Careers Advisor

From circa £29,731 Full-time Equivalent depending on experience & qualifications, with an actual for Term Time & Part Time (based on 22.5hpw) of from circa £11,646
Included in the actual pay values is a calculation of 44.6 weeks per academic year (including holidays). This is 39 term weeks inc 1 week of 5 training days + 5.6 weeks’ holiday (including bank holidays)
Pay is made in equal monthly amounts across the year.
Part-time permanent role.

3-days (days tbc), 8.30-4pm (22.5 hpw)
Flexibility on exact hours is potentially available to suit personal circumstances
Part-time 22.5 hpw. Term time inc 1 week of 5 training days. A daily paid break is provided within the 22.5 hpw
Lunch is paid but taken in supervisory time

1. Individualised careers guidance

Provide 1:1 careers interviews tailored to each student’s:

• cognitive ability
• communication needs
• emotional regulation
• sensory profile
• EHCP outcomes

Translate aspirations into realistic, stepped pathways and support students who may have:

• limited labour market awareness
• anxiety around transition
• limited independence skills

2. EHCP‑led transition planning

Contribute directly to EHCP annual reviews, focusing on:

• Preparing for Adulthood outcomes
• education, employment, independent living, and community inclusion

Work closely with:

• SENCo
• therapy teams
• local authority case work officers

Ensure career plans align with:

• Section F provision
• long‑term post‑16 / post‑19 pathways

3. Pathway development (14–19 focus)

Support progression into:

• Further Education (mainstream or specialist colleges)
• Apprenticeships (including supported or flexi‑apprenticeships)
• Supported internships
• Vocational training or traineeships
• Semi‑independent or supported living pathways
• Employment with support
• Meaningful day opportunities (where appropriate)

This includes realistic route mapping, not just aspiration listing.

4. Employer and provider engagement

Develop relationships with:

• local employers willing to offer supported work experience
• FE colleges and training providers
• social enterprises and supported employment providers

Arrange:

• extended work experience placements
• taster days
• vocational site visits

Prepare employers to understand SEND needs and reasonable adjustments

5. Work experience and employability preparation

Design SEND‑appropriate work experience programmes, including:

• phased placements
• in‑school enterprise projects
• practical vocational tasters

Explicitly teach:

• workplace behaviour
• communication at work
• self‑advocacy
• travel training awareness (where appropriate)

Ensure work experience contributes to EHCP outcomes

6. Gatsby Benchmark leadership (SEND context)

The Careers Advisor often leads or supports evidence for:

• Benchmark 1: Stable careers programme
• Benchmark 3: Addressing needs of each pupil (critical for SEN schools)
• Benchmark 5 & 6: Employer and workplace encounters

With adaptation for:

• complex needs
• alternative accreditation routes
• non‑traditional progression outcomes

7. Parental and multi‑agency engagement

Support parents/carers who may be:

• anxious about adulthood
• unfamiliar with post‑19 systems

Provide:

• transition briefings
• post‑16/post‑19 pathway guidance

Liaise with:

• adult social care
• supported employment services
• commissioning teams

8. Tracking, reporting and compliance

Maintain accurate records of:

• careers interviews
• destinations
• NEET prevention actions

Support statutory duties around:

• careers guidance (Years 8–13)
• destination data

Provide clear inspection‑ready evidence for Ofsted

A Careers Advisor at Strive must have:

High levels of empathy and adaptability and confidence working with:

• ASD
• SEMH
• cognition and learning needs
• speech, language and communication needs

Strong understanding of:

• SEND legislation
• post‑16 and post‑19 systems

Ability to balance ambition with realism

Delivery: 3 days per week which can be flexible in terms of days/timings to suit individual circumstances of applicants. As Strive has 3 sites, it would be expected that the careers advisor will spend 1-day at each site per week, however this is flexible depending on the personal and careers needs of each site. Although not exclusive, NPR and Bishop Thornton sites will predominantly be 14-16 whilst Hookstone Vocational Centre is 16-19.

All students will have some form of SEND needs. Most will either be categorised as Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). All will need extra support to access their work and help and guidance to manage emotions is often needed. Some students experience difficulties that regularly interfere with their social and learning development and have been directed to access specialist provision to receive this support. Some students will find it difficult to work in core groups of 6 students with 2 adults.

We are looking for someone who is a patient, empathetic and highly adaptable professional who can balance aspiration with realism while supporting young people with SEND into meaningful post‑16 and post‑19 pathways

1-day per site
1. Hookstone Vocational Centre, Harrogate
2. North Park Road, Harrogate
3. Bishop Thornton
Due to travelling between sites and poor public transport links to Bishop Thornton, candidates must be able to drive. Travelling expenses will be paid from ‘main’ site to others.

