Careers Leader - Secondary School, Luton

Careers Leader Job Brief and Requirements

Purpose of post:

• To provide a range of professional guidance and career planning to enhance student employability and raise aspirations.
• To co-ordinate Work Related Learning (WRL) and Careers activities.
• To support and deliver effective careers guidance, careers education and information for students.
• To support and facilitate the delivery of all work experience programmes.
• To ensure the school provides high quality careers education and guidance.
• To design, select and provide curriculum resources, activities and services to meet students' career needs.
• To work in close collaboration with staff and employers to facilitate student progression and aspiration.
• To lead on a range of projects which assist and support students into employment or higher education, and act to raise aspiration.

Careers Leader Responsibilities

Work Experience Coordination:

• Manage the delivery of all work experience placements in Key Stage 4.
• Ensure the school fully meets the Gatsby Benchmarks.
• Map work experience provision and oversee gap analysis by sector.
• Develop local external business links to facilitate work experience placements.
• Ensure all pupils have at least one university experience by the end of Year 8.
• Develop a bank of good practice resources to support new employers with work experience placements and internships.
• Manage the production of evaluation reports on work experience delivery provision.
• Collaborate closely with the Luton Careers Hub to offer the best opportunities to our pupils.

Careers Advice and Guidance:

• Provide outstanding careers guidance coaching and information to students, ensuring they receive sufficient information to consider a wide range of career possibilities and have access to independent, impartial, and inspirational advice and guidance, including guidance on subject options and choices.
• Deliver workshop sessions covering CV writing, applications, interview preparation, and applying for volunteering or work experience opportunities, choosing a career, or pursuing higher education.
• Work with Higher Education Institutions, including Russell Group Universities, employers, voluntary organizations, and business enterprises to promote aspiration and opportunities for students.
• Ensure a clear strategy for delivering careers guidance with various activities and services to meet the needs of students at different development stages, including within the mainstream curriculum.
• Obtain written feedback from students, colleagues, and partners to monitor and evaluate the quality and impact of the provision.
• Develop partnerships and networks with local employers to ensure students have greater direct exposure to the world of work and a full range of career pathways.
• Ensure students are well signposted to different guidance activities and promote the use of the National Citizenship Service.
• Provide up-to-date industry-related knowledge and labor market information, and available apprenticeships in careers advice, guidance, and education activities.
• Design, select, and provide activities, resources, and services to meet students' career needs.
• Coordinate activities and events related to Careers Education and Guidance, under the guidance of responsible postholders and other staff as appropriate, and facilitate and manage careers fairs.
• Develop, in consultation with postholders, the provision of Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) coordination and events related to preparing students for apprenticeships.
• Support the SLT lead and other staff in coordinating whole school careers events.
• Assist the school lead and other staff as appropriate with coordinating projects and events with outside bodies.
• Advise SLT on compliance and careers statutory duties.

Whole School Support:

• Disseminate information to colleagues, students, and parents on up-to-date developments in higher education and employment.
• Research and provide up-to-date information on local and national career opportunities, keeping students and colleagues informed of new developments and trends.
• Lead in compiling and analyzing progression data when students move on.
• Support the enrollment and recruitment process for post-16 provisions as required.
• Undertake full First Aid training and act as a School First Aider, linked to off-site visits with students.

General Requirements:

• Always carry out responsibilities with due regard to The Chiltern Learning Trust's policy, organization, and arrangements for Health and Safety at Work.
• Perform duties in line with The Chiltern Learning Trust's policy on Equality and Diversity, promoting a positive approach to a harmonious working environment.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young, and vulnerable people you are responsible for or come into contact with.
• Be flexible to the needs of the school, including two weeks' commitment beyond term time.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade that may be required by school management.

Experience
Essential:

• Experience of working with young people between 11-18 years old.
• Managing, implementing, and evaluating action plans.
• Managing and implementing recording and reporting systems.
• Producing reports.

Desirable:

• Delivering mentoring and progression services to young people.
• Multi-agency working.
• Developing banks of educational resources.

Skills/Abilities
Essential:

• The ability to motivate.
• The ability to implement plans.
• The ability to build good relationships at all levels.
• The ability to effectively map provision.
• The ability to promote and maintain quality control in all aspects of work.
• Team player with energy, commitment, enthusiasm, and perseverance.
• Excellent organizational skills encouraging positive collaborative working practices.

Desirable:

• Ability to be both constructive and critical.

Competencies
Essential:

• Able to form appropriate relationships with young people.
• Ability to represent the school in a professional manner with a calm, tactful, and responsible attitude.

Equality Issues
Essential:

• Able to identify when discrimination is taking place in service delivery or in the workplace and to take appropriate action where this is identified.

Specialist Knowledge
Essential:

• Knowledge of a range of IT software, e.g., spreadsheets and databases.
• A working knowledge of the English education system.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues facing diverse and inner-city communities.
• Knowledge and experience of working within an educational setting.

Desirable:

• Evidence of knowledge, understanding, and enthusiasm for the personalised learning agenda.
• Understanding of budget management.

Education and Training
Essential:

• Relevant GCSEs or equivalent (including English and Maths at C grade or above).

Desirable:

• Higher education qualifications in a related degree.
• A qualification in Career Guidance and Development Level 6, e.g., QCG, NVQ/SVQ Diploma, Dip, CG, AGCAS.
• Teaching Qualification.
• Qualified Careers Coordinator.