Army- Defence Children Services (DCS) Careers Advisor

Job summary

Are you an experienced careers advisor looking to make a difference and help shape a military child’s future by providing quality, impartial, professional career guidance in a unique Defence organisation? If so, this maybe the role for you?

Defence Children Services (DCS) are looking for a Careers Advisor who will be based at Trenchard Lines in Upavon, Wiltshire. We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated, inspirational Careers Advisor to help our students achieve or exceed their full potential, to enable them to better understand themselves, to know what opportunities and career pathways are available to them, so that they can make clear plans for what they will move onto when they leave a DCS school. This is an exciting role and involves supporting students at our DCS schools located around the world. The post offers hybrid working from the DCS Headquarters in Upavon and continuous professional development opportunities.

As the Careers Advisor you will make a huge difference to Service children, their families and Defence by being responsible for the provision of independent careers guidance sessions and on-going development of a careers programme to support students to make informed, realistic and adaptable career decisions. The Careers Advisor role sits within the Training, Assessment and Careers Team that is based at Upavon and have forward deployed trainers and assessors in the Headquarters for Rest of World and Cyprus. The team are led by the SEO Training, Assessment and Careers. The team provide careers advice, training and accredited opportunities for staff in all parts of the DCS organisation, and children and young people in all DCS schools.

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week with 3 days in-office requirement at Upavon, Wiltshire as per the Civil Service requirement of 60% office attendance.

Applicants should note that this position is subject to a minimum requirement of 30 working hours per week.

Job description

The post holder’s key responsibilities and main duties of the Careers Advisor are:

• Act as subject matter expert by conducting and delivering high quality 1:1 or group careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) sessions, that are client-focused, impartial, which challenge and support young people to make informed, realistic and adaptable career decisions
• Manage a complex caseload of young people with various and diverse needs including, but not limited to, special educational needs development (SEND), generating and maintaining client records electronically in support of personal guidance interviews, including generating and tracking of individual careers guidance action plans to ensure progression
• Provide policy advice on post-16, post-18 and 19+ pathways available for young people, taking into consideration challenges related to parental deployment, move locations, regional differences, in addition to national post-16 qualification reforms
• Develop a strategy that enables the provision of professional advice and guidance to school teams to develop an age-appropriate careers programme (from Early Years to Y13) across the DCS schools and settings network
• Support Careers Leads and schools’ monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the effectiveness of the career guidance programme in achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks and the Quality in Careers Standard

Organising and delivering small and large group sessions/activities on a range of topics for example:

• Option choice at each key transition stage
• Employability workshops
• Labour market information

Further and higher education opportunities:

• Represent Defence Children Services when attending conferences and liaising and negotiating with other government departments, and external organisations such as schools, colleges, universities, in addition to external organisations such as employers, on behalf of, young people.
• Represent Defence Children Services when liaising and negotiating with external third-party suppliers, including but not limited to, identifying ways that can underpin the delivery of an online careers programme of support enabling young people to make informed, realistic and adaptable career decisions, creating business cases to capture these options reflecting value for money for Defence Children Services
• Use expert knowledge of careers and labour market information, and intelligence to support young people to identify, access, interpret, and utilise current information that is relevant to them, including the appropriate use of information technology, e.g. social media and web-based information sources
• Involve parents and carers, where relevant, in the career guidance programme and provide support to their child and attend parents’ evenings as required
• Prioritise 1:1 intervention for vulnerable students under direction of school leaders and refer to specialist services if required to support specific needs of pupils
• Adhere to the Career Development Institute’s (CDI) code of ethics when performing the duties of a Careers Advisor ensuring updated professional practice by meeting and maintaining the CDI’s continuous professional development requirements
• To ensure school safeguarding processes are followed
• Actively promote equality and diversity, recognise and challenge stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination ensuring that these principles permeate all working practices

Person specification

Knowledge and Skills

The ideal candidate needs to demonstrate the following essential Knowledge and skills;

• Have previous experience of a careers guidance role in the UK
• Have in-depth and current knowledge of post-16, post-18 and 19+ pathways available for young people in education, employment and training in the UK
• Have in-depth knowledge of the statutory guidance for careers guidance and access for education and training providers
• Have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Gatsby Benchmarks
• Strong analytical skills when delivering 1:1 personal/group careers guidance sessions to assess practical problems and apply different methods to identify and present a range of career options available
• Experience of working with young people with SEND and/or from a service background
• Experience of researching and analysing employment, industry sector, salary, labour market and qualification information
• Experience of providing advice and support to wider teams on the interpretation of educational. and examination policy and practice for overseas young people, including those looking to return from overseas back to the UK
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience of working with young people with SEND and/or from a service background
• Have a good knowledge of office-based IT software, including Microsoft Office 365 packages (Word, Excel, SharePoint and Outlook)
• Registered with the Career Development Institute (CDI) maintaining and meeting the annual continuous professional development requirements of the CDI
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of, and commitment to, good practice in safeguarding, equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion

Desirable

• Understand the demography and the context of Service children and their families.
• Registered with Careers Development Institute is desirable but the opportunity to complete this qualification will be given to the successful applicant.
• Working autonomously managing caseload and workstreams to ensure efficient and successful outcomes
• As a subject matter expert, provide professional judgements and authoritative advice to senior leaders
• Manage resources to achieve value for money

Qualifications

Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Career Guidance and Development or a willingness to attain, beginning study within 3 months of appointment to the role

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• A pension contribution of 28.97% based on the listed salary.
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development
• On-site gym

Please Note:

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

• The post does not offer relocation expenses.
• External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
• Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
• Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
• Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will also be required to provide a statement of suitability. (1000 Word count) Your statement should demonstrate the relevant skills and experience that details how you meet the Person Specification, including Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills, and Desirable, if applicable.

At sift you will be assessed against your CV, statement of suitability and the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Managing A Quality Service

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

In the event that multiple candidates achieve the same overall successful score, the final decision will be determined by the highest score obtained in the lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing.

Application Hints and Tips

Applicants are encouraged to utilise the STAR method, using as much of the 250 words available and relating back to the person specification when providing examples of the above behaviours. Further support on this can be found at the following link Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK. For more information on what’s involved in the application process please visit About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk).

Further information:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Anthony Rahman
• Email : Anthony.rahman111@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Army candidate information pack Opens in new window (pdf, 3851kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Defence Civil Servant Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)