BARNSLEY COLLEGE
JOB DESCRIPTION (REC 3)
Post Title: Work Skills Adviser
Department: Student Services
Reporting to: Team Leader User Engagement
Grade: Support Grade 6
Summary of the Post
To deliver Careers Education, UCAS guidance, Volunteering and the Earn to Learn programme within College to potential and existing students, and to contribute to the delivery of the Progressions and Destinations Strategic Action Plan. To monitor and review destinations of learners across the College and to support the Enterprise Team with related activities and events.
Main Duties
§ Provide one to one confidential careers and progression interviews and advice to students
§ Support the delivery of careers education programmes for students who are studying vocational qualifications and A Levels
§ Maintain and develop a careers resource base and a vacancy information service, including developing links with local employers, researching and promoting job and voluntary vacancies to students, facilitating student jobshops and jobclubs.
§ To work closely with the Comms & Recruitment Team and Employer Engagement to deliver a highly effective service across college to all multi-sites and the main site at Old Mill Lane.
§ To organise internal and external employability events for students including arranging the annual progression event, as well as promoting and marketing employability focused events to both students and tutors.
§ To manage staff to maintain and update careers’ resources such as the Careers library, student noticeboards across college and online Moodle. To adopt an imaginative approach to the production and development of careers education materials, ensuring that the Student Services area is well stocked with up to date, promotional literature
§ To assess and measure the impact of the service on progression to positive destination
§ Liaise with support, teaching and administrative teams across the College and with external agencies in relation to UCAS, careers guidance and employability enrichment activities
§ Participate in the development of procedures for supporting students and keep up to date on issues relating to careers education and guidance
§ Attend relevant meetings as and when required and work closely with other members of the Student Services team
§ Manage the administration needs of the Careers Centre
§ To work closely and effectively with other College departments and external agencies to develop, promote and deliver an excellent, high quality Careers Education and Higher Education provision
§ To develop, implement and manage a Volunteering Programme for learners across all College sites
§ To work proactively with Tutorial Team Leaders, Tutorial Learning Mentors and Personal Tutors on work skills programmes and events
§ To manage the Earn to Learn programme across College including the promotion of vacancies, liaising with College departments, authorising payments to learners and evaluation of the scheme at termly intervals
§ To participate in College events to promote and advise learners on positive destinations
§ To support the Head of Enterprise with related activities and events to encourage positive enterprising behaviours from learners
§ Develop and promote College Compact Service Agreements with selected Universities
§ To improve partnerships and working relationships with H.E Institutions
§ To deliver in-house staff development and training in UCAS and Careers Education
§ To deliver in-house staff training on Volunteering
§ To support curriculum areas promote their HE and HND programmes
§ Provide support to learners applying for the 24+ student loans
§ Have responsibility for the hardship budget for 24+ learners including financial returns and reporting for Performance Review
§ To maintain up to date labour market knowledge in order that advice to students and staff is realistic
§ To line manage the Work Skills administrator to provide, collate and monitor regular, accurate and timely data on the performance of Careers, H.E, Volunteering and destinations.
§ To ensure that the appraisal and supervision of the Work Skills Administrator is up to date and all training and development needs have been met
§ To contribute to the development of relevant information on the College website and Moodle
§ Agree, plan and deliver student induction in collaboration with curriculum staff
§ To provide support to College staff, in the understanding and implementation of Student Services policies and procedures
§ To assist the Head of Student Services to ensure that resources are used effectively and that there are robust systems to check financial transactions
§ To actively encourage learner involvement in the evaluation of the Careers, H.E service and Volunteering and act upon its findings
§ To monitor and review destinations and progression of learners across the College
§ To constantly develop systems and procedures for the area of responsibility
§ To work with the Head of Student Services to ensure effective delivery of the Service Level Agreement for Student Services and ensure there are robust systems in checking financial transactions with regards to the Earn to Learn Scheme
§ To provide the Senior Management Team with regular reports
§ To have membership on the relevant strategic groups within College and take responsibility for any actions consummate with the role
§ Assist on the front desk in Student Services to deal with generic student services enquiries and hardship
§ Assess financial applications for the Learner Support Fund when required
§ Any other duties commensurate with the grade as appropriate
§ The post holder will engage in any work development and implementation of College Quality systems
§ The post holder will show a commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices. The post holder is expected to comply with, and promote, Barnsley College’s equal opportunities policy in all aspects of their duties and responsibilities
§ The post holder will show a commitment to ensuring that children and young people learn in a safe College environment and will participate in relevant and appropriate training and development as required
§ These duties may be amended from time to time by the line manager in consultation with the post holder.
