An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as a Next Steps Adviser, part of the Next Steps team, delivering Post 16 advise to young people considering their options for education work or training. Established in August 2021, Dorset Council’s Next Steps team works to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training when their full-time education ends at age 16.
Our Next Steps team, which includes Data & Management Information, monitors what our post 16 young people are doing, so that we can offer our support to those who haven’t continued their education or started work, with the aim of enabling them to do so. You will be a core part of the Adviser function, working collaboratively on this agenda.
What can you expect to be doing?
The Adviser function builds on the work of our Data and Management Information team, who establish where young people are, in terms of their employment or training throughout the year until they are in a confirmed positive post 16 destination up until their 18th birthday. Their preliminary work includes gathering information from other services such as Schools, SEND, Youth Justice and Children in Care teams to identify a caseload of young people that you, as a Next Steps Adviser will work with. You will help young people to overcome barriers that affect their capacity to engage in learning, education or employment, to facilitate as many young people moving into one of these options as possible.
About you
You will be a good team player and be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with a range of stakeholders, both external and internal to the Council. This will include Children’s Services colleagues in our localities, parents, care leavers and young people. You will be tenacious and curious and be able to demonstrate an ability to work independently and make decisions in line with specified processes to engage young people as well as contributing to our statutory tracking and reporting duties.
You must demonstrate perseverance with young people, who may be experiencing difficulties, leading to positive and impactful interactions that motivate and bring them into suitable support and provision.
You must have a clear understanding of the safe use of data and information sharing and an understanding of GDPR provisions.
Consideration will be given for candidates with considerable relevant experience who do not hold the required qualifications. (There may be the option to undertake a Level 4 qualification - subject to Dorset Council being able to arrange a suitable apprenticeship.)