarding practice, promote early help interventions and strengthen multi-agency working.

This is a highly collaborative and relationship-focused role, where you will regularly visit allocated schools, facilitate problem-solving discussions, support Family Support Plans, advise on attendance and exploitation concerns, and help education professionals navigate the support available across the city. You will play a vital role in improving outcomes for children and families through a restorative, preventative and strengths-based approach.

Essential: Experience working within a safeguarding or education environment, with strong partnership-working, communication and problem-solving skills.

Who is the person summary:

We're looking for someone with experience of working with children, young people and families within areas such as Early Help, Education, Early Years, Social Care or a related field. You'll have a strong understanding of family assessments and support planning, excellent safeguarding knowledge, and experience of working collaboratively with a range of agencies and services to achieve positive outcomes for families.

You will be a confident communicator who can build strong relationships with schools, professionals and partner organisations, while providing advice, support, coaching and challenge where needed. Organised and self‑motivated, you'll be able to manage competing priorities, handle sensitive information appropriately, and make informed decisions independently.

You'll also be comfortable delivering presentations and training, using a restorative and relational approach in your work, and confidently using IT systems, databases and spreadsheets to support effective service delivery. Above all, you'll be passionate about continuous learning, reflective practice and helping others to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.

For full details, please review 'who is the person' on the job profile below attached.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people‑focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours .

Additional Information

If you would like any further information regarding this role then please contact Fran Shaul [e-mail] for further information or an informal discussion.

Please ensure that you read the job profile for full details on the post.

We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact [e-mail] or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.