Progression Advisor – Children Looked After

Wigan Council; Wigan; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Wigan is seeking an experienced professional to support young people who are looked after, coordinating their education and career pathways. This role requires experience in guiding young people into training or employment, along with strong IT skills for record keeping. With a focus on improving outcomes and building relationships, the successful candidate will have professional qualifications equivalent to NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Exclusive rewards and benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in supporting young people in education, employment, or training.
• Professional qualifications to the equivalent of NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance.
• Strong IT skills for maintaining client records.

Responsibilities

• Support children looked after in securing their future employment, education, or training.
• Collaborate with schools and learning providers to coordinate plans.
• Advocate for young people to raise aspirations and improve outcomes.

Skills

Experience of supporting young people into employment

Knowledge of statutory guidance for young people's education

Strong IT skills for record keeping

Ability to build relationships

Confidence and motivation skills

Education

Professional qualifications equivalent to NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance

Job description

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Wigan Life Centre South

College Avenue

Wigan

WN1 1NJ

Salary: Grade 8, £36,363 - £40,777 per annum.

37 hours per week

Temporary until December 2027

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Your role

Working across the borough within the key principles of ‘Progress with Unity’ and the Corporate Parenting Strategy, you will predominantly support children and young people who are looked after by Wigan Council.

You will be working alongside schools and learning providers to support children looked after (CLA), coordinating careers and education plans and helping to secure their future employment, education or training. Working as their champion you will advocate on their behalf, to raise aspirations and improve outcomes by building on strengths and link to the other services, including the Virtual School Team and other key agencies.

About you

You will have experience of supporting young people into employment, education or training and have knowledge of the statutory guidance for ‘Participation of young people in education, employment or training.’

You should hold professional qualifications to the equivalent of NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance and be able to support realistic aspirations of young people. You will have strong IT skills in relation to record keeping on client databases.

You will be able to build relationships with partners and young people and establish trust to achieve outcomes through building rapport, confidence and motivation.

About us

Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations.

The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our two place missions: create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.

Aspiring Futures support the delivery of Wigan Council’s statutory duty to reduce the number of 1618‑year‑olds who are Not in Employment Education or Training (NEET) and ‘Not Known’, (up to 25 where a young person has SEND or who care experienced) and promote ‘participation in learning’ up to the age of 18.

Progression and Careers Advisers provide guidance and support to help young people make a smooth transition into learning and work from school age into post‑16 and beyond. The service also delivers an innovative ‘NEET’ programme where Mentors intensively support young people with life skills and any barriers to progression.

Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits. Click here to find out more about working for #Teamigan.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Please note, at present we are not a licensed sponsor. Prove your right to work to an employer : Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For further information, please contact

Priority candidates Interview date: Friday 5th December 2025

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus Child and Adult barred list check.

The employer is committed to safeguarding.

To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below: