Progression and Careers Advisor

A COMPELLING VISION FOR SUCCESS 

Progression and Careers Advisor 

Beacon Campus

Full-time, 36 hours per week

Permanent, Term Time Only

Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience

Required: ASAP

We are seeking to appoint a committed and competent Progression and Careers Advisor that will work across the Trust

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Progression and Careers Advisor.  We are seeking to appoint an effective and enthusiastic Progression and Careers Advisor that is committed to providing an outstanding service to our staff and students. The successful candidate will be required to fulfil a full range of duties to support and enable the best possible Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance for our students.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all members of staff to share this commitment. The below documents must be read prior to applying for this role and will be factored into interviews: 

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 
• BMAT – Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, available on our website

Enhanced DBS (with list checks) is required for this post.

In line with the Government’s announcement, our Academy Trust and schools are closed until further notice. However, during this period it is our intention to continue with critical recruitment for key positions starting in September 2020. In place of school interviews, alternative options will be offered so that no one is at a disadvantage, and applicants should expect telephone or virtual interviews, with the possibility of onsite academy interviews only in special cases. We want to reassure applicants that effective measures have been implemented to ensure their health and wellbeing whilst on academy premises.

Thank you for your co-operation during this difficult time.

Purpose of role

The Progression and Careers Advisor will take lead responsibility and accountability for the delivery of our school’s programme of careers information, advice and guidance for Years 7-13 in accordance with Government Statutory Guidance January 2018. 

The post holder will have the confidence and authority to lead colleagues, make decisions, and enact reforms to ensure that the school meets the Gatsby Benchmarks by the end of 2020.

Careers Advisor general duties and responsibilities 

Leadership:

• Lead the team of teachers, administrators, external partners and others who deliver careers guidance

• Advise the senior leadership team on policy, strategy and resources for careers guidance and showing how they meet the Gatsby Benchmarks

• Review and evaluate careers guidance and provide information for school improvement planning, Ofsted and other purposes

• Prepare and implement a careers guidance development plan, in line with the whole school’s improvement plan. 

• Understand the implication of a changing education and work landscape for careers guidance, e.g. technical education reform

• Ensure compliance with the legal requirements to provide independent careers guidance and give access to providers of technical education or apprenticeships to students in schools

• Ensure that details of the school’s careers programme and the provider access policy statement are published on the school’s website.

• Developing and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the careers sector. 

• Preparing and implementing a careers Development Plan

• To ensure bi-annual reports are produced for senior leaders and governors on the school’s careers provision and impact.

Management:

• Plan the programme of activity in careers guidance across Years 7-13 

• Monitor delivery of careers guidance across the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks by September 2020

• To co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate careers provision across Years 7 – 13. 

• To ensure staff receive the appropriate updates about careers education.

• Support tutors, providing initial information and advice

• Manage and guide the work of others e.g. staff involved in the delivery of careers guidance

• Planning and managing the careers budget.

• Attend and contribute to relevant Parents’ Evenings,  Transition Days and Higher Education evenings.

Coordination:

• To work with Heads of PSHE to ensure careers strategy is embedded in the curriculum. 

• To keep up to date with career developments to inform practice 

• Manage the provision of career and labour market information

• Manage the careers section of the school websites, ensuring information is accurate and up to date

• Provide strategically planned careers advice and frequent one to one careers discussions on demand. 

• Coordinate encounters with employers and work experience

• Communicate with pupils and their parents 

• Liaising with the Sixth Form and supporting Progression week 

• Planning and delivering a Careers Event across the Trust

• Running annual whole school careers assemblies with outside speakers

• Liaising with the Head of Enrichment and advertising opportunities for pupils. 

• Being available in school on Year 11 and 13 Results day for advice and support. 

• Report on school leavers’ destinations with support from Leadership teams. 

Networking

• Establish and develop links with further education colleges, apprenticeship providers, university technical colleges and universities

• Establish and develop links with employers

• Negotiate a service level agreement with the local authority as appropriate

• Commission careers guidance services where appropriate

• Manage links with external organisations

• Secure funding for careers related projects

• Maintaining and developing a network of BMAT Alumni and friends of BMAT. Keeping up-to-date a database of potential speakers (parents and friends of Beal). Build a network of alumni who can help with the careers guidance programme.

• Liaising with local and national careers groups (CEIAG)/UCAS) 

• Commissioning career guidance from Schools’ service providers such as Unifrog.

Role criteria

Essential:

• Level 2 Qualification at grade C or above in English, Maths
• Degree
• Higher level qualification (Grade 7) in Careers Guidance 
• Working knowledge of relevant policies/codes of practice and awareness of relevant legislation/Gatsby Benchmarks
• Awareness of local and national organisations that can provide support with delivering a careers programme
• Good IT skills
• Ability to communicate a vision and inspire others
• Ability to work well within a team, and support colleagues.  Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work and network effectively with others.
• Self-motivating and proactive
• Reliable, respectful and confident
• Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities
• Excellent communications skills, both written and oral (students, parents, staff, outside agencies)

Desirable:

• Successful leadership and management experience in a school or other relevant organisation