Progress Coach

Derby; Buxton; Remote; GBP 31,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Derby is seeking a Progress Coach to support and empower a diverse range of learners. This on-site role focuses on pastoral and academic assistance, safeguarding, and wellbeing, helping students overcome barriers and reach their goals.

You will manage a caseload, collaborate with curriculum teams and external partners, and contribute to a resilient, inclusive student experience across university sites.

Qualifications

• Experience in providing pastoral, academic and wellbeing support.
• Ability to monitor attendance, engagement and progress.
• Skilled in building relationships with diverse learners and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one and group support for a caseload of students to monitor performance and wellbeing.
• Deliver Future Focus tutorials on Employability, British Values, Equality and Diversity, Prevent and safeguarding.
• Record and celebrate student progress and liaise with staff to raise performance.
• Support learner progression through Careers Education and guidance, including higher education and apprenticeships.
• Manage safeguarding and wellbeing across learner groups and liaise with external agencies where needed.
• Be a proactive, student-centred professional prioritising accessibility and inclusion.

Skills

Pastoral support

Student engagement

One-to-one support

Group coaching

Education

Level 3 qualification

GCSE English C or above

Job description

£30,577 to £32,455 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £37,323.25 per annum)

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Registry supports the whole student journey, from initial enquiry and admission through to final award and beyond. We work as an integrated, student-focused service, using our expertise, insight and technology to deliver excellent services and support student success. Our teams work collaboratively across the University, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture that promotes wellbeing, development and opportunity for all.

Student Services

Student Services provides a range of student support, information, guidance and development services across the University including, counselling, disability, mental health, financial support and other key services delivered centrally These teams work closely together (and with other sections of the university) to provide the best possible services to our students, to enhance the student experience, to help students achieve their full potential and to meet the strategic aims of the University. These services are central to the student experience, they are visible, seamless, effective and tailored to the needs of our student community.

As a Progress Coach, you will play a key role in supporting learners to succeed throughout their educational journey. Working with a diverse student population, you will provide proactive pastoral, academic and wellbeing support, helping learners overcome barriers to achievement and reach their full potential.

You will manage a caseload of students, monitoring attendance, engagement and progress, and using data and insight to identify where additional support or intervention may be required. Acting as a trusted point of contact, you will build strong relationships with learners and work closely with curriculum teams, Student Services colleagues, employer partners and, where appropriate, parents/carers and external agencies to coordinate effective support and positive outcomes.

A core element of the role is delivering high-quality coaching, mentoring and tutorial activities that promote personal development, resilience, employability and learner success. You will also contribute to the delivery of key themes including safeguarding, Prevent, equality, diversity and inclusion, and learner wellbeing.

The role has a strong pastoral and safeguarding focus and is central to the University's commitment to providing an outstanding learner experience. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop valuable experience in supporting a broad range of learner groups within a unique and growing educational environment.

This role requires close collaboration with colleagues across the University and external stakeholders. Occasional evening and weekend working will be required to support key University events, learner engagement activities and recruitment events, and there may be a requirement to travel between University sites.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop a career in student support, learner engagement, safeguarding or educational wellbeing, while making a tangible difference to students' experiences, outcomes and future progression.

You will be an approachable, proactive and student-focused professional with experience of working with young people and adult learners in an educational, support, coaching, mentoring or pastoral environment. Passionate about helping learners succeed, you will be skilled at building positive relationships and creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students can thrive.

With excellent communication and interpersonal skills, you will be confident working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including students, academic colleagues, parents/carers, employer partners and external agencies. You will be able to provide effective one-to-one and group support, helping learners to overcome barriers to learning, improve engagement and achieve their goals.

You will have experience of working in a student-centred environment and be comfortable using attendance, progress and wellbeing information to identify concerns, implement timely interventions and monitor outcomes. A strong understanding of the importance of safeguarding, wellbeing and learner welfare is essential, particularly when supporting younger learners and those who may require additional support.

