Progression Coach

Progression Coach – ThinkForward

ThinkForward is a breakthrough coaching programme that ensures young people who are disengaged from or under performing at school receive the support they need to transition into sustained employment.

We are looking for an experienced practitioner to deliver our programme in our 6th Nottingham school ensuring that, by the end of the programme, our young people have developed the aspirations, skills and mind-sets needed to thrive and sustain employment.

Overview and purpose of the role

• To project manage ThinkForward in your school and local community ensuring the quality and impact of the programme is delivered; and successful relationships with partner schools and businesses.

Key responsibilities
 

With young people – to build and maintain relationships with young people to ensure the ThinkForward programme has impact.
 

• Engage young people in the ThinkForward programme
• Assess the needs of the young people, using outcome data to design a tailored action plans
• Using the ThinkForward Coaching methodology hold regular 1:1 and group sessions with young people
• Ensure young people engage with opportunities provided by third parties including employers and partner charities
• Ensure that young people meet the required outcomes of improved behaviour, improved attendance, level 2 and level 3 attainment, and a sustained transition to further education, employment or vocational training, continually driving their work readiness.
• Adhere to all relevant policies (safeguarding, health and safety, etc.) when delivering activities with young people
• Document and evidence all work and use data to provide the most effective support with young people
• Liaise with and support parents, carers, guardians etc. of the young people, and other relevant third parties

In school – accountable for day to day relationship management of school.

• Liaise with senior school staff to establish and manage the relationship between the school and ThinkForward
• Represent ThinkForward at school senior leadership team and Governor meetings
• Oversee enrolment process with school staff to identify at risk young people based on ThinkForward’s scoring mechanism
• Build an extensive knowledge of the support available to the cohort of young people
• Work with school Data Manager for regular access required data Produce and communicate termly reports to demonstrate impact
• Review with the school quality and impact on a termly basis

With colleagues - share knowledge and experience with colleagues to improve effectiveness of the programme

• Report risks to relevant member of staff
• Participate in peer quality assurance processes
• ​Work in collaboration with internal support staff to ensure young person outcomes are maximised

Programme Quality & Standards – to ensure that Delivery of the ThinkForward meets the programme standards.

Perform a termly review and plan of the ThinkForward programme

• ​Ensure that the Programme Promise is met i.e. 1to1 meetings, group work, action planning, ready for work activities
• Activities are planned according to need and in line with budget
• Ensure that all interventions are logged on database
• Work in adherence to organisational policies
• Actively participate in QA process

With Businesses – to contribute to the relationship management of businesses linked to the school

• Responsible for attendance and engagement in Ready For Work activities
• Support with the training of business mentors
• Plan and lead mentoring session content and communicate with the business advance of sessions Conduct review with the business during and post the mentoring period
• Participate in externally facing activities from time to time.

Person specification

ThinkForward’s staff competency framework informs our recruitment and performance management of staff. The following behaviours for each competency define the expectations for this position:

Communication

• Ability to communicate with staff at all levels from a variety of different stakeholders
• Approachable, open and transparent with young people, stakeholders and colleagues
• Ability to deliver messages in an interesting and stimulating style, appropriate to each audience

Planning and Organising

• Self motivated, able to work independently and proactively
• Very strong organisational and project management skills, including use of appropriate tools and systems
• Excellent computer literacy

Teamwork

• Working in a team ideally in a fast pace environment, working collaboratively to achieve goals
• Building lasting relationships with different stakeholders for example schools, colleges, other charities, alternative education providers and employers

Impact and quality focused

• Solution focused: comfortable working to targeted outcomes/goals for young people within the boundaries of a programme
• Whilst working to targeted outcomes, ability to keep young people at the heart of what you do
• Knowledge of how to support young people to become more job ready
• Driven by excellent standards and high quality
• Use of data to inform delivery and imrpove provision

Professional expertise

• 3 years direct experience of working with vulnerable young people, ideally in school
• An understanding of the complex barriers that vulnerable young people face and the services available for them
• Ability to support young people in both a 1:1 setting and by running group work
• Knowledge of Careers and Employment IAG and the importance of tailored progression planning for vulnerable young people
• Persistence, patience and empathy in challenging difficult individuals
• A Professional Qualification related to work with Young People, or relevant experience

ThinkForward is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.

ThinkForward is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Closing date for applications is 9am on Thursday 21st June, 2018.  Interviews will be held during the week commencing 2nd July, 2018.  Please apply by returning your completed application form as a word document (we do not accept CVs).