Work Experience Placement Officer

Main Purpose of the Job

South Bank Colleges are looking for a highly motivated and energetic Work Experience Placement Officer, with experience of working across curriculum areas; such as Health & Science, Digital Media, Engineering, Construction and Child care and Education.

You will be required to source potential work placement opportunities within these industries and ensure that the future workforce have the skills required to access work placements in their chosen career paths.

This role is responsible for developing, brokering, and maintaining strong relationships between employers, boroughs and South Bank Colleges to support students gain placements within their chosen industry which matches their curriculum and theory to their technical practice.  

The postholder will lead on developing opportunities and supporting the delivery of course outputs in relation to work placements and will also work with the curriculum staff, Student Services and Employer Engagement teams in supporting the college’s employability agenda. You will be responsible for ensuring that students and parents are aware of placements requirements and that students attend and complete their mandatory placement hours.

You will take a proactive part of the Employer Engagement Team supporting the delivery and functions of Employer Engagement activities and service in all areas and will support and at times lead with organising career related trips and themed events throughout the year, including organising industry and inspirational based speakers.  You will attend networking and careers events, which on occasions could be outside of your conventional working hours.

You will coordinate the activity of Work Placements and secure suitable work placements and log these activities appropriately, adhering to the Health & Safety policies and other regulations. As well ensuring that students are placed in safe environments where they are linking their classroom.

We are looking for a clear communicator with an excellent eye for detail, who is able to offer exceptional customer service to all employers and students whilst ensuring compliance within work placement regulations. You will need to enjoy solving problems quickly and implementing solutions in your everyday practice.

 You will be dynamic in your preparation and support in creating positive destinations for all students with the understanding that education and career destination go hand in hand and a part of your role will be to bridge the gap between education and the workplace and inspire students to pursue any career without limitations.  This will be a role where you are empowered to make a difference and achieve results.

Permanent – Full Time - 36 hours per week – All year round

Key Responsibilities:

• Actively participating in promoting the functions of the Work Placement and Careers department to students and ensure that they have access to engage with all areas of the service.
• Developing professional links and liaising with local developers, businesses and job brokerage services to identify Work Experience Placements across curriculum areas.
• Effectively matching students to employers, taking into consideration industry standards and requirements.
• Organising employer and student activities and events to raise awareness of career opportunities and pathways, ensuring that there is strong collaboration with curriculum staff in doing so.
• Maintaining a database of employers and placement opportunities, adhering to all data protection and confidentiality policies on a central database.
• Tracking, monitoring and reporting progress with Work Experience Placements against deadlines and targets set by your manager using a database.
• To comply with the requirements of College Policies and Procedures.

General Duties:

• To be aware of the principles of safeguarding children and young people as they apply to the role with the College. Actively promote and implement the College’s Safeguarding Policy.
• To be responsible for the adherence of the College's Single Equality Scheme, and actively promote and implement the Scheme as it applies to the role within the College.
• To be responsible for the implementation of and compliance with the College’s Health and Safety policy.
• To comply with the requirements of College Policies and Procedures
• To be aware of the principles of safeguarding children and young people as they apply to the role with the College. Actively promote and implement the College’s Safeguarding Policy.
• To be responsible for the College’s Performance Development Review Procedures, participating in the College’s staff development and training schemes and identifying and providing training and development for staff to meet the requirements of their jobs.