Information and Guidance Advisors - In Custody
The Growth Company’s (GC) Employment team have a new vacancy for a Information & Guidance (IAG) Advisor who will deliver effective, labour market-focused, careers information, advice and guidance to customers across prison estates and transition to the service in the community.
IAG Advisors work with offenders in custody from the start of their sentence, up to preparing for release, with the aim of helping prevent cycles of re-offending. The advisors help those in custody to set education, skills, and work-related goals, develop employability skills, and search for and apply for jobs as they prepare to transition back into the community.
They also work with employers to help offenders increase their knowledge of the labour market and promote more sustained employment outcomes. They work in close partnership with education and training providers and wider rehabilitation services to support sustainable, long-term outcomes and help reduce re-offending.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Personalised IAG Offer: Ensure customers receive tailored Information, Advice, and Guidance that meets their individual needs, fostering career management skills, independence, and leading to sustained learning and job outcomes.
2. Caseload Management: Manage a diverse range of customers by caseload to achieve targets, focusing on sustained employment or learning.
3. Labour Market Utilisation: Leverage labour market information and employer connections to support customers in achieving sustained employment outcomes.
4. Partnership Development: Build and maintain effective relationships with key partners, including prison managers/governors, uniformed officers, and agencies, to generate a steady flow of eligible and appropriate new customers.
5. Customer Support Delivery: Provide personalised support through various channels, including the Virtual Campus, group workshops, and face-to-face sessions.
6. Action Plan Creation: Develop high-quality action plans for each customer, ensuring initial interactions meet customer satisfaction standards.
7. Collaborative Work: Collaborate proactively with colleagues delivering other mainstream services (., National Careers Service) to maximise customer outcome tracking and streamline evidence generation.
8. Compliance and Standards: Ensure compliance with Prison Service DPS contract requirements and exceed minimum standards set by the Skills Funding Agency, Ofsted, and Matrix.
About You:
9. Hold an NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Advice & Guidance, DipCG, or an equivalent qualification, with a commitment to achieving the CDI Licence to Practice.
10. Demonstrate the ability to excel in a target-driven environment, consistently working towards positive outcomes for Prison Service customers.
11. Deliver high-quality one-to-one and group sessions, meeting or exceeding Grade 2 standards in careers information, advice, and guidance.
12. Confidently use digital platforms and online tools: including the Virtual Campus, to provide accessible and effective IAG services.
Skills Required:
13. Custodial Setting Experience: Preferably have recent experience in delivering job or learning outcomes within a custodial setting, especially in a target-driven environment.
14. Offender Support: Experience working with current or ex-offenders.
15. Guidance Skills: High-level guidance skills, capable of delivering one-to-one and group sessions to at least a Grade 2 standard.
16. Educational Background: Hold an NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Advice & Guidance, DipCG, or an equivalent qualification, with a willingness to work towards the CDI License to Practise requirements.
We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.
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.