Progression Coach

Progression Coach

Children and Young People’s Services

This post is subject to an enhanced disclosure

£14.60 per hour, 37 hours per week

The role of Progression Coach is to engage with and provide support to young people to enable them to progress into and remain in education, employment, or training, as part of their successful transition into adult life. The Progression Coach will direct and monitor the work of the Progression Mentor (where appropriate) whilst working in partnership with internal and external providers to maximize the potential of young people.

Within the post 16 team, the role is county-wide. You will be expected to work with unemployed young people (NEETs) aged between 16 and 19 years old (up to the age of 24 if they have an education health care plan). You will be responsible for engaging these young people with the aim of raising their aspirations, informing them of their options, and guiding them into positive activities such as education, employment, and training. Within the pre-16 role, you will work in schools across County Durham to complete workbooks with students who are at risk of becoming 'NEET'. The role will be mainly based in South Schools, but if service needs require, travel to other schools may be needed. We would like someone who is motivated and keen to make a difference in young people's future steps in life and is not afraid of a challenge.

This role will be primarily responsible to:

• Manage a caseload of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) or at risk of becoming NEET and require additional support. This includes defined vulnerable groups such as those young people who have been in receipt of support from Children’s Social Care, have Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability (SEND), and are Looked After or Care Experienced.
• Utilise creative approaches to engage and maintain contact with harder-to-reach young people.
• Develop integrated working to ensure targeted groups of young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET are identified and supported to improve their interpersonal skills and qualities, demonstrate growth in self-esteem, confidence, and achieve improved outcomes, progression, and a successful transition into post-16 destinations.
• Co-ordinate, plan, and deliver group work interventions and activities to young people who are NEET or identified as at risk of becoming NEET.
• Co-ordinate and support the work of Progression Mentors (including peer observations) within a locality and/or education provision such as school or college.
• Undertake assessment of need in relation to barriers to progression, utilising assessment techniques and tools to ensure a clear action plan and delivery of successful interventions.
• Support young people in employability and progression-related activities such as raising aspirations, Information, Advice and Guidance, and activities such as CV writing, job search skills, interview techniques, and applications to education and training providers.
• Accurately maintain and update client records using the Local Authority CCIS, including all interventions, follow-ups, and destinations, to contribute to accurate Management Information.
• Track young people to identify those who require support, in line with procedures and statutory guidelines.
• Ensure effective information sharing, work with other agencies and services to provide support to young people, and liaise with delivery partners and sub-contractors to ensure referrals to the most appropriate provision.
• Provide practical support to young people to tackle their barriers to progression such as travel training and funding.
• Challenge the attitudes and aspirations of some young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET, to encourage them to develop new perspectives that will support their progression.
• Work with young people who may have multiple barriers to progression and more complex needs, using an integrated approach with parents/carers and professional partners such as One Point and Job Centres.
• Work closely with Employer Engagement Officers to identify and nominate suitable young people for opportunities in conjunction with employers, education, and training providers.
• Build relationships with key internal colleagues and external partners such as Durham Enable, Durham Learn, SEND Casework teams, Children and Young People’s Services, Job Centre Plus, Youth Justice Service, Education Providers, and others to identify and engage suitable participants who may benefit from support.
• Work in partnership with the Young People’s Engagement Worker to engage young people in effective dialogue to review and improve Service delivery.
• Work in the interests of young people through challenging stereotypes and promoting equal opportunities.
• Ensure effective safeguarding and child protection arrangements, in line with policy and guidelines.
• Work in line with policies and procedures.
• Meet own professional development needs by attending appropriate training courses and undertaking self-directed study, as identified through support and supervision, annual appraisal, etc.

Qualifications

• Level 2 qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance, Youth Work, or a relevant subject, with a willingness to work towards a Level 3 qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance if the opportunity is available.

Experience

• Experience of working with young people who are vulnerable or NEET, their parents/carers, and other professionals.
• Experience of providing information, advice, guidance, and support to young people.
• Experience of working in partnership with employers, education, and training providers.
• Experience of delivering planned interventions that lead to improved outcomes for young people.
• Experience of planning and delivering group work activities to targeted groups of young people.
• Experience of managing a caseload.

Interested? Please apply.