Attendance Coach (Term Time Only + 4 weeks) - Fixed Term for 12 Months

Application Deadline: 14 November 2024

Department: Student Support

Location: Middleton

Compensation: £21,218 pro rata per annum, i.e £24,541 per annum

Description
We are delighted to be recruiting for enthusiastic and committed staff who want to play a key role in supporting young people to access and engage with further education. As part of the busy Safeguarding and Wellbeing team you will strive to support learners to achieve and maintain high levels of attendance, playing a key role in helping young people to access learning and develop strong routines in order to succeed and achieve their potential.

We are looking for people who are good communicators and can interact well with young people and their families/guardians to be able to work together to identify barriers to attending and intervene early with supportive measures. The ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information discreetly and with integrity is essential.

This is a key role in our Attendance Strategy, working in a trauma-informed way to build resilience and confidence in our learners.

A full UK driving licence and access to own vehicle is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Working collaboratively with Safeguarding and Pastoral colleagues to identify and support learners through transition, enrolment and on program to enrol, stay in college and be successful.
• In line with policy principles through meaningful interventions, provide targeted support and adaptations to meet the needs of the student.
• To provide early identification of barriers taking actions to support e.g. bursary application, kit, travel passes.
• Early identification of attendance issues by First Day Follow Up, taking appropriate supportive actions and targeted interventions.
• Respond to persistent and prolonged absence.
• Work with key people around the learner building good relationships (Team Around the Student), arranging parent/carer meetings where appropriate to support.
• To monitor and report on issues relating to attendance and retention of a caseload of students, including college wide compliance with Attendance and Retention policies.
• Working within guidelines undertake Home visits.
• To work in collaboration with all college staff including Program Managers, Progress Tutors, English and Maths team to support retention and attendance issues and promote strategies for improving attendance and retention.
• To ensure that parents/carers are informed of all absences and withdrawals, checking all sickness and persistent absences.
• Promote College systems – Parent Portal, Hopwood Life App. Ensure that college has accurate and up to date parent/carer information, checking in all communications with parents/carers.
• To provide cover in the refectories over lunch.
• To support in college events where relevant.
• Maintaining accurate relevant and timely records on college systems.
• To identify and report on non-compliance with attendance and college procedures.
• To record withdrawal destination information.
• To undertake training as required for the role.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications

Level 3 (or equivalent).
Good level of literacy and numeracy skills (to minimum of Level 2).
Good level of computer skills, in particular Microsoft Excel and Word.
Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience

Essential Criteria

Experience of dealing with students and young people in an education setting.
Experience of dealing with issues and barriers that can affect a learner's attendance.
Experience of effective team working and promoting relationships between staff, students and the community.
Full UK Driving Licence and access to own vehicle.
Experience of working with Data and computers including excel and college systems.
An understanding of safeguarding.
An understanding of Equality and Diversity issues.

Desirable Criteria

MHFA Trained or willingness to undertake.
First Aid Trained or willingness to undertake.

Specialist Knowledge

Essential Criteria

Knowledge of issues and barriers that can affect a learner's attendance.
Specific knowledge and understanding of social and welfare issues facing young people.
Able to interact positively with young people and adults.
Ability to communicate, negotiate and work effectively with internal and external partners.
Ability to work towards targets across college.
Ability to work unsupervised and manage own time and priorities; be well organized and self-motivated.
To have flexibility and willingness to try out new ideas.

Additional Requirements

Willingness to work flexible hours.

IT Skills

Essential Criteria

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Desirable Criteria

Knowledge of College systems including Promonitor and CPOMS.