Functional Skills Lead | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Reading, RG1 3PA
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	7 Aug 2026
Closing date:	6 Sept 2026

Apply for this job

Summary

Are you passionate about improving opportunities through education? Do you have the expertise to lead high-quality Functional Skills provision and support colleagues to achieve their career aspirations?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Functional Skills Lead to manage and develop the Trust's Functional Skills provision. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference by ensuring our workforce has access to high-quality Maths, English and language support, enabling staff to progress into apprenticeships, professional qualifications and wider career development opportunities.

You will provide operational leadership for the Trust's Functional Skills programme, combining specialist teaching with programme management, quality assurance and partnership working. Working closely with internal stakeholders and external training providers, you will ensure our provision is accessible, responsive to workforce needs and fully compliant with awarding body and apprenticeship requirements.

This is an opportunity to lead our Apprenticeships and Widening Participation service that directly supports staff to gain qualifications, access apprenticeships and build rewarding careers within the NHS. If you're passionate about education and want to make a lasting impact on the development of our workforce, we'd love to hear from you.

• Lead and develop Functional Skills provision across the Trust, driving continuous improvement.

• Act as the main contact for Functional Skills, working with learners, managers, education teams, senior leaders, and external providers.

• Use programme data to improve learner outcomes, inform workforce planning, and support strategic priorities.

• Provide expert advice on Functional Skills requirements and represent the service in workforce development initiatives.

• Deliver high quality Functional Skills Maths and English teaching.

• Provide inclusive 1:1 and group support for learners, including those with additional needs.

• Assess learner needs, monitor progress, develop learning plans, and deliver revision and exam preparation.

• Support learners with GCSE and English language requirements linked to apprenticeships.

• Monitor learner progress, achievement, and programme performance using ILPs.

• Coordinate Functional Skills examinations and maintain learner records.

• Ensure compliance with awarding body, regulatory, and organisational requirements.

• Promote Functional Skills across the Trust through events and communications.

• Support apprenticeships, workforce development, widening participation, and inclusive learning pathways.

• Present programme performance and learner outcomes to senior stakeholders and provide guidance to learners and colleagues.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority

• Committed to providing good quality, safe services

• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance

• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell

• Generous NHS pension scheme

• Excellent learning and career development opportunities

• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles

• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services

• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants

• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality

• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave

• Free parking across Trust sites

The “must haves” for this role:

1. Level 2 (Grade C/4 or above) in Maths and English

2. Formal Teaching qualification (e.g., PGCE, Cert Ed)

3. Experience of teaching and assessing Maths and English at GSCE level

4. Experience of working with learners with learning difficulties

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call:Rebecca Traynoron07786664881or email: rebecca.traynor@berkshire.nhs.ukwho’ll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

This advert closes on Sunday 16 Aug 2026

Apply for this job