Vocational Tutor - Hairdressing & Barbering - Tower Hamlets

Hairdressing & Barbering Vocational Tutor – SEMH

Location: Tower Hamlets
Contract: Full-time
Salary: £200 - £215 per day PAYE
Start date: Immediate

Turn your industry experience into something life-changing

Parker Smith Inclusion is working with a specialist education setting in East London to recruit a passionate Hairdressing and Barbering Vocational Tutor to support young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

This is an opportunity for an experienced stylist or barber to take their industry knowledge beyond the salon and use it to help young people build confidence, develop practical skills and work towards a positive future.

For some pupils, traditional classroom-based learning can feel challenging. Through hands-on vocational education, you will help make learning meaningful, engaging and accessible, giving students the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications while developing the confidence, resilience and independence they need for life beyond school.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical hairdressing or barbering skills with patience, emotional awareness and the ability to build trusting relationships with young people who may have struggled to engage with education in the past.

About the role

You will lead practical and theory-based sessions in hairdressing and barbering, supporting learners to work towards accredited Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications. Alongside developing their vocational abilities, you will use the salon environment to encourage positive communication, professional behaviour, self-care and emotional regulation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Planning and delivering engaging hairdressing and barbering sessions that work towards recognised qualifications, such as VTCT, City & Guilds and NCFE.
• Teaching practical salon skills, including client consultations, hair washing, scalp treatments, cutting, styling, beard grooming and safe working practices.
• Adapting lessons to suit individual abilities, learning preferences and support needs, including those associated with autism, ADHD, SEN and SEMH.
• Breaking learning into manageable, practical activities that help students experience success and build confidence.
• Creating a safe, organised and professional salon environment, ensuring equipment, products and tools are maintained and used in line with relevant health and safety requirements, including COSHH.
• Building positive, consistent relationships with pupils and using the vocational setting to develop communication, boundaries, teamwork and workplace expectations.
• Applying trauma-informed, nurturing and positive behaviour approaches to help students manage difficult emotions and re-engage with learning.
• Supporting pupils to develop the transferable skills needed for further education, apprenticeships and future employment.
• Assessing practical work, maintaining learner portfolios and completing the records required by the relevant awarding bodies.
• Monitoring attendance, vocational progress and wider personal development, providing appropriate feedback and reporting.
• Following safeguarding procedures and promptly raising concerns with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who is confident in their craft but understands that success in this role goes far beyond teaching technical skills. You will be able to motivate young people, remain calm when situations become challenging and recognise the importance of building trust before expecting progress.

Essential requirements:

• NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Hairdressing and/or Barbering.
• At least three years of commercial experience working as a qualified stylist or barber.
• Strong practical knowledge of contemporary hairdressing and barbering techniques.
• An understanding of accredited vocational qualifications and awarding body requirements.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to engage young people who may be disengaged from education.
• A patient, resilient and adaptable approach to supporting pupils with additional needs.
• A commitment to safeguarding, professional boundaries and maintaining a safe learning environment.
• An Enhanced DBS certificate, or willingness to complete the required checks.

Desirable experience and qualifications

It would be particularly beneficial if you also have:

• Experience working with young people with SEND, SEMH needs or other vulnerabilities.
• Previous experience delivering accredited vocational training within an alternative provision, Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), special school or SEMH setting.
• A Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET), PTLLS, QTS or QTLS, or a willingness to work towards an appropriate teaching qualification.
• An assessor qualification, such as TAQA, CAVA or A1.
• An Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) or V1 qualification.
• Training in de-escalation or positive handling, such as Team Teach.
• Experience adapting vocational learning to individual outcomes, including EHCP targets.
• The ability to incorporate literacy and numeracy naturally into practical salon activities.

Why consider this opportunity?

• Make a genuine difference: Help young people develop skills and confidence that can open doors to future opportunities.

• Bring your industry experience to life: Share your passion for hairdressing and barbering in a setting where practical learning can make a real difference.

• Support positive change: Help pupils recognise their strengths, develop resilience and experience achievement.

• Create pathways into employment: Equip learners with vocational knowledge and transferable skills that can support their next steps.

Safeguarding

Parker Smith Inclusion and the setting are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be expected to follow all safeguarding policies and procedures, with the appropriate Enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks completed.

Interested in making a difference?

If you are an experienced hairdresser or barber who wants to use your skills to inspire young people, build meaningful relationships and help learners develop a brighter future, we would love to hear from you.

Contact elise.harnwell@psinclusion.co.uk 0203 011 4848 Parker Smith Inclusion to discuss the opportunity and explore how your experience could make a difference within specialist SEND education.