Participation and Tracking Officer

Grade Salary £33,609 – £35,628 per annum - pro-rata for 17.5 hours a week

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Join the My Futures Team and Help Shape Young People's Futures

This is an exciting opportunity to join the My Futures team at Merton Council in a newly created role, within a high performing local authority with a strong track record of supporting children and young people. As part of a dynamic and supportive team, you will play a vital role in helping young people access education, employment and training (EET) opportunities that can positively shape their futures.

This varied and rewarding position combines participation tracking with direct engagement with young people, families, schools, colleges and training providers. You will maintain accurate participation records while providing timely Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to support young people in overcoming barriers and achieving their goals.

Whether you are looking to start your career, change direction or build on existing experience, this role offers an excellent opportunity to develop and apply valuable skills in engagement, data management, partnership working, careers guidance and youth support. You will have the opportunity to build on existing skills, develop new ones, access ongoing development opportunities, and work alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about making a difference.

If you are motivated by helping others succeed, enjoy building relationships, and