Welfare Advisor at The Bedford College Group

As a Welfare Advisor you play an important role in the success of our students to:

• To act as a member of the Student Services team, providing students with care, advice and guidance, from initial enquiry to successful completion and progression in relation to safeguarding and welfare to support learners to stay in education.
• To work with Student Services managers to develop the department to provide an effective support service that promotes student participation, achievement and progression.
• To be alert and responsive to any safeguarding issue that requires further action.
• To initiate safeguarding and child protection alerts and complete risk assessments for at risk learners.
• To update college databases with critical information, and review policies and procedures, updating them as appropriate.
• To organise meetings as required with parents, students, vulnerable young people, LAMs, and all external agencies.

Ideal candidates will have experience of working in a busy Student Welfare environment, alongside the following qualifications:

• L2 English and maths
• Level 3 Qualification in relevant subject
• IT Qualification Level 2
• First aid at work (or willing to work towards)

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork – We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously – We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred – At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive – We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring – We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence – We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group’s policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.

Terms and Conditions – BCPS

• 37 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• 27 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays
• Peoples Pension
• Free on-site parking (subject to availability)
• Retail and leisure discounts