Cycle Technician & Support Tutor

Job Overview

To assist with the development and delivery of alternative education pathways, supporting both practical and academic activities, providing learning opportunities for socially and educationally excluded young people.

Responsibilities

• Teaching & Learning Delivery
  • Build and maintain positive relationships with young people, providing a non‑judgmental adult role model with a commitment to inclusive practice.
  • Work effectively in individual and team contexts with staff and volunteers according to flexible timetable requirements.
  • Provide consistent evidence of student participation in activities, including photographs, observation records, witness statements, and portfolios of work.
  • Support delivery of SMSC, Accreditation and Maths & English sessions to groups or individual students, as directed by the Lead Tutor or Specialist Teacher.
  • Help deliver schemes of work, appropriate learning tasks and vocational activities that meet the needs of the young people, as directed.
  • Teach and demonstrate safe bicycle maintenance techniques, including servicing, repairs, fault finding, and refurbishment.
  • Help supervise students throughout the day during educational and recreational periods.
  • Maintain a clean, safe, and hazard‑free workshop environment, ensuring all areas are safely accessible to students and staff.
• Networking & Partnerships
  • Inform the Alternative Education & Post‑16 Manager and/or Specialist Teacher of any significant communication with referring agencies promptly.
  • Maintain professional relationships with other agencies and professionals to maximise opportunities for positive learning experiences.
  • Establish and maintain positive relationships with local cycle retailers, suppliers, cycling organisations, employers and external contractors.
  • Support opportunities for young people to engage in community cycling projects, work‑experience placements and progression opportunities.
• Operations & Quality Assurance
  • Contribute to the completion of pupil tracking documents, progress reports and moderation documents from referring agencies as required.
  • Oversee the maintenance, servicing and refurbishment of bicycles used within the programme.
  • Implement and maintain service schedules and maintenance records for all bicycles and workshop equipment.
  • Identify and respond appropriately to mechanical faults, safety concerns and equipment defects.
  • Manage stock levels of tools, parts, consumables and safety equipment, ordering replacements as required.
  • Support the development of cycle maintenance qualifications, vocational learning opportunities and employability pathways.
  • Work closely with Alternative Education Tutors to integrate practical activities effectively into individual learning programmes.
  • Ensure all bicycles used by young people meet appropriate safety standards before use.
• Policy & Procedure
  • Work in accordance with all Blend Youth Project core policies and procedures.
  • Be aware of and comply with safeguarding, equality & diversity, health & safety policies, risk assessments and related legislation.
  • Implement and maintain safe storage systems for tools, equipment and consumables.
  • Promote a culture of safe cycling, personal responsibility and respect for equipment and facilities.
• Self‑Management and Professional Development
  • Contribute to reports as required by the Alternative Education Manager and/or Specialist Teacher.
  • Attend meetings and supervision sessions as requested.
  • Identify CPD needs and undertake training and professional development opportunities as agreed with line manager.
  • Maintain and develop professional knowledge relating to bicycle maintenance, cycle safety, vocational education and youth work practice.
• Organisational Values and Projects
  • Uphold and promote the ethos and values of Valley CIDS/Blend Youth Project at all times.
  • Develop knowledge of the organisation’s other projects and services.
  • Participate in Valley CIDS and Blend Youth Project promotional events.
  • Contribute to the development of new vocational and alternative education opportunities for young people.

Characteristics & Values

• Embrace fully the ethos, vision and values of Valley CIDS/Blend Youth Project.
• Passion and enthusiasm for young people’s well‑being, learning and development.
• Passion and enthusiasm for alternative education learning contexts.
• Self‑motivated, resourceful and able to motivate young people.
• Committed to promoting inclusion and anti‑discriminatory practice in all aspects of work.
• Well organised and able to work effectively alone or as part of a team.
• Committed to promoting and adhering to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Skills

• Essential: Ability to communicate effectively with young people and colleagues.
• Essential: Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with staff and volunteers.
• Essential: Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with visiting representatives of external agencies.
• Essential: Ability to teach and facilitate cycle maintenance activities safely and effectively with young people.
• Essential: Ability to diagnose, maintain and repair bicycles to a safe operational standard.
• Essential: Ability to maintain a safe and organised workshop environment.
• Desirable: Ability to interpret and deliver content from teaching resources and schemes of work.
• Desirable: Comprehensive ICT skills and competence in Microsoft Office.

Knowledge

• Essential: Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Essential: Knowledge of health & safety and risk assessment issues and procedures.
• Essential: Knowledge of equal opportunities practices.
• Essential: Knowledge of bicycle maintenance, repair techniques and cycle safety standards.
• Essential: Knowledge of workshop health and safety requirements, including safe use of tools and equipment.
• Desirable: Knowledge and understanding of a range of alternative education accreditation routes.
• Desirable: Knowledge of lesson planning and educational/learning outcomes.
• Desirable: Knowledge of statutory policies and good practice frameworks.

Experience

• Essential: Experience of working with young people who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.
• Essential: Experience of bicycle maintenance, servicing and repair in a workshop, community project or commercial setting.
• Desirable: Experience of supporting young people to develop practical vocational skills.
• Desirable: Experience of teaching and learning in an alternative education context.
• Desirable: Experience of delivering education in alternative education learning environments.
• Desirable: Experience of responding effectively to challenging behaviour to promote engagement.

Other Requirements

• Essential: Willingness to support occasional evening, weekend, non‑term time and holiday activities as required.
• Essential: Full UK driving licence.
• Desirable: Ability to transport bicycles and equipment where required.
• Desirable: Willingness to undertake further training and CPD opportunities.
• Desirable: Recognised cycle maintenance qualification (e.g. Cytech Level 2 or equivalent experience).
• Desirable: Minimum Level 2 maths and English qualifications.

Benefits

• Enhanced annual leave.
• Company sick pay scheme.
• 20% discount in all Lighthouse charity shops.
• Company pension.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Access to exclusive shopping and lifestyle discounts.
• Christmas saver scheme.
• Company events.

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