Information and Guidance Advisor

The Growth Company; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading employment service provider in Manchester is seeking Information and Guidance Advisors to deliver tailored careers advice and support to individuals in prison estates. The role involves overseeing a caseload, utilizing up-to-date labour market intelligence, and providing customer-centered support. Ideal candidates should hold an NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Advice & Guidance and have experience working in a target-driven environment. The position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals transitioning back to community services.

Qualifications

• Recent experience delivering employment or learning outcomes in custodial settings.
• Ability to work with individuals currently in custody or with past offending histories.
• Deliver high-quality advice, meeting or exceeding Grade 2 standards.

Responsibilities

• Deliver tailored Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) to customers.
• Oversee a caseload focused on sustainable employment and educational progression.
• Use labor market intelligence to guide customers towards job opportunities.
• Nurture relationships with stakeholders to maintain customer pipelines.
• Provide support through workshops and in-person sessions.

Skills

Experience in a custodial environment

One-to-one and group career guidance

Use of digital platforms

Education

NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Advice & Guidance

Job description

Information and Guidance Advisor

The Growth Company’s (GC) Employment team is currently recruiting eight Information & Guidance (IAG) Advisors to provide high-quality, labour market-informed careers advice and support. These roles will focus on delivering tailored information, advice, and guidance to individuals within prison estates, as well as supporting their transition into community-based services.

These roles will be based out of HMP Forest Bank.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver personalised Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) that aligns with each customer’s unique needs, promoting career development, independence, and long-term learning or employment outcomes.
• Oversee a varied caseload of customers, working towards performance targets with a focus on securing sustained employment or educational progression.
• Utilise up-to-date labour market intelligence and employer networks to guide customers toward meaningful and lasting job opportunities.
• Establish and nurture productive relationships with key stakeholders, including prison governors, uniformed staff, and partner agencies, to ensure a consistent pipeline of eligible customers.
• Provide flexible, customer-centred support through platforms such as the Virtual Campus, group workshops, and in-person sessions.
• Create detailed and impactful action plans for each customer, ensuring initial engagement meets satisfaction benchmarks and sets a clear path forward.
• Work closely with colleagues across mainstream services (., National Careers Service) to enhance tracking of customer outcomes and streamline evidence collection.
• Adhere to all requirements of the Prison Service DPS contract and consistently exceed standards set by the Skills Funding Agency, Ofsted, and Matrix.

About You

• Hold an NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Advice & Guidance, DipCG, or an equivalent qualification, with a commitment to achieving the CDI Licence to Practise.
• Demonstrate the ability to excel in a target-driven environment, consistently working towards positive outcomes for Prison Service customers.
• Deliver high-quality one-to-one and group sessions, meeting or exceeding Grade 2 standards in careers information, advice, and guidance.
• Confidently use digital platforms and online tools : including the Virtual Campus, to provide accessible and effective IAG services.

Skills Required

• Ideally possess recent experience delivering employment or learning outcomes within a custodial environment, particularly in a performance-driven setting.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals who are currently in custody or have previous offending histories.
• Skilled in providing high-quality one-to-one and group career guidance sessions, consistently achieving at least a Grade 2 standard.
• Hold an NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Advice & Guidance, DipCG, or an equivalent qualification, with a proactive approach to meeting CDI Licence to Practise requirements.

At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.

Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.

If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.