Transition, Achievement and Progression Coach

onlyFE; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

West Nottinghamshire College Group is seeking a progression, transitions and achievement coach to support new students into college, ensure they select appropriate courses, stay in learning and progress to further study or employment. You will use youth-work principles to deliver an assertiveness mentoring model and report on progress to stakeholders.

The role requires excellent motivation, assertiveness, and communication skills, plus strong admin and IT literacy.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults including safeguarding/DBS knowledge
• Excellent motivational and assertiveness skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills at all levels
• Good organisational and administrative skills including time management

Responsibilities

• Be the main link to gain transition information for all learners not requiring other internal support
• Organise tours, tasters and interventions to support transitions into college
• Work with heads of department and tutors to ensure learners are on the right course and progressing
• Provide written progress reports to internal and external stakeholders
• Develop relationships with parents/carers to reduce barriers and help learners achieve goals
• Support enrolment, induction and other college events as required
• Organise presentations to external services in collaboration with staff across the college
• Collaborate with safeguarding and welfare teams as needed

Skills

Assertiveness skills

Motivational skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Time management

Relationship building

Conflict resolution

Written and oral communication

Approachability

Education

A Level 3 qualification in working with young people (Youth Work/Health and Social Care/Care and Education)

Youth Work Level 2 or willingness to work towards

English GCSE grade C or equivalent

Maths GCSE grade C or equivalent

Mental Health First Aid or Mental Health Level 2

Tools

Job description

REQ0001336

The Appointment

The progression, transitions and achievement coach will be primarily responsible for managing the gathering of appropriate transition information, transition of new students into college who have been identified and to work with them to ensure that they are on the right course, stay in learning, achieve and progress to further study and/or employment. The focus of all this support will be to enable the student to overcome the barriers that may prevent them achieving success whilst at college.
This role will follow the principles of youth work to enable them to deliver an assertiveness mentoring model to ensure that learners successfully transition into the college, achieve and progress to further study or employment.
It is essential for this role to have excellent motivational, assertiveness skills and communication skills at all levels to ensure that supported students make positive progress in a timely fashion.
It is also essential you have strong administrative, organisational skills and a flexible, adaptable and positive attitude; with a good general education, experience of using databases, processing information and creating regular reports. An IT qualification is also preferable.
Experience of working with young people/adults in a support situation is essential.
The role will require you to embed the college’s values, Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Compassion and Ambition.
Previous applicants need not apply.

The Post

Responsibilities

2.1 Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Be a college’s primarily link responsible for gaining transition information for all students not identified as requiring the support of other internal support teams. For example:
• - Applying for Entry Level and Level 1 provision
• - Have barriers to learning
• To work with the heads of department and tutors to successfully transition learners into college, ensure that they are on the right course, stay in learning, achieve and progress to further study and/or employment.
• Organise tours, taster sessions, careers interventions, M&E assessments and activities/events to support the transition of students, working closely with curriculum, the Learner Engagement Team and the Careers Team.
• Share information with the relevant internal teams and handover if appropriate (Inclusion, Welfare, Careers, Safeguarding).
• Build up a list of students for ongoing monitoring and support and initiate the start of a comprehensive intervention support plans which have measurable impact and success.
• Ensure that the recording of meetings/interventions are input onto the college system in a timely manner.
• Provide written reports about the progress of students to internal and external stakeholders.
• Have a clear understanding of the progression system and liaise with students and curriculum at each of the checkpoints.
• Develop positive and continuing productive relationships with parents or carers to reduce barriers and help learners to achieve their goals.
• Have a clear understanding and awareness of the social and economical barriers of the local community and how this may impact education within families, along with a strong knowledge of support requirements of students not currently accessing a mainstream education timetable.
• To have a clear understanding of the application process, financial support and progression routes for student, as well as the college’s behaviour management policy.
• To work to performance targets with a caseload.
• To act as an advocate for students, working closely with family professionals and internal colleagues, demonstrating professional respect and courtesy but also challenging where appropriate.
• To support college enrolment, induction and other events when required to do so.
• To obtain regular feedback from service users to continually improve the service offer.
• Organise and facilitate presentations to external services in conjunction with other staff across the college.
• To work collaboratively with other teams in college, particularly the safeguarding team. This may from time to time involve supporting them with cases. This may take the form of assisting in welfare checks or sitting in on meetings with supported students, or handling follow up referrals from the safeguarding team for specialist support, such as counselling.
• Work with heads of department and teachers to plan for appropriate timely careers advice and guidance which support learners to progress to positive destinations.

2.2 Other Responsibilities

• To uphold and promote college policies and procedures, promoting those specifically applicable to this area of work and including the health and safety and equality and diversity policies and procedures and attend training as requested.
• To comply with the college’s own safeguarding policy and practices and attend training as requested.
• To keep up to date, so far as necessary, for the efficient executing of the job, with new legislation, procedures and techniques.
• To be conversant with and participate in activities and developments at college, regional and national level which are relevant to the post.
• To present and promote an appropriate public image in representing the college.
• To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the post.

Skills, Qualities & Knowledge

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

• A Level 3 qualification (or willing to work towards) in working with young people i.e. Youth Work, Health and Social Care, Care and Education
• Youth Work Level 2 or willing to work towards
• English GCSE grade C (minimum) or equivalent
• Maths GCSE grade C (minimum) or equivalent
• Mental Health First Aid or Mental Health Level 2

Experience

• Ability to run group work interventions
• Proven history of conducting 1:1 support interventions
• Dealing with challenging behaviour
• Handling of confidential information
• Using technology to engage the hard to reach
• Knowledge of safeguarding and the prevent agenda

Skills /Knowledge

• Demonstrate suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults including knowledge/understanding of safeguarding and DBS compliance
• Assertiveness skills
• A high level of resilience
• Excellent motivational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build positive relationships
• Good organisational, administrative skills including time management
• Ability to work on own initiative or part of a team
• Ability to deal positively with conflict
• Qualities/Approach linked to college values
• High levels of written and oral communication
• Approachable personality
• Confidence in dealing with people of all ages and abilities/disabilities
• Sensitive to and aware of cultural issues
• Demonstrate a positive approach to equality and diversity and customer service
• Demonstrate an ability to take responsibility for own and others health and safety at work
• Able to confidently handle difficult situations whilst remaining supportive and practical
• Remain positive and approachable when faced with challenging situations

Position within the College

• The post-holder will be part of the Transition and Progression team and report to the Manager: Transition and Progression

Terms & Conditions

• The post is offered on a Vision Business Support Services contract.
• The salary is Band 5, £26,792 per annum. This is a spot salary. Effective from the 1st of November 2026 the salary will be £27,998 per annum.
• You will be entitled to 39 days’ leave in total, made up of: 27 days’ annual leave, 8 bank holidays,4 concessionary days.
• You will be required to work 37 hours per week on a flexible basis.
• The Company operates a Scottish Widows Group Personal Pension Plan.
• The post holder may be located at any West Nottinghamshire College Group site and may be expected to travel as required. You will however be given reasonable notice of any change in your principal place of work and be fully consulted.

THE COLLEGE GROUP PROMOTES EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND WELCOMES APPLICATIONS FROM ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY
The college group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Posts may be subject to DBS check. The successful candidate will be required to pay for the DBS check themselves; the cost will automatically be deducted from their first salary payment. This is currently £49.50.
It is an offence for anyone who is barred by the ISA from working with children and or vulnerable adults to apply for this position.