Careers Advisor

The Mercian Trust; Walsall; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on everyday purchases

UK Health Care

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

The Mercian Trust is seeking a qualified Careers Guidance professional to support students aged 11-19 with impartial guidance, UCAS applications, and progression planning across Key Stages 3-5. You will collaborate with SEND, safeguarding and pastoral teams to ensure CEIAG delivery meets Gatsby Benchmarks and local requirements.

The role involves delivering assemblies, organising year 10 work experience, and promoting positive destinations while building strong relationships with students,

Qualifications

• Level 6/7 Careers Guidance qualification or willingness to undertake.
• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above.
• Experience of working with young people aged 11-19.
• Knowledge of CEIAG and Gatsby Benchmarks.
• Understanding of post-16 and post-18 education pathways.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children.

Responsibilities

• Provide impartial one-to-one careers guidance to students across Key Stages 3–5.
• Support students to choose future education, training and employment paths.
• Assist Careers Lead with Gatsby Benchmarks, the Baker Clause and CEIAG.
• Record and monitor careers guidance using Compass+ and other platforms.
• Support Sixth Form students with UCAS applications and progression planning.
• Collaborate with SEND, safeguarding, pastoral and pupil premium teams.
• Deliver careers assemblies and related activities.
• Organise Year 10 Work Experience and careers events.
• Promote positive destinations and progression routes for all students.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Presentation

Organisational skills

IT skills

Collaboration

Education

Level 6/7 Careers Guidance qualification

GCSE English & Maths (4/C+)

Experience with 11-19 year olds

CEIAG knowledge & Gatsby Benchmarks

Understanding post-16/post-18 pathways

Safeguarding awareness

Tools

Compass+

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Aldridge School we aim to ensure that every young person achieves their potential by providing an education that challenges them intellectually and offers them a wide range of opportunities to develop and stretch their unique talents and interests. We believe that education is more than just grades. Grades are certainly the 'passport' that pupils need to move on to the next stage of their lives, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure they are able to achieve their aspirations. However, the real art of education is to develop confident, resilient, and independent young people who are in possession of the 'passport' that grades provide. We feel that our aims are best achieved by providing a challenging learning environment that is built upon a formula of high expectations, inspired and passionate teaching, and strong pastoral support. We expect our pupils to arrive at school on time, complete their homework, bring the right equipment, and apply themselves to their studies with intellectual curiosity and academic endeavour. We have high expectations, but our staff work relentlessly to support our pupils in meeting these. Find more information here: Aldridge School - Home Want to make a difference to young people? Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide impartial one-to-one careers guidance to students across Key Stages 3-5.
• Support students to make informed decisions about future education, training and employment pathways.
• Assist the Careers Lead in meeting Gatsby Benchmarks, the Baker Clause and CEIAG requirements.
• Record and monitor careers guidance through Compass+ and other careers platforms.
• Support Sixth Form students with UCAS applications and progression planning.
• Work closely with SEND, safeguarding, pastoral and pupil premium teams to support vulnerable students.
• Deliver careers assemblies, presentations and careers-related activities.
• Organise and oversee Year 10 Work Experience.
• Support the planning and delivery of careers events and employer engagement opportunities.
• Promote positive destinations and progression routes for all students.

Pay range: Grade 6 SCP 15-23 Pro-rata

Qualifications and Requirements

• Level 6 or 7 Careers Guidance qualification, or willingness to undertake and achieve the qualification if not already held
• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent).
• Experience of working with young people aged 11-19.
• Knowledge of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and the Gatsby Benchmarks.
• Understanding of post-16, post-18 and higher education pathways.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads effectively.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students, parents, staff and external partners.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Why The Mercian Trust?

As one Trust we share a common purpose. We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education. When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community. Our recent achievements include: Sustainable Growth - becoming one of the largest and most diverse trusts in the region Social Mobility & Social Justice - National recognition for the Trust's two selective grammar schools who the most successful on the number of local disadvantaged students passing the entrance and joining the schools Increasing Opportunities - Opening brand-new purpose-built campus in Walsall Town Centre including an alternative provision for students at risk at permanent exclusion from mainstream schools alongside a Digital Skills Hub to provide professionals and employers Pioneering Spirit - National recognition for pioneering work around youth mental health, including establishing an in-house multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and allied health professionals delivering interventions and providing support to vulnerable students Outward Looking - Organising and hosting the region's first Youth Suicide Conference (2023) and Youth Violence Conference (2024) at Villa Park Innovation and Improvement - A multi-million-pound investment in the digital infrastructure of Trust schools and our Digital Skills Hub underpinning the ongoing transformation of how staff teach, students learn, leaders lead and the whole Trust operates in readiness for the AI-supercharged careers and workplaces of the future.

Financial, Health and Lifestyle

• discounts on everyday purchases (Eden Red)
• a comprehensive free of charge health plan (UK Health Care)
• a cycle to work scheme via Halfords

For further benefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.