Standard Duties in all College Job Descriptions
§ Engage in the implementation of College Quality systems.
§ Show a commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices.
§ Show a commitment to ensuring that children and young people learn in a safe environment.
§ Participate in relevant and appropriate training and development as required.
§ Ensure that all information is secured, used and maintained in line with internal and external standards including ensuring that confidential information is processed in line with the Data Protection Act and College policies
§ These duties may be amended from time to time by the line manager in consultation with the post holder.
Departmental Specific Duties
The post holder will be expected to establish, maintain and develop professional working relationships with colleagues. The scope of the professional working relationships will include all internal College staff, external agencies, such as universities and Prospectus, and stakeholders (which include learners and parents).
Method of Working
Barnsley College expects all staff to work effectively as part of a team or teams, delivering high quality education and support to staff and students. As a minimum this requires dealing with people politely and tactfully, communicating with colleagues and students both formally and informally, offering guidance and information in accordance with College guidelines, policies and procedures when requested and contributing to the maintenance of the Barnsley College environment. In order to do this, staff are expected to make themselves aware of the relevant policies and procedures. All staff are required to maintain confidentiality as required.
Line Management
Where appropriate you may be asked to line manage members of staff who spend most of their time working on the course, or courses, that you lead. This will usually be either part time teachers, Instructors, Associate Teachers or support staff who are central to the course, or courses, you are leading. If you are asked to line manage staff, your manager, or Head of Department, will discuss this with you and ensure you are supported and receive appropriate training.
Public Relations
Considerable importance is attached to the public relations aspect of all work undertaken by Barnsley College staff. It is a prime objective, therefore, that staff will, at all times, project to the public the image of the College as keen to assist wherever possible, and positively promote the work that is carried out across its various services.
LS/12.06.15
PERSON SPECIFICATION REC 4 – WORK SKILLS ADVISOR
Specification / Essential / Desirable / Examples Measured byEducation and Training
Formal qualifications and relevant training / Relevant degree or professional qualification at Level 3 in Careers Education and Guidance
Maths and English at grade A* - C or equivalent
Willing to participate in, and undertake, training as necessary / Evidence of continuing Professional Development
An understanding of the role of Student Services within an FE environment. / Application Form
Documentary Evidence
References
Work Experience
Ability to undertake duties of the post / Minimum of two years’ experience of:
Successful experience of work with students and adults, including HE, UCAS applications and destinations
Proven track record of engaging young people in positive volunteering activities
Experience of line managing staff, preferably within an educational environment
Evidence of developing successful working relationships with external agencies
Providing effective support and guidance for students, preferably within an FE setting
A track record of providing and analysing high level statistical data in a clear, understandable report format.
Experience of working in a front facing environment, preferably with students
An understanding of careers issues and Higher Education, including the employability agenda and current initiatives
Evidence of successful motivational skills especially in relation to working with tutors & engaging them in careers activities / Evidence of successfully facilitating change at learner level and organisation level
Work experience in an Enterprise setting or activity
Experience of delivering training to staff.
Managing financial information and budgets
Experience of organising placements for students
Experience of working within a Student Services setting at FE / Application Form
Interview
Performance of task/test at interview
Skills and Knowledge
Includes abilities and intellect / Preparing and presenting management reports and information
Providing effective support and guidance to learners
Excellent administrative and organisational skills
Good IT skills
Ability to gather accurate, timely information on destinations and analyse findings
Ability to meet deadlines effectively
Evidence of promoting opportunities for development to students both internally and externally
Have knowledge of national and local strategies and guidance related to Careers, UCAS, Volunteering, destinations and HE.
Excellent liaison and networking skills / Evidence of an awareness of other support provision for learners
Have knowledge of national and local strategies including Safeguarding and Every Child Matters
Understanding of diversity, equal opportunities, DAS and Equality Act legislation / Application Form
Interview
Performance of task/test at interview
Personal Qualities
Includes any specific physical requirements of the post – (subject to the provisions of the Equality Act) / High level communication negotiating and mediating skills
Capable of working under operational pressure in a challenging environment
A courteous, positive and ‘can-do’ approach
An ability to form good working relationships with colleagues and to work cooperatively in a team
Innovative, responsive, reliable focussed and a flexible approach to working hours / Application Form
Interview
Suitability to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults
Issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults / Motivation to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults
Ability to form and maintain highly effective relationships and personal boundaries with children, young people and vulnerable adults
Emotional resilience with challenging behaviours / Interview
References
Disclosure & Barring Service Check
LS/12.06.15