The successful candidate will be educated to a minimum of Level 3 and hold GCSE English at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) at Level 2. You will either hold a Level 2 Safeguarding qualification or be willing to work towards this. Most importantly, you will bring enthusiasm, resilience and a commitment to supporting learners to realise their potential, while contributing positively to the wider student experience.

• Provide one-to-one and group support for their caseload of students to monitor performance and maximise achievement acting as the primary point of contact and maintaining oversight of each learner’s progress, engagement and wellbeing.
• Deliver within their programme an agreed content of activities and Future Focus tutorials, including key themes such as Employability, British Values, Equality and Diversity, Prevent and safeguarding.
• Deliver pro-active and interventionist assistance to students working as individuals and groups, to develop students’ personal learning and thinking skills including web based technologies.
• Actively help record and celebrate student progress and success so that students are encouraged and feel supported.
• Liaise with teaching staff, to identify and implement strategies to raise student performance and achievement.
• Collaborate with Curriculum delivery teams to identify and provide appropriate resources which will meet curriculum needs and develop student learning and thinking skills.
• Keep up to date and accurate records of students’ attendance, punctuality, behaviour and progress on the university tracking system adhering to the approved processes and procedures. Assist the information and support officer in helping students for their next steps.
• Monitor attendance and punctuality and to make interventions where necessary.
• Liaise with Curriculum Leaders, Lecturers, employer partners and wider Student Services colleagues to provide coordinated support for learners.
• Support learner progression through the provision of appropriate Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG), guidance and application support relevant to next steps, including higher education, UCAS applications, further study, apprenticeships and employment pathways.
• Support key transition points including entry, progression and exit, providing guidance on next steps such as employment, further study or internal progression routes.
• Offer initial advice and guidance to applicants and to continue to give advice and guidance throughout their studies to aid progression.
• Working in liaison with other university staff, to signpost students to the range of support services available to them including financial, academic, social and emotional issues which may be having a detrimental effect on their studies.
• Act as a learner's primary point of contact from application through to successful completion of their programme, managing appropriate interventions across a range of University departments.
• Track learner destinations and progression outcomes following completion of their programme of study.
• Provide day-to-day pastoral and safeguarding support for learners under the age of 18, including monitoring wellbeing, supporting supervision arrangements, liaising with parents/carers and partner organisations, and escalating concerns in accordance with University safeguarding procedures.
• Where applicable, support the implementation of safeguarding, attendance, behavioural and welfare arrangements for younger learners (14 – 16), contributing to risk assessments, support plans, supervision protocols and case reviews where required.
• Take a proactive approach to ensuring the safeguarding and wellbeing of students, including the early identification of concerns, implementation of agreed support plans, liaison with parents/carers, schools and external agencies where appropriate, and escalation of concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead in accordance with University policy and statutory guidance.
• Support learner and parent/carer engagement through attendance at parents' evenings, transition events, learner voice activities and other engagement opportunities which contribute to learner success, wellbeing and progression.
• Organise and attend meetings with staff etc. To act as internal “case conferencing” to ensure continued student engagement with their course, successful completion and achievement.
• Contribute to a range of events (e.g. pastoral care, equality and diversity, Prevent and British Values, study skills, employability skills and advice evenings).
• Provide absence cover for other Progress Coaches where necessary.
• Write reports, collate data and undertake administrative tasks as required to achieve the main duties outlined above.
• To undertake any other reasonable duties within the overall function, commensurate with the grading and level of responsibility of the post.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full list of Principal Accountabilities.

• Educated to a minimum of Level 3 with at least a Grade C in English at Level 2
• Safeguarding qualification at Level 2 or a willingness to work towards

Experience

• Knowledge and experience of working with young people and/or adult learners
• Experience of working in a student-centered environment
• Experience of or willingness to work in a support role with students

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Ability to work with and motivate students both individually and in groups
• Ability to work cooperatively with a range of people internally and externally
• Ability to contribute to the wider student experience
• Good written and oral communication skills
• An understanding of the issues facing learners progressing througheducation, training and employment pathways

Business Requirements

• Completed DBScheck with child barred list
• Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University and external sites in a cost effective and timely manner
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Collette Lumbert, Student Experience Manager via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail] .

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.