Teaching Skills Team

Employer Liaison Support Officer ~ Job Description

Conditions of Service

Position: Grade 6

Pension contribution: 5% employer’s contribution to personal pension plan

Hours: 37 hours per week

Annual leave: 28 days plus bank holidays

Start date: As soon as possible

Term of employment: Initially for one year, with the likelihood of extension, subject to review and successful completion of probationary period

Responsible to: Employer Liaison Officer

Location: Hackney, London

Responsibilities

1. To identify, establish and support positive relationships with employers from a variety of sectors who can offer work placement opportunities to young people from Hackney and elsewhere.

1.1 Sourcing and confirming a range of work experience placement opportunities for young people including sourcing accessible placements for students at risk of disengagement or with special education needs. 1.2 Canvassing and researching employers, primarily in Hackney, Camden, Islington and the City of London, to ensure there is a sufficient supply of organisations willing to take students on placements and to expand the Inspire! database. 1.3 Developing and maintaining positive relationships with employers through regular telephone, email and postal contact and occasional visits, as required, to maintain their interest in Inspire! and ongoing commitments to offer placements and support students. 1.4 Taking part in promotional events and networking opportunities to nurture existing partnerships and cultivate new relationships with employers. 1.5

2. To provide wider support to ensure the high quality delivery of Inspire’s work experience programme 2.1 In conjunction with colleagues, conducting the requisite health and safety checks and risk assessments to ensure that all employers providing placements meet the necessary standards. (Training will be provided).

August 2011 1 of 3 pages 2.2 Supporting the Employer Liaison Officers to provide an effective service to schools, including delivery of briefing sessions to student year groups (ranging from 100 – 240 young people) as and when required

2.3 Matching students to suitable work experience placements in line with course requirements 2.4 Dealing with any grievance issue associated with a work experience placement in line with Inspire! policy 2.5 3. To provide reliable and efficient administrative support to the Employer Engagement team 3.1 Undertaking database administration and data entry to ensure all employer records on the central database, Veryan, are accurate and up to date. (Training on Veryan will be provided.) 3.2 Retrieving and processing data from other EBPs and schools for information relating to placements that they have sourced. 3.3 Inputting data on the Inspire! Outlook contact data base and maintaining appropriate distribution lists 3.4 Inputting all offers of placements from employers onto the Veryan database in order to generate Health and Safety paperwork. 3.5 Collating surveys of employers, schools and students for end of year reports. 3.6 Ensuring all necessary employer documentation is obtained and completed to a high standard and that employers receive thanks and acknowledgement. 3.7 Carrying out mail outs to employers to secure their commitment to support Inspire! programmes.

4. To keep abreast of government policy around work–related learning and share good practice

4.1 Maintaining an up to date awareness of government policy / guidance and general developments and good practice in the field of work experience and work-related learning

5. To provide support to Inspire!’s wider programmes and activities. 5.1 Attending and contributing to Inspire! team meetings and secondary team meetings. 5.2 Contributing to Inspire!’s strategic development, planning and reporting processes. 5.3 Representing Inspire! at external meetings and conferences, where appropriate.

6. To take part in Inspire!’s Performance Review system and take up opportunities for continuing development.

7. To carry out any other duties that may reasonably be requested by the Director of Inspire! and that are in line with the purpose and level of the post.

August 2011 2 of 3 pages Person Specification

Area Essential Desirable

Qualifications  Educated to degree level or  IOSH health and safety equivalent or able to demonstrate accredited the ability to work at that level

Experience  Working within an administrative  Carrying out health and safety role within an office environment assessments in the workplace  Working as part of a team  Experience of working in a multi-  Working in partnership with cultural education or community external organisations setting  Working in education, training, sales or recruitment sectors  Working with young people, either in a paid or voluntary capacity  Presenting to large groups of people

Knowledge  Office administrative systems  Awareness of Health & Safety  Understanding the importance and legislation and requirements role of work experience for young people  Awareness of equalities issues

Skills  Very good ICT skills, including use  Ability to use and manipulate Abilities of Word, Access and Outlook. Access databases  Good numeracy and literacy skills  Ability to build and sustain positive, professional relationships with a range of individuals and organisations and to manage their expectations  Excellent time management, organisation and administration skills, including the ability to meet targets, and manage conflicting pressures and deadlines

Qualities  Commitment to the aims and purpose of Inspire  Ability to show initiative and ‘can do’ attitude  Self reliant, confident, and diplomatic  Sense of Humour

August 2011 3 of 3 pages