Student Mentor

Salary: £24,750 per annum

Location: North Lanarkshire – Based @ New college Lanarkshire Motherwell Campus, flexibility required to support in Coatbridge and Cumbernauld Campuses

Contract/Hours: Fixed Term until 30th June 2025 (pending further review) / Full Time - 37 hours per week

Benefits:

· 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave

· Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities

· Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages

· Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover

· Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the role

Our STAY mentoring service provides intensive support to young people enrolled at college who are at the greatest risk of withdrawal. By embarking on a role as a Student Mentor, you'll play a crucial role focussing on 16–26-year-olds who are struggling to cope with College life and structures or face barriers in reaching their potential.

You'll be working as part of a dynamic team who are committed to empowering young people, on and off campus, to help them adapt to college life and creating pathways for success both within and beyond the college experience. You'll support the young people through their time in further education and your impact will resonate as you guide them through obstacles, nurturing their potential and ensuring a brighter future in what is an incredibly rewarding role.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

This role is your chance to join an innovative mentoring service that is helping students to stay in college and could be the ideal start to a career in social care if you have just recently gained a relevant qualification. Or, it could be a great next step if you already have some experience of working with young people who face barriers and challenges in their lives.

Some key responsibilities include:

· Providing guidance to students in and outside of the college.

· Provide support to young people in key areas affecting their lives, including; accommodation, low self-esteem, confidence, motivation and family/community issues and advocacy support.

· Helping to develop student budgeting skills and financial capability.

· Supporting vulnerable care experienced, young carers and estranged students to sustain their courses.

· Delivering tailored information workshops to college staff and students.

· Arranging a programme of cross campus events in support of student development and progression – and working with colleagues to enhance student employability.

Let's talk about you

· It would be useful if you have an SVQ 3 in Social Care, Guidance or equivalent – but we are very open to relevant experience, rather than a qualification.

· Experience of supporting vulnerable young people on a one to one basis and in a group setting.

· A knowledge and understanding of the barriers that young people face, including unemployment.

· Previous experience of working within recruitment or employment sector.

· Knowledge and understanding of young people facing unemployment.

Good to know 

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Talent Pool

We know talent when we see it. But sometimes we find the right person but not for the right job. We'd love to keep your details for when the right job comes up. Let us know if you'd rather we didn't.

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.