Community Learning in Partnership (Clip)

COMMUNITY LEARNING IN PARTNERSHIP (CLIP)

JOB SPECIFICATION

EMPLOYABILITY MANAGER (FULL-TIME)

Community Learning in Partnership (CLIP)

CLIP is a social enterprise with the purpose of widening participation in learning by people in rural, coastal and peripheral communities, and to support progression. We do this by developing programmes that focus on:

·  16-18s AND adults (50-50 commitment)

·  Making a contribution to local communities and partnership working

·  Being entrepreneurial - securing the widest variety of social, physical and financial resources to maximise the quality and range of provision that we can offer to local communities.

Currently our provision includes:

·  Study Programmes at foundation level and towards Level 2 for 16-18 year olds

·  Community Learning for adults (non-accredited)

·  Skills Learning for adults (accredited)

·  Access to HE Diplomas

·  English and Maths

·  Employability programmes for job-seekers

·  Mental health support groups

·  L3 Education and Training Award

·  Job Clubs.

CLIP runs community learning centres in Gainsborough, Market Rasen and Mablethorpe.

Purpose of the post

This is a new hands-on management post that has been created to support the Chief Executive in the successful provision of a range of new employability programmes. The post-holder will take on the operational leadership and coordination of these programmes as well as being involved in a substantial element of the delivery.

Employability programmes at CLIP

Our employability provision will comprise:

·  Step Forward (Lincolnshire County Council funded, Boston College sub-contract)

·  Building Better Opportunities – Considering Employment Options – the MOVE Project (ESF Big Lottery, VCS sub-contract)

·  Building Better Opportunities – Engagement into Learning (ESF Big Lottery, Grantham College sub-contract)

·  DWP Support Programme (ESF Department of Work and Pensions, Maximus sub-contract for Mablethorpe)

·  Aspiration and Inspiration – NEET 18-24 years (ESF Skills Funding Agency, direct contract)

Job description

Key tasks:

1.  Supporting the Chief Executive in the management of all employability contracts at our Gainsborough, Market Rasen and Mablethorpe Learning Centres (and other surrounding areas as contracts require):

·  Working assertively to ensure that CLIP meets its targets on all employability contracts;

·  Recruiting eligible participants to programmes which best meet their needs

·  Putting in place high quality and meaningful initial assessment processes

·  Ensuring that participants are provided with challenging and relevant training and development programmes that support planned outcomes

·  Supporting progression to jobs and training including in-work support, where required

·  Making active use of project planning tools to ensure timely contract compliance

·  Working with the Programmes Administrator to produce monthly monitoring reports including action plans to address underperformance or slippage, as applicable

·  Evaluating and improving provision;

2.  Taking a lead in devising and delivering a rolling Marketing Plan for employability provision to include:

·  Creating and maintaining strategic partnerships e.g. with DWP that will directly benefit recruitment to CLIP employability programmes

·  Refreshing the Marketing Plan at least once per term

·  Working with other managers to devise a proactive outreach plan to maximise reach and recruitment to employability and other CLIP provision

·  Contributing to our online and social media presence to enhance recruitment and PR

·  Supporting reception staff and others involved in recruiting to employability provision

·  Monitoring the effectiveness of all marketing methods;

3.  Supporting the Chief Executive in implementing high quality employability provision:

·  Attending and making a significant contribution to the Adult Quality/ Planning Group

·  Attending two-weekly management team meetings (the Curriculum Lead Group)

·  Attending external committees/meetings, as agreed

·  Contributing to the development of high quality tools and resources for use in the ‘employability journey’

·  Developing a Resource Base of tools and materials, either paper-based or online

·  Identifying suitable accredited and non-accredited courses to meet skills gaps or to update learners

·  Teaching groups on employability programmes based on an average of 8-10 hours per week;

4.  Providing day-to-day supervision of a small team of employability staff, as agreed with the Chief Executive;

5.  Delivering employability support to participants, particularly on the DWP Programme (Maximus contract) in Mablethorpe:

·  Recruiting, assessing, supporting and progressing learners

·  Delivering training programmes in employability and other vocational areas, according to own specialisms

·  Completing all required documentation to ensure am audit trail of the ‘learner journey’

·  Conducting evaluations to ensure that programmes meet needs;

6.  Supporting the Chief Executive in ensuring that premises, learning spaces and learning resources are well-utilised, attractive and safe within the constraints of budgets;

7.  Working with the Chief Executive and Director Business Development to ensure sustainability of employability programmes at CLIP;

8.  Evaluate and develop own practice;

9.  Adhere fully to CLIP’s Quality, Equal/Diversity and Health/Safety Policies.

Location

The post will be based in Market Rasen or Mablethorpe, but regular travel will be required to all sites including outreach locations, where part of specific contracts. Therefore living within commutable distance and use of a car will be essential.

Person specification

VALUES / Essential (E)/ Desirable (D)
Fully-committed to the values of CLIP to widen participation in learning, to raise aspiration, to have a positive impact on the community, to forge positive strategic partnerships, to promote social entrepreneurship and high quality community learning / E
Committed to promoting social enterprise as a business model / E
Highly committed to education especially for those who have benefited least, and for progression / E
To support staff to show commitment to these values, to support them to “go the extra mile” and to enjoy their work at CLIP / E

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE/AWARENESS

Track record of coping well with the demands of a busy and target-based employability environment

/ E

Understands funding mechanisms and can grasp detail quickly

/ E

Evidence of delivering a high quality advice and guidance role

/ E

Experience in the delivery of employability and vocational training

/ D

Evidence of working with adults facing barriers, social disadvantage and/or low/no qualifications

/ D

Experience in liaising with external agencies, especially employers, to support recruitment and progression

/ D
Awareness of the necessary conditions for business sustainability / E

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Full Level 3 vocational qualification or degree in a relevant subject / E
Careers Guidance or IAG qualification at Level 4 / D
Teacher-trained – Cert Ed, DTLLS, PGCE or equivalent / D

SKILLS AND QUALITIES

Confident and capable of taking a day-to-day leadership role – taking responsibility, motivating tutors, encouraging new ideas and supporting high quality delivery / E
Enterprising and persistent approach to the recruitment of participants and achievement of targets, given the challenges of a largely rural provision / E
Can support, motivate and engage with learners, including those with barriers and low aspiration / E
Excellent organisational skills – can deliver an audit trail and other project planning skills / E
Can organise resources and evaluate tools to support employability programmes / E
Very good standard of written English / E
Very good command of Microsoft ICT packages including Word, Excel and Outlook / E

Conditions

Conditions of employment will be based on the following:

Full-time (based on 37.5 hours per week) – work outside of office hours will sometimes be expected to manage the demands of the role.

30 days paid holiday + bank holidays.

Progress Reviews at least annually.

Probationary period of 4 months.

Statutory sick pay, parental leave, etc. CLIP has a workplace pension in place with TPT Retirement Solutions (formerly The Pensions Trust)

Notice: two months’ notice on each side after probationary period.

Salary: based on £24,000-£30,000 depending on skills and experience.

How to apply

Please email a CV and letter of application (maximum two sides of A4), including the names and contact details of two referees, to Katie Easey

Closing date: Thursday 17 November 2016.

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