Job: Careers and Work Placements Adviser

Manchester Young Lives does education differently. We build trusting relationships that enable young people to feel respected and safe, facilitating engaging creative personalised learning programmes that leave young people with SEND believing they can succeed. We are looking for passionate values driven professionals who will support young people in our Learning Hubs to believe in themselves and achieve their aspirations.

Due to growth across our Learning Hubs, MYL is recruiting for a Careers and Work Placements Adviser to provide engaging, inclusive, and effective careers advice to young people aged 16+ with SEND, inspiring them to believe they can thrive in adulthood. You will develop a network of Employers and secure, assess and manage a portfolio of work experience placements to meet young people’s needs and goals.

You will have a relevant careers advice and guidance qualification, and have experience of delivering careers advice and guidance. You should be experienced and confident in working with young people/adults with SEND, and able to communicate and build relationships with young people, parents/carers, employers and other professionals. 

MYL is a flexible, supportive and values led environment in which to work. Applicants can choose between a 30 hour a week year-round contract, or a 35 hour a week term-time only contract, both with a pro-rata salary. You will need to be willing to travel around the city of Manchester.

Main Purpose of the Job:

To provide creative, inclusive, and effective careers advice to young people with SEND aged 16 – 24 participating in Manchester Young Lives Learning Hub programmes that inspires them to achieve their aspirations. To develop a network of Employers and secure, assess and manage a portfolio of work experience placements to meet young people’s needs and goals.

• Deliver person-centred one-to-one and group career guidance sessions to support young people to identify their strengths, explore opportunities and make informed decisions about their education, training, and career pathways, enabling learners work towards their goals and believe in their ability to achieve their aspirations.
• Develop relationships with local employers to secure varied and inspiring opportunities for work experience, work trials and other employability activities as a route into employment for young people with SEND participating in MYL Learning Hubs.
• Work with and advise the wider Learning Hub teams to ensure that employability learning, including careers exploration, job search sessions, CV and application preparation and interview techniques, meets Gatsby Benchmarks and careers guidance standards, enables young people’s confidence to grow and overcomes practical or social barriers.
• Support employers to understand and provide the additional support SEND young people may need to succeed in a placement, as well as the benefits they will bring to a workplace.
• Provide regular support to young people and employers, facilitating solutions to any challenges, recognising progress, renewing placements and supporting young people’s successful progression from the Learning Hubs to destinations such as apprenticeships, further specialist education or employment.
• Undertake employer site assessments, health safety and vetting checks to ensure placements are appropriate, safe and meet statutory guidance for work experience, and to ensure MYL internal processes meet the relevant guidance and demonstrate best practice.
• Work proactively with parents and carers and others who influence young people, enabling them to become involved in and support young people’s decision making, careers aspirations and take up of work placements.
• Take a lead in providing up to date labour market and education/training information, taking account of strategy and development across Greater Manchester, and creating a bank of ICT and other resources.
• Keep accurate electronic and paper records to meet funding requirements and provide monitoring and evaluation data, case studies, and other evidence as required, and support gathering destinations data.
• Act as a positive role model to young people at all times.
• Participate in relevant meetings and training as required.
• Carry out all duties with full regard for all MYL policies and procedures, in particular those relating to equality, safeguarding, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting any concerns to line manager.
• Maintain good relations with outside bodies and the general public in order to uphold the organisation’s positive image.
• Ensure that your conduct in and out of work does not conflict with the professional expectations of the organisation
• Undertake any other duties within the scope and purpose of the post as directed including working flexibly at evening and weekends to meet business needs.