We are looking for someone who can work collaboratively with teaching, pastoral and specialist staff, communicating clearly, contributing professionally to planning and reviews, and supporting a joined‑up approach to transition and careers provision.

Benefits of working at Strive:

• A supportive, values‑driven team environment
• Ongoing professional development and training
• Opportunities to shape and grow our school
• Meaningful, rewarding work making a real difference to young people’s lives
• The opportunity to deliver/support an individualised curriculum for all students to give them the best chance to learn.
• You will enjoy high levels of autonomy within a progressive and collaborative culture.
• You will have the opportunity to be creative and contribute to the broader curriculum, including individual and flexible learning.
• Staff wellbeing is a priority at Strive.
• We encourage staff to finish their day during their contracted hours.

• Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of Strive
• Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others
• Attend and participate in relevant meetings and training as required
• Be responsible for maintaining and updating records, information and data in line with policies.
• Strive utilises Arbor as MIS and CPOMS for safeguarding and behaviour.

Deputy Headteacher

Knowledge, experience and skills: 

E = Essential  D = Desirable  

Experience

• Relevant experience in a specialist school or similar setting: (D)
• Experience of working with children and young people with special educational needs and/or ASD and social, emotional and mental health difficulties: (E)
• Experience of a careers advisor role (E)

Knowledge

• Understanding of students’ needs to support them effectively by personalised interventions: (E)
• Knowledge of issues and needs that affect behaviour and strategies to support: (E)
• Knowledge of the range of ways that students learn and present and how to motivate them (E)
• Full working knowledge of relevant safeguarding, equality and health and safety policies, codes of practice and legislation (E)

Skills

• Ability to relate well to students and adults and to build positive relationships: (E)
• Ability to work constructively as part of a team, understanding roles and responsibilities and your own position within these: (E)
• Ability to develop personalised strategies to support reluctant learners to engage and achieve goals/objectives: (E)
• Ability to respond calmly and use initiative, responding effectively to unexpected or unplanned situations or reactions throughout the day: (E)
• Ability to use a range of strategies to support positive behaviour and self-regulation: (E)
• High level literacy and oracy to support communication at all levels and in various formats (E)
• Ability in the use of IT and other equipment to support learning: (E)
• Efficiency with the administration and maintenance of student records: (E)

• GCSE English/Maths/ grade A to C or equivalent: (E)
• Specific training in interventions ASD/SEN/SEMH: (D)
• Commitment to all CPD offered: (E)
• Careers guidance specific qualifations

All staff members must adhere to and promote professional standards including Strive’s code of conduct and values. 

• The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties, commensurate within the grade, at the discretion of the Senior Leadership Team and develop and promote high standards of professional conduct throughout the school. 

• You will be expected to carry out your duties in line with policies, procedures and relevant legislation. You will be made aware of these in your appointment letter, statement of particulars, induction, ongoing performance management and development through school communications. 

• You will be required to work at any premises which Strive has or subsequently acquires or at which it may, from time to time, provide services. 

• You will be expected to attend and participate in a wide variety of meetings as well as training and development activities to support Strive and your own professional development. 

• All staff, regardless of their position, are expected to undertake TeamTeach de-escalation training and work within “good practice” guidelines using a range of positive handling strategies, gradual and graded, involved in holding, guiding and escorting safely, from least intrusive to more restrictive holds. 

• As part of your wider duties and responsibilities you will be required to promote and actively support the school’s responsibilities towards safeguarding. Safeguarding is about keeping people safe and protecting people from harm, neglect, abuse and injury. It is about creating safe places, being vigilant and doing something about any concerns you might have. It isn’t just about the very old and the very young, it is about everyone who may be vulnerable. 

• The post holder must be willing to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that a conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment process. 

For all roles we require a minimum of two references.  References provided must cover the last 3 years and include most recent employment. We will need to request all references from where you have worked with either Children or Vulnerable Adults.  

Strive for Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Recruitment is carried out following safer recruitment principles.  All applicants must be willing to undergo safeguarding screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and disclosures with the relevant body at an enhanced level. All staff are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.  

Strive for Education Ltd is a “data controller”. This means we are required under data protection legislation to notify you of how we will, collect process and store your personal data during the application and recruitment process. Please review our ‘Privacy Notice for Prospective Employees’.   

Applicants are asked to email sonja@striveforeducation.co.uk for an information pack and application form