Sound Communities CIC
Senior Creative Practitioner
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Who We Are
Sound Communities CIC is an award-winning not-for-profit that works to create communities of empowered, confident and resilient young people with the aspirations and skills to build a better and fairer future. We are a fast-growing Community Interest Company with excellent progression opportunities for our staff team and participants. All profit from our activities is re-invested into the community.
Job Role
Creative Practitioner
Salary
£26,227.50–£33,000 (FTE) depending on experience
Start Date
TBC
Working Pattern
Term time only - 37.5 hours per week on-site predominantly from the Sound Communities office space/studios (to include possibly some unsociable hours). Option of overtime available in the holidays.
Contract type
Permanent, subject to successful 3-month probationary period
Application Deadline
No fixed deadline.
Interviews
Sound Communities are keen to recruit as soon as possible and maintain the right to interview on a first come first serve basis.
Your Team
Reporting to the management team.
Overview of role
We're looking for a creative, proactive and experienced practitioner with a track record of working in education settings, ideally with young people with SEMH needs and those facing multiple disadvantages. You will most likely have experience working with Key Stage 3 and above.
You'll help deliver our creative digital media programme to young people across Torbay and South Devon, working across mainstream and special schools, community centres, community events, justice service settings and our own alternative provision. The role is based at our studios in Paignton.
You'll bring genuine creative or technical skill in at least one area, and enough breadth to work confidently across others. We're interested in music production and recording, film and video, photography, graphic design and visual identity, web design and build, coding, digital electronics, and live sound. What matters is depth in something and curiosity about the rest — we'd rather appoint an experienced practitioner who can learn a new medium than someone who can only work in one.
We're particularly keen to strengthen our film, design and web/digital capability, so tell us about that if it's where your skills sit.
Alongside this, you'll bring experience of working directly with young people, and a genuine commitment to helping them build confidence, skills and aspirations, whether that's through social and emotional support or academic progress.
This post sits in Alternative Provision, but Sound Communities works as one connected organisation and we want someone who wants to contribute beyond their core delivery. Depending on your skills and interests, that could include our community and open-access sessions, prison/probation work, early intervention work in schools, employability projects, holiday programmes, and our production arms — Ocean Youth Radio, Oceanside Records, Ocean Creative and Sound Alive.
We'll agree what this looks like with you rather than assume it. There are also opportunities to take on project management as our provision grows.
Your week will involve planning, delivering and reflecting on high-quality sessions.
Safeguarding is central to this role. You'll be joining a supportive, experienced team, and you'll need to be just as committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people as they are.
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Responsibilities
Delivery
- Deliver engaging workshops and 1:1 learning sessions to young people, adapting content and approach to individual needs.
- Design and develop project-based learning programmes that support young people's personal, social and educational development.
- Develop, plan and maintain high-quality teaching resources and materials that support effective learning.
- Support positive behaviour within sessions, using trauma-informed and de-escalation approaches appropriate to vulnerable young people.
Quality and reporting
- Contribute to the organisation's quality framework, including self-assessment and continuous improvement processes.
- Contribute to monitoring and evaluation, including tracking participant progress and outcomes.
- Act as a learning mentor to a number of young people.
- Provide regular updates to senior management on session delivery, participant progress and any concerns.
Safeguarding and compliance
- Understand and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health and safety, confidentiality and data protection.
- Report any safeguarding concerns promptly and appropriately, in line with the organisation's child protection procedures.
Collaboration and development
- Communicate and coordinate with staff across other Sound Communities strands to ensure a joined-up approach for young people.
- Attend local network meetings to build relationships with schools, referral partners and other agencies.
- Attend training relevant to the role, including safeguarding refreshers and continuing professional development.
What’s included
- Limited onsite parking
- Newly refurbished studio space close to the seafront and town centre.
- Funded Enhanced DBS check.
- Access to external 1:1 supervision to support your wellbeing and professional development.
- Ongoing training in creative media arts and trauma-informed approaches to supporting mental health and neurodiversity.
- The opportunity to work for an award-winning, growing organisation supporting disadvantaged young people across the South West.
Safeguarding and pre-employment checks
Sound Communities is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect everyone who works with us to share that commitment. This post involves regulated activity with children.
The successful candidate will be asked to complete:
- an Enhanced DBS check including a check of the children's barred list, funded by us;
- a self-declaration covering any criminal record or other information that might affect their suitability to work with children;
- two references, including one from the most recent employer, which will ask specifically about suitability to work with children and young people;
- proof of identity, right to work in the UK, and any qualifications relied on in the application.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975), so all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings must be declared, including those that would otherwise be considered spent. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent appointment — that depends on the nature of the offence and the circumstances.
In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, we carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates as part of our checks. All recruitment is carried out in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Policy, which is available on request.
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Please call on 01803 431220, or email admin@soundcommunities.co.uk to arrange an informal conversation with Matt Cook, Lead for AP to discuss the role in more detail. Further details about our organisation and an application form are available on our website: https://soundcommunities.co.uk/
Essential Requirements
A recognised qualification relating to SEND or additional learning needs is preferred. Although where this is not held, significant demonstrable experience working with young people with SEND or SEMH needs will be considered.
Experience
- Experience managing groups of young people across a range of settings (mainstream, alternative provision, community-based)
- Experience working with young people with SEMH and/or SEND needs, including those facing multiple disadvantages
- Experience working in the creative industries, with a good understanding of the local creative scene
- Experience contributing to Risk Assessments, Behaviour Support Plans and Individual Education Plans
- Experience delivering qualifications
Skills and knowledge
- Expert-level skill in at least one creative or digital discipline — music production and recording, film and video, photography, graphic design, web design and build, coding, or live sound — evidenced by professional work, portfolio or qualification
- Working competence in at least two further creative or digital disciplines, or clear evidence of picking up new ones quickly
- Confident user of digital technology, including IT and data entry systems
- Good understanding of what's needed to secure effective teaching and learning
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Working with young people and partners
- A positive, motivating presence that builds young people's confidence and self-esteem
- Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with young people
- Ability to build effective working relationships with professional partners and external agencies
- Calm, professional approach to resolving challenges as they arise
Personal approach
- Highly organised, with a flexible approach to work and working hours
- Creative thinker, willing to take considered risks and innovate in how provision is delivered
- Genuine commitment to improving education and employability outcomes for young people in Torbay
- Understanding of, and personal commitment to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Desirable Requirements
- Leadership skills, including the ability to motivate, inspire and coach colleagues
- Experience of monitoring and evaluation
- Ability to play and teach musical instruments
- Knowledge of, or training in, trauma-informed approaches
- Experience of managing projects
- Tact, diplomacy and good humour in challenging situations
- Experience delivering RSL qualifications
- Understanding of SEN provision and EHCPs
- Experience of formulating alternative, creative curriculum plans
- Experience working at primary and secondary level
- Personal and emotional resilience in challenging situations
- Full driving licence and willingness to drive the BoomBus
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