Support and Retention Officer

Support and Retention Officer
Walsall
Working hours: 20 hours - flexible days to meet the needs of the service
£23.48/hr
Start date: ASAP
AKTON Recruitment is working closely with the local authorities and we are looking for a support and Retention Officer in the Walsall area. 3 - 6 months contract role.
Main purpose of the job role
1. To take a key role in the setup, organisation, and ongoing delivery of the Supported Internship Pilot Programme for the Council until March 2025, ensuring that only eligible young people are signed up.
2. To ensure that the Supported Internship programme is run in accordance with the pilot rules and regulations provided by the ESFA.
3. To assist the Apprenticeship Programme Lead in coaching and supporting apprentices to aid retention.
4. To work collaboratively with other Training Officers/Learning and Development Consultants/ Connected Working Coaches so that programmes are not being delivered in isolation and form part of a wider training strategy.
5. To work with training providers, both internal and external to ensure that high quality learning interventions are delivered in accordance with the specification/contract and are effectively evaluated and developed.
MAIN ACTIVITIES:
1. To work with NDTi standards and maintain the Supported Internship action plan to ensure that funding can be downloaded.
2. Work with the SEND Employment forum to ensure all key stakeholders understand and participate in the programme.
3. Build positive relationships with a variety of training and education providers to build the programme to suit the needs of the Supported Intern.
4. Ensure the Supported Intern is at the heart of everything we do for the programme.
5. Create a programme to suit Walsall Council to offer work placements to those individuals with learning disabilities/autism.
6. Collaborate with managers and teams to gain buy in to the programme and provide support to feel confident and able to take on supported interns.
Knowledge/Experience:

• Significant experience of designing and delivery both face to face and online to individuals or groups using Microsoft Teams or equivalent.
• Excellent written skills including the ability to produce informative and concise reports.
• Demonstrate current knowledge of National and local drivers in Supported Internships and apprenticeships and appreciate the value of both.
• Experience of planning and managing internal and external information events e.g. events are advertised in a timely manner, places are filled on learning events.
• Experience of commissioning learning and development providers or services and an understanding of best practice procurement policies/procedures. Budgets not exceeding £5k.
• Experience of generating learning outcomes, in collaboration with relevant partners, evaluating learning programmes and suggesting developments in response to outcomes.
• Knowledge and experience of external requirements for supported internships and apprenticeships.
• Ability to respond positively to changes in work allocation at short notice, working under pressure and own initiative.
• Ability to facilitate group sessions and lead one to one meetings with confidence and credibility

Qualification:

• Educated to Level 3 or above and show extensive experience in Supported Internships and Apprenticeships.
• Hold a teaching/training qualification or have evidenced based experience of delivery to a wide range of audiences.