SEND Lecturer: Inspire Autistic Learners to Thrive

St. John's College; Brighton; On-site; Full time

Job description

Are you passionate about Teaching and building meaningful relationships with autistic young people? Do you have the skills to inspire and support learners through challenges?

St John’s College is seeking a dedicated and dynamic Lecturer to join our team and help our learners thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Build Strong Relationships

Foster meaningful connections with learners, focusing on their individual needs and challenges. Reflect and adapt your approach to ensure all students feel valued and understood.

Facilitate Challenging Conversations

Engage with students through tough conversations, maintaining respect and a positive relationship, ensuring their voice is heard.

Community Building

Advocate for mental health and prioritise building a supportive, inclusive community that encourages growth, emotional well‑being, and mutual respect.

Goal‑Oriented Approach

Work closely with learners to identify their personal and educational goals, creating tailored plans and providing the necessary guidance and support.

Lead by Example

Guide and inspire staff to effectively support learners, especially when addressing mental health challenges, ensuring the team is aligned and motivated.

Strong Management Skills

Oversee and direct staff to deliver the best outcomes for learners, creating a team environment that fosters growth and development.

Organisational Expertise

Highly Organised

Manage individualised schedules for learners with exceptional attention to detail, while ensuring all safeguarding and reporting responsibilities are met with urgency.

Work with stakeholders (including OT, SaLT, and work experience partners) to address the diverse needs of learners, ensuring smooth transitions and full support.

Forward‑Thinking and Flexible

Demonstrate a flexible approach to lesson planning, individualised targets, and learner schedules. Regularly assess what’s working and adjust strategies accordingly.

Innovative Solutions

Think creatively to motivate and engage learners, ensuring their progress aligns with their long‑term goals and aspirations.

Preparing for Life After College

Focus on preparing learners for the next steps in their journey, whether it be further education, employment, or transitioning back to their homes and communities.

At St John’s College, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every learner is empowered to reach their full potential. If you are a compassionate, innovative, and organised individual with a passion for working with young people, we want to hear from you.

Join us in shaping the future of our learners. Help them build strong relationships, overcome challenges, and achieve their aspirations.

Closing date for applications: 03rd June 2026

Candidates informed of outcome: 04th/05th June 2026

Interview date: 12th June 2026

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long‑term affects a person’s ability to perform day‑to‑day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search may be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post are as per the job description and personal specification.

Whether the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in DBS Filter Guidance.