South West National Collaborative Outreach Programme

OUTREACH OFFICER,

South West National Collaborative Outreach Programme

Based at North Devon Campus - Barnstaple

Full-time

Fixed Term

Information for Candidates

Principal: Diane Dimond

Petroc is one of the South West's leading colleges, committed to raising the aspirations, knowledge and skills of individuals, communities and businesses in Devon and beyond. Operating from three campuses, two in North Devon (Barnstaple) and one in Mid Devon (Tiverton), Petroc reaches out to a large rural community across the whole county.

We provide an exceptional range of further and higher education programmes which, in line with our vision, will equip our communities for the future, economically, socially and culturally.

We have many things to be proud of at Petroc. Our students consistently produce record-breaking results and progress onto the country's leading universities, further training or employment. We have enviable learner success rates placing us in the top 9% of colleges in the country for A Levels and BTECs. Our learners are at the heart of everything we do and we are proud of their successes.

Our whole community is committed to driving forward educational success in further and higher education and we all strive to raise the aspirations, knowledge and skills of individuals, communities and businesses in Devon and beyond.

We believe in bringing out the very best in people through being open and responsive, stimulating fresh thinking and building both confidence and ambition; and our personality is summarised in our vision ‘Raising Aspirations, Realising Potential, Supporting Success’.

Petroc is central to the economic, social and cultural needs of our surrounding communities. Over 16,000 student enrolments take place each year with ages ranging from 14 to 80+ years. With a staff headcount of approximately 900, the college is one of the largest employers in the area. We pride ourselves on our forward thinking, enthusiastic and diverse staff who make Petroc a vibrant and friendly place that is both flexible and supportive for all.

Petroc delivers significant provision across all Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and Education Funding Agency (EFA) programme areas (except agriculture) in a wide range of academic, vocational, work based, recreational and Higher Educational (in collaboration with the University of Plymouth) subjects.

Our students come from Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and, through distance learning, areas far beyond South West England. Strong links are maintained with all schools and community colleges, as well as other institutions, to ensure comprehensive provision for all young people, adults and employers in the area.

We are developing inspiring state-of-the-art facilities, having recently opened a Future Technologies Centre at our Mid Devon Campus, an Engineering Centre of Excellence and a Lifestyle and Tourism Centre at our North Devon Campus.

With the nearest University 50 miles away, Petroc’s Brannams Campus in Barnstaple has seen a very large increase in Higher Education and further expansion is planned through the Mid Devon Campus. In total, some 450 people currently study Higher Education at the college, with the majority on Foundation Degree programmes.

Now would be an exciting time to join the College as we continue to push the boundaries of educational excellence and maximise our potential to serve our communities.

In November 2015 The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) recognised the achievements of Petroc by grading the college as ‘good’.

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Type

The advertised post is full-time, fixed term (24 months).

Hours of Work

You will be expected to work such hours as are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of your duties and responsibilities. Staff will normally work a 37 hour week. The hours for this post are 37 hours per week x 52 weeks per year.

Holiday

The postholder will be entitled to 25 days paid leave per annum, plus Bank Holidays. Also the college traditionally closes between Christmas and the New Year and these three days are additional to the postholder’s leave entitlement.

Pay

The salary range for this post is £21,220 to £23,879.

Pension Scheme

You will automatically join the Local Government Pension Scheme, which is an index linked final salary scheme. The contribution that you would make would be 5.8% of your gross salary, with Petroc making a contribution of 14.7% on your behalf.

Appraisal

All Petroc employees are required to take part in the college’s Appraisal Scheme. You will be appraised on an annual basis. The appraisal is aimed at establishing work targets and to identifying to each employee’s training and development needs. It is not, however, linked to salary, promotional issues or any performance-related pay element.

Essential Training

All new staff are required to participate in a Staff Induction Programme, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Training and Safeguarding Training as part of their Contract of Employment.

Trade Unions

You will be entitled to join a union at the college and, indeed you are encouraged to do so by college management. This is because college management consults with staff through a Joint Consultative Committee framework upon which recognised trade unions and/or professional organisations are represented. Recognised unions are UNISON for support staff, UCU and ATL for academic staff and ACM for college managers. If you are appointed to the post you are applying for and wish for more information, the Human Resources Office will put you in touch with the appropriate branch representative.

Criminal Background Disclosure

Applicants / Employees are required to declare any pending criminal prosecutions they may have as well as any spent criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings as defined under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. The only exception to this requirement is that Applicants / Employees do not need to disclose any ‘protected’ cautions or convictions as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2013.

(Failure to disclose this information at any stage of the selection process could lead to dismissal upon appointment in a role)

NB DBS Disclosures will be taken up on successful candidates only.

