Connexions Personal Adviser (PA)

Role Profile

Job Title: Connexions Personal Grade: JNC professional range Adviser (PA) Spinal column point range: 14 – 17 £27,498 -£29,675 inclusive Department: Youth, Connexions and Play Post no: 19982 Directorate: Children and Families Location: Borough wide Role reports to: Connexions Co ordinator, Team leader, Targeted PA, Senior PA Direct Reports: Possibly volunteers and people on work placement and work experience Indirect Reports: None This role profile is non-contractual and provided for guidance. It will be updated and amended from time to time in accordance with the changing needs of the council and the requirements of the job.

JOB DESCRIPTION Recruitment practices to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and/or vulnerable adults apply to this post in addition to the requirement to obtain an enhanced Disclosure Barring check (DBS).

PURPOSE OF ROLE:

 To be an integral member of Ealing Youth, Connexions and Play Service.

 To work towards achieving the aims and objectives set out in the relevant council and service plans and contribute fully to the further development of the service.

 To work towards achieving council and service targets.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

 To take responsibility for an allocated case load potentially including young people and adults in education and community settings to assist them to progress to appropriate education, employment and training opportunities (EET).

 To provide easily accessible, non-judgemental, client centred and confidential IAG services which support service users to access appropriate opportunities, assess their needs, plan support and review progress.

 To be responsible for assessment, planning, reviewing and drawing up individual action plans to assist young people/adults to make informed choices about their education, employment and training. Support young people/adults to implement these action plans.

 To support the development of best practice through partnership work, aiming to improve young people’s opportunities in EET.

 To work in conjunction with Connexions staff and other professionals to ensure that a comprehensive service is provided in line with current legislation and local expectations.

 To support work within the Youth, Connexions and Play staff team that enables colleagues to recognise and identify people they feel would benefit from the support offered by Connexions.

 Act as a point of referral for young people and their parents who are in need of support regarding the referral pathways and specialist services available.

 Work in partnership with young people and families to encourage access to education, employment and training, accreditations and other opportunities.

 Use assessment tools to identify young people’s blocks to learning and personal development and to discover talents, interests and motivational triggers.

 To support the work and planning of the service through projects, training, team meetings, inspections and other joint activities.

 To support other appropriate Connexions and borough wide strategic developments as they arise and support the successful development and implementation of these.

 To work on own initiative with direction as well as in an integrated team with colleagues.

 To attend and participate in regular managerial and professional supervision sessions.

 To work within legislative frameworks and within the Council’s principles and policies relating to equality of opportunity and diversity, Health and Safety and financial regulation standards.

 Willingness to undertake other duties as directed by line managers commensurate with the post.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:  To use IT and paper based systems to record client data and interventions.  Support programmes that match the diverse needs of young people and the local community through contributing to effective recording, monitoring and evaluation.  To link with other staff and contribute to the work of forums, focus and operations groups with the aim of developing cohesive and coherent strategies to target NEET and Not Known young people and contribute to systems which allow for the monitoring and measuring of a reduction in the NEET and other relevant figures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL):

 Line manger  Service users  Colleagues from the Council  Colleagues from external agencies, Schools, Colleges, Training Providers, Employers etc  Colleagues from other partner agencies.

AUTHORITY LEVEL (PEOPLE, POLICY, FINANCIAL):

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Recruitment practices to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and/or vulnerable adults apply to this post in addition to the requirement to obtain a Disclosure Barring check (DBS).

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE:

1. Demonstrate experience of the practical issues related to the promotion of equality and diversity in service delivery.

2. Demonstrate experience of producing reports and have good written, verbal and presentation skills.

3. Demonstrate experience of communicating effectively with young people/adults who are in education or NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and their families and off motivating them to address issues related to moving into education, training and employment.

4. Demonstrate understanding and experience of working with the key issues related to young people/adults and the relationship these issues have to social exclusion.

5. Demonstrate experience of assessing young people/adults and providing information, advice and support to motivate and inspire them in order to support their transition into positive destinations.

6. Ability to support the tracking, recording and monitoring of service users living and educated in the borough and using this data to target services at those most in need.

7. Demonstrate experience of recording sensitive information, maintaining client case files and adhering to confidentiality policies.

8. Demonstrate experience of being self-motivated and working to deadlines and targets.

9. Demonstrate experience of developing knowledge in a specialist area and sharing and/or training colleagues and service users in this.

10.Willingness and ability to work in a flexible way including evenings and occasional weekends and to undertake home visits whilst adhering to appropriate health and safety procedures. 11.Demonstrate a willingness to undertake other duties as directed by line managers commensurate with the post.

12.Ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION (S):

13.The successful person will hold a relevant professional qualification in advice and guidance, such as Level 6 in CEIAG or possess a relevant CEIAG level 4 qualification and have a willingness to qualify to level 6. Competency levels The list below states the level needed in each competency for effective performance in a role.

1. Role requires a generally low level of competence. It may only require an awareness of this competency, or may provide experience to operate at a higher level. 2. Role requires a moderate level of competence, the ability to cope with standard problems/common situations, and competence at day-to-day application. 3. Role requires a high level of competence, the ability to cope with unusual/non-standard problems and issues, and awareness of alternative options and approaches to situations. Requires ability to guide or advise others in this area and is able to look ahead and anticipate future needs. 4. Role requires an exceptional level of competence and advanced application. Requires ability to develop innovative approaches, stretch others’ thinking and challenge them to excel by setting exceptional standards. Results focus: Sets and delivers stretching targets, in line with the Corporate Plan & Priorities and with Ealing’s standards and procedures; seeks and takes responsibility for enhancing performance; does what is necessary to achieve the required output, rather than just performing a set of tasks. Level 2

Customer focus: Actively seeks to identify, understand and give priority to meeting customer needs. Acts in accordance with the needs of customers (external or internal), partners and the wider community. Level 2

Job expertise: Has the necessary technical and professional knowledge and expertise, and uses it effectively. The areas of job expertise required vary significantly between services and between roles. The areas required in any specific role must be discussed with individuals. Level 2

Communication: Uses clear language that can be understood by mixed audiences. Communicates effectively (speaking, listening, in writing and when presenting), as required. Level 2

Change orientation: Looks for and proposes ways to improve service and will, if necessary, challenge the status quo to produce improvement. Shows initiative, and adapts to change requirements, by continually striving to improve processes, activities, and own performance. . Level 2

Managing self: Effectively organises self and projects as required, using Ealing systems, processes and policies. Can describe own strengths, development needs, impact and approach. Takes personal responsibility for own role and own development as a result. Level 2

Working in teams: Co-operates with others, by working together, supporting and influencing colleagues, and being a part of a range of teams as appropriate. Shares information with colleagues and partners to enable them to carry out their roles more effectively. Level 2

Managing people and business (For managers only): Manages the performance and development of all staff who report to them in a way that supports the Ealing vision and values. Encourages and supports staff and colleagues to develop to their full potential. Demonstrates sound financial, business and resource management.

Leading in the organisation (For managers only): Leads change and ensures effective implementation through programme and project delivery. Provides direction for the organisation and individual departments. Gains commitment from stakeholders to the vision, strategy and the resources required.