Careers and Employer Engagement Lead

Purpose of the Role

To lead and deliver high-quality professional career guidance; information, advice and guidance (IAG), work experience, employer engagement and vocational development across LPW's educational provision, with a particular focus on helping young people make successful transitions into further education, training, apprenticeships, supported employment or employment.

As a Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and Development you will be a qualified Careers Practitioner. The postholder will provide impartial, individualised careers guidance and coordinate meaningful employability opportunities. The post holder will develop employer relationships and work-based experiences, working between young people and businesses to understand both sets of needs and create safe, purposeful and positive opportunities.

The postholder will work closely with education leaders, the SENCO, teaching and pastoral staff and the Community Engagement Manager so that careers, employability, preparation for adulthood and employer engagement are coordinated across LPW.

Key Responsibilities

Careers information, advice and guidance

• You will use career choice theories and psychological frameworks to create long-term personalised plans. 

• Provide professional, impartial one-to-one careers guidance to young people, helping them understand their strengths, interests, aspirations and realistic progression options.

• Develop individual careers and progression action plans and support young people to access education, training, apprenticeships, supported employment and employment opportunities.

• Deliver engaging individual and group careers and employability sessions, including CV development, applications, interview preparation, workplace communication and career planning.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of education and training routes, careers practice, local and national labour market information and online careers resources, translating this into accessible guidance for young people.

• Advocate for young people and liaise with families, education providers, training providers, employers and partner agencies where this supports successful progression.

• Contribute to careers education across LPW, helping colleagues embed meaningful careers learning and progression planning within young people’s programmes.

 Work experience and employer relations

• Proactively develop and grow a network of employers and businesses willing to support LPW children and young people through work experience, workplace visits, employer encounters, mentoring, careers talks, skills workshops, mock interviews and other employability opportunities.

• Secure safe, high-quality and meaningful work experience placements that reflect each young person’s aspirations, strengths, support needs and intended outcomes.

• Build trusted, sustained relationships with employers and help them understand what makes high-quality, inclusive employability support beneficial for both the young person and the employer.

• Work between the young person and employer to agree expectations, prepare both parties, identify reasonable support and maintain appropriate contact before, during and after the experience.

• Work closely with Learning Mentors and Engagement Workers, who will provide the transitional and day-to-day support young people may need to access and sustain employability opportunities. The postholder will coordinate the opportunity and employer relationship but will not normally provide this ongoing day-to-day learner support.

• Oversee the Learning Mentors and Engagement Workers' completion and maintenance of appropriate placement checks and risk assessments, ensuring health, safety, safeguarding and welfare arrangements are clear before placements begin.

• Respond to placement issues promptly, supporting young people and employers to overcome barriers and reviewing or adapting arrangements where required.

Working with the Community Engagement Manager

• The postholder will work closely with LPW's Community Engagement Manager to provide businesses with a coordinated relationship with LPW and to grow the number of corporate relationships that actively support LPW and our work with children and young people.

• The Community Engagement Manager will lead relationships with businesses primarily interested in corporate fundraising, wider corporate engagement and accessing LPW Inspire training.

• The Careers, IAG, Work Experience & Employer Relations Lead will lead relationships with businesses primarily interested in providing employability, careers and work-based opportunities for LPW young people.

• Actively share and develop appropriate corporate relationships so businesses can deepen their involvement with LPW without receiving duplicated or uncoordinated approaches.

• Maintain the shared CRM as the central record.

Vocational skills, EHCPs and preparation for adulthood

• Support the development of practical vocational and employability skills that increase confidence, independence, workplace readiness and progression.

• Work with the SENCO and education colleagues to contribute to high-quality EHCP outcomes, annual reviews and, where necessary, evidence for tribunals, particularly in relation to preparation for adulthood, employment and progression.

• Ensure careers guidance, vocational opportunities and work experience are personalised and accessible to young people who may have additional needs or experienced barriers to education and employment.

• Help young people reflect on work-based experiences, recognise skills gained and translate learning into clear next steps and progression goals.

Quality, impact and administration

• Maintain records of careers interventions, employer contacts, placements, attendance, learner progress and destinations using LPW systems, including keeping employer relationship and engagement information up to date within the CRM.

• Track and evaluate the quality of careers, employability and work experience activity, gathering feedback from young people and employers and using learning to improve the offer.

• Provide timely information and evidence for education leaders, EHCP reviews, quality assurance, reporting and organisational improvement.

• Manage information in accordance with data protection requirements and LPW policies and maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional records.

• Maintain professional knowledge and continuing professional development appropriate to a Level 6 Careers Practitioner and work in line with recognised professional careers guidance standards and ethical practice.

Person Specification

• A recognised 6 Diploma in Qualified Career Guidance.

• Experience of providing impartial one-to-one careers guidance to young people, including those who may be vulnerable or experience additional barriers to progression.

• Experience of developing and delivering careers, employability or vocational activities to individuals and groups.

• Experience of engaging employers and building productive business relationships that create opportunities for young people.

• Up-to-date understanding of education, training and employment pathways and local and national labour market information.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work effectively with young people, families, employers and professionals.

• Strong organisation, initiative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple placements, relationships and deadlines.

• Understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to trauma-informed, inclusive and aspirational practice.

• Any other duties as required.

Safeguarding and additional duties

LPW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The postholder must uphold safeguarding, health and safety and child protection procedures at all times. The postholder may also undertake other duties reasonably required from time to time, provided they are commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the post.