Careers Adviser (Prisons)

CXK is an award-winning charity which supports young people and adults to build the skills and confidence they need to move into sustainable education, employment, or training. We continually strive to provide the best services to meet the needs of the 260,000+ beneficiaries that we support each and every year – empowering individuals and strengthening communities across the south of England.

With continuous growth driven by numerous long-term contracts, CXK is a charity that prioritises innovation and investment in both our staff and services. Our solid financial security, underpinned by substantial reserves, ensures we can offer a stable environment for our team. Choosing a career at CXK means you will join an organisation that supports your development and provides opportunities for you to take part in rewarding work. As a result, our staff are able to make the most of their potential.

Passion, innovation, and integrity are at the heart of our culture. Therefore, we’re dedicated to bringing together highly skilled people who are passionate about making a difference. In return, we offer a flexible, professional, and friendly working environment in which our staff are truly valued and invested in.

We are delighted to be recruiting a Careers Adviser to support the delivery of the Prisons contract across Kent, East Sussex and Surrey, supporting the Area Manager to ensure a high standard of service is maintained.

As Careers Adviser, you will be responsible for supporting prison residents to ensure they have a structured pathway of education, work and training during their stay in custody.

You will undertake individual IAG interviews with prison residents, and will provide high quality impartial Careers Advice and guidance that best reflects individuals needs and circumstances.

Based at HMP Downview, the successful candidate will have the ability to motivate and build rapport with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and can be non-judgemental. Excellent organisational and communication skills are also essential, as this post will involve working in partnership with other key prison partners in order to support residents during the induction process and for the length of their sentence.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate individual with a genuine desire to make a difference and who wants to join an organisation that improves the lives of more than 300,000 individuals every year.

About You

You are:

• Organised with excellent attention to detail
• An excellent communicator – both written and verbal – with a high level of accuracy in numeracy and literacy
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and quick to understand internal software packages.
• An adaptable team player – passionate about providing a consistently excellent service
• Hard working, with a positive attitude
• Have Maths and English GCSE grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)

About Us

CXK is a leading charity that empowers young people and adults to build the skills and confidence they need to move into sustainable education, employment or training.  Each year we make a difference to more than 300,000 people across the South of England.

CXK delivers careers information, advice and guidance (IAG) services in ten prisons across Kent, Surrey and East Sussex: supporting prison residents with a structured pathway of education, work and training during their stay in custody.
Prison residents are provided with professional and impartial careers information, advice and guidance delivered by qualified careers advisers. A Personal Learning Plan (PLP) is produced for every resident of the prison, which identifies short, medium, and long-term skills and targets for the resident to achieve. This plan is influenced by the individual’s career aspirations and the opportunities for work in their local establishment.

Main Responsibilities

• Be responsible for the delivery of a high quality IAG service in one or more prisons.
• Work with the prison staff to manage, mentor and support a caseload of peer workers, delivering inspirational IAG in both 1:1 and group sessions as required.
• Deliver approximately 100% of the Personal Learning Plans in the prison and work with the prison to ensure the delivery of the remainder through trained peer workers.
• Work with the Prison to recruit peer workers to deliver the service to individuals when they enter prison and then at appropriate points throughout.
• Coach and support a team of peer workers to ensure effective and high-quality delivery to individuals.
• Work with the education provider to ensure that all appropriate individuals are provided with the service as part of their induction process.

Please click here for the full job description and person specification.

**Whilst we are recruiting for qualified advisers we are open to applications from unqualified candidates that have relevant experience and transferable skills and who would be willing to undertake a IAG qualification**

In return for your skills and experience, you’ll receive the following benefits:

• An annual salary of £27,174 to £33,132 (pro rata)
• 28-31 days holiday, plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Defined contribution pension scheme (matched by CXK up to 10% depending on length of service)
• Death in service life assurance policy (3 x annual salary)
• Flexible working
• Generous sick leave benefits
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Comprehensive training and development programmes
• Mental health first aiders
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Interest free parking permit loans
• Health Assured – Employee Assistance programme

To apply for this role all you need to do is download, complete and upload the CXK application form.  Please note that CVs alone will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: Monday 23rd October 2023

**Please note that we reserve the right close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.  Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible**