Skills Support Coach

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure that learners are enrolled on the correct programme and any barriers to success are identified and that remedial actions are agreed and followed up
• Ensure learners receive a full induction onto their programme and know how to access and obtain support
• To ensure learners understand and can apply all relevant College policies and procedures to include Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Welfare, Data Protection, Whistleblowing and comply with procedures contained within the Student College Handbook
• Review progress in line with programme guidelines and inputs from relevant stakeholders including course coordinators, employers and careers officers
• To consider the pastoral care of the students and work alongside curriculum departments and external agencies to support students
• To consider the development of learner employability skills and to support the development of these skills with learners
• To support the delivery and achievement of Personal Social Development and Employability qualifications in line with DfE requirements.
• To follow up learner success stories and ensuring they are published accordingly
• To ensure learners comply with all programme requirements including hours of attendance, PTPs, progress files, reviews and exit interviews
• Fully support the learner attendance monitoring process including follow up with learner, employer and parent if applicable any unauthorised absences
• Highlight to Centre Manger any anomalies, issues or concerns in a timely fashion
• Seek, receive, monitor and record all necessary documentation from learners, employers, DfE, academic, training and support staff to ensure full compliance of learner tracking, claims and records
• Quality assure and verify such records to ensure full compliance with relevant contracts
• Build and maintain links with the Course – Co-ordinators for Training Programmes, academic staff, administrative staff, employers and other relevant staff on all aspects of DfE Training Programmes
• Develop a detailed working knowledge of the contractual requirements for the delivery and assessment of DfE Training Programmes
• Monitor learner progress in relation to the requirements of the occupational frameworks and targeted qualifications in order to ensure successful achievement
• Build and maintain links with parents/guardians, careers services and other appropriate external agencies
• Attend regular formal meetings with academic and other relevant staff involved in the training process
• Arrange appropriate workplace training / employment opportunities for learners in conjunction with course co-ordinators and employer requirements

Administration

• Process all the necessary documentation for learners appropriate to relevant DfE Training Programmes including, but not exclusively, Personal Training Plans, Delivery agreements, Insurance, Equal Opportunities, H&S, Induction and review / progress
• Liaise with Professional & Technical and essential skills tutors on the completion of Personal Training Plans and forward originals to the TMS administration team.  Reviews and updates must also be forwarded accordingly
• Ensure the accurate and timely submission of learner timesheets and take appropriate action where necessary to include course team, learner, parent and employer
• Collect and process examination certificates/results slips prior to entry and on achievement of relevant qualifications throughout programme of learning
• Utilise the capability of the TMS and other management information systems in order to track performance, highlight concerns and ensure appropriate action is implemented
• Arrange appropriate workplace training / employment opportunities for learners in conjunction with course co-ordinators and employer requirements

• Monitor 30 hour provision for all learners and monitor placement / not in placement records
• Identify anticipated leavers and ensure appropriate action. Follow up expiring insurance details. Any learner for whom insurance is out of date must be returned to College 30 hour provision
• Seek and obtain feedback from learners and employers at relevant points during the year and ensure that areas for improvement are highlighted and actioned within the team

Trainee Support

• Generate and contribute to the Personal Training Plan throughout the learner journey programme, recording progress with both learner and employer
• To support the delivery and achievement of Personal Social Development and Employability qualifications in line with DfE requirements.
• Ensure such information is communicated to relevant course teams
• Responsible for updating Learner and Employer reviews as appropriate to DfE programmes based on college progress from course teams
• Ensure appropriate progress is being made and that any issues are highlighted to the Skills Unit Supervisor
• Support Curriculum Area Managers in providing on-going induction for trainees to ensure awareness of correct procedures and requirements for their specific programme
• Confirm Timetable arrangements are suitable and in line with programme requirements
• Confirm qualification registrations, framework are correct in line with programme requirements
• Responsible for ensuring all payments, EMA, travel, bonus or childcare are in place
• Follow up attendance on weekly basis for any missing Timesheets
• Follow up any pastoral care issues utilizing full college support provision
• Provide a mentoring support service in conjunction with other relevant personnel including support to attend exams / tests
• Ensure that non-attendance/ lack of progress in relation to trainees is identified and appropriate remedial action is implemented
• Ensure progression routes are identified and accessible to all learners in line with their chosen career aspirations

Employer Support

• Arrange appropriate workplace training/employment for learners in line with programme guidelines and / or other college staff
• Ensure employers’ understanding of their roles / responsibilities in the training programme process
• Confirm workplace buddy / mentor and employer input into Personal Training Programme
• Responsible for work placements in line with Access NI arrangements
• Responsible for number of employee/ learner ratio
• Responsible for workplace Induction confirmation
• Ensure that the workplace meets general Health & Safety requirements and bring any issues that require attention to the Skills Unit Supervisor
• Monitor the issue and recording of items of protective clothing and equipment assigned to learners
• Ensure that all accidents are reported and recorded according to College procedures and Health and Safety Executive procedures within the required timescale
• Ensure that the employer has current Public and Employer Liability Insurance for the duration of the learner in training and that a copy of insurance is held on file. Any learner for whom insurance is out of date must be returned to College
• Communicate with employers on learner transition from non-employed to employed status and process all relevant documentation in order to maximise funding
• Process all relevant documentation regarding payment of employer and learner bonus

 General

• To participate in a culture of continuous improvement within the team
• To participate in a culture of professionalism and customer service orientation within the team
• To support the organisation of any special events held by the Centre for Skills and Apprenticeships such as the Apprenticeship Awards
• Provide support for recruitment and marketing initiatives
• Highlight to Centre Managers any concerns particularly in relation to non-compliance and whistle blowing policies
• Adhere to the College’s Discipline Policy and Procedures (relevant to trainees / apprentices) regarding trainee/client discipline and process the necessary paperwork to the appropriate external contacts
• To carry out any other duties appropriate to the grade and post assigned

Further Education is an ever changing service and all staff are expected to participate constructively in College activities and to adopt a flexible approach to their work. 

Note:    No job description can cover every issue that may arise within this post at various times and the post holder is expected to carry out other duties which are broadly consistent with those contained in this document.  The job description will be reviewed and varied periodically by Management in the light of the business needs of the College.