More information is attached to our application form.

Sick Pay

Petroc offers its employees the benefit of a sickness allowance when absent due to illness. This ranges from one month’s full pay and two months’ half pay, after four months’ service to six months’ full pay and six months’ half pay after five years’ service. More details are contained in all Petroc Contracts of Employment and Sickness Procedures.

ID Badges

Photo ID badges are issued to all staff on appointment and can be used for photocopying and library borrowing as well as for identification purposes. It is a requirement that all staff wear their badges whilst on any college premises.

OUTREACH OFFICER
South West National Collaborative Outreach Programme
Based at North Devon Campus - Barnstaple
Full-time, fixed term (24 months)

Salary: £21,220 - £23,879

Hours of Work: 37 hours per week x 52 weeks per year
Responsible To: Assistant Principal Leadership & Higher Technical Skills

Date of Job Description: November 2016

ROLE SUMMARY
Under the direction of the Assistant Principal Leadership Higher Technical Skills and the South West National Collaborative Outreach Programme (SWNCOP) County Team Leader, the role holder contributes to the delivery of a customer-focused, cost-effective and efficient collaborative outreach service. As a member of the extended SWNCOP team, the role holder is responsible for working within Petroc to maximise institutional contribution to the programme and ensure collaboration across the consortium.
The National Collaborative Outreach Programme seeks to improve awareness of, and access to, Higher Education for target groups in accordance with requirements from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
In collaboration with a range of internal and external stakeholders in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, the role holder works with potential students and those who influence them in making a well-informed choice of university and programme, through delivery of events, activities and new initiatives.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
·  Contributes to the delivery of an effective and flexible outreach service, offering support, training and guidance as appropriate, taking strategic direction from the central SWNCOP team
·  Liaises with the central SWNCOP team for guidance on marketing communications, financial reporting and evaluation to process and issue information, correspondence and documentation in line with the SWNCOP service.
·  Attends SWNCOP training and information events
·  Is fully conversant with Petroc’s operating processes to enable autonomous working
·  Contributes institution-specific information for the SWNCOP website
·  Contributes to the delivery of SWNCOP core projects
·  Sources Petroc’s Student Ambassadors for the SWNCOP project
·  Works across partner institutions to deliver collaborative activities
·  Liaises with and supports SWNCOP contacts in schools
·  Increases attendance of SWNCOP target students at institutional events such as Open Days
·  Engages with counterparts in other SWNCOP partner institutions to gain familiarity with other Consortium institutions and to share best practice
·  Contributes to the development and delivery of institution-based consortium materials and events specifically tailored to NCOP targeting
·  Organises meetings, visits and events, coordinating calendars, paperwork, facilities and associated arrangements so that activities run smoothly
·  Prioritises and makes task-related decisions within designated activities
·  Ensures all activities undertaken are in compliance with the institution’s Safety Policy
·  Acts in a way that demonstrates the institution’s commitment to Equality and Diversity for staff, students and partners
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
·  Successful delivery of key priorities and objectives agreed as part of Petroc’s Performance Development Review
·  Stakeholder satisfaction
·  Responding to enquiries accurately and within defined response times
·  Meeting the defined outcomes for individual projects and meeting the overall requirements of the Higher Education Funding Council for England
KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION & TRAINING
·  Numeracy and literacy at secondary education level (or equivalent demonstrable experience)
·  Educational attainment at further education level (or demonstrable equivalent experience)
·  Good working knowledge/training of Microsoft Word/Excel/Outlook/PowerPoint and databases
EXPERIENCE
·  Working with the target age group or within a higher education or further education environment
·  Office administration
·  Planning and organising
·  Working as part of a team
SKILLS
·  Effective verbal and written communication skills including presentational skills
·  Placing a continuous emphasis on internal and external customer satisfaction
·  Data and financial reporting
·  Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently
·  Ability to build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY’S BEHAVIOURS
·  Demonstrates Self-Leadership
·  Develops self and others to deliver
·  Leads and operates effectively in times of change and ambiguity
·  Builds and secures value from relationships
·  Drives innovation and action
·  Creates and contributes to a shared vision
·  Demonstrates sound business judgement
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
·  There will be a requirement to work weekends and evenings when specified which includes supporting events and activities
·  There will be a requirement to travel and work away from campus
·  There is a requirement to attend meetings and events at locations not easily accessible using public transport
·  Clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required for this position

Completed applications should be returned to or to the Human Resources Office, Petroc, Old Sticklepath Hill, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 2BQ

by no later than 9am on Monday 12th December 2016

Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted

Interviews to take place Wednesday 21st December 2016

If you have not been called for interview within two weeks of the closing date for this post, you should assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.