Personal Development Tutor

A Personal Development Tutor at Hopwood Hall College is a dedicated professional who plays a crucial role in supporting the personal and professional development of learners. Personal Development Tutors work closely with groups of study programme and Access to HE learners, providing guidance and tuition to develop knowledge and skills beyond the academic, technical or vocational learning of their study programme and transition into higher education or employment.

Personal Development Tutors are responsible for supporting learners to develop a broad range of personal development themes including employability, British values, welfare, citizenship, health and wellbeing, confidence and responsibility. Personal Development Tutors will work with Senior Progress Tutors and the Student Experience manager to develop and facilitate weekly tutorials as well as support and prepare learners for progression to their next steps.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate the planned weekly personal development tutorial activity to groups of learners.
• Provide cover for tutorial sessions when required (due to staff absence) to ensure the learners have a consistency towards their own personal development.
• Ensure learners have the correct information, advice and guidance, and support to progress successfully into employment, further education and/or training.
• Work closely with the Pastoral and Safeguarding team to pass on any pastoral, welfare and safeguarding concerns.
• Assist learners in exploring career pathways, setting career goals, and developing employability skills.
• Provide information about further education options, apprenticeships, and job opportunities, as well as support with CV writing, interview preparation, and job search strategies.
• Support and promote wider college enrichment activities and clubs/societies.
• Work with the Careers and Employability Officers who will facilitate work experience or industrial placements to support learners in gaining practical experience in their chosen field.
• Promote careers and employability activities to learners including the support of the UCAS process, completion of UCAS applications and sharing of key information regarding application and references.
• Co-ordinate the completion of Individual Learner Plans (ILPs) with Learners and set appropriate personal development targets where necessary.
• Create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where learners feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, celebrating the unique backgrounds and identities of all learners.
• Contribute to the development of cross college tutorial resources and use of the college VLE.
• Promote learner voice activities to learners to encourage participation and ensuring the election of learner reps and other officers.
• Attend any curriculum-based meetings when required including parents evenings, at-risk meetings, open evenings and interview events.
• Attend CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions to support development, professional knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Any other duties, of a similar level of responsibility, as may be required.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications

• Essential Criteria: Level 2 (GCSE A* - C) in English and Maths; Level 4 Teaching Qualification (or willingness to work towards); Previous Vocational experience.
• Desirable Criteria: Educated to Level 4 or above; IAG Level 2 qualification or experience; Mentoring/Coaching qualification or experience; Clean driving license and business insurance.

Experience

• Essential Criteria: Experience of working with young people; Experience of developing and delivering thematic tutorials, training or activities; Experience of presenting to groups; Experience of tracking and monitoring using systems and procedures.

Specialist Knowledge

• Essential Criteria: Specific knowledge and understanding of student social and welfare issues; An understanding and specialist knowledge of FE education; Knowledge of issues facing 16-19-year olds; Knowledge of Safeguarding.

IT Skills

• Essential Criteria: Intermediate ability to use Microsoft Office applications and willing to undertake training appropriate to role.
• Desirable Criteria: Experience of EBS student records system, electronic ILPs (Individual Learning Plan), Promonitor (Including Markbook).

About Hopwood Hall

We are a Further Education College and University Centre offering a range of full and part time courses employing over 600 staff on our campuses in Rochdale and Middleton situated to the north-east of Manchester. We are committed to being a great place to work and have membership status of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. We are a Living Wage employer and an accredited Disability Confident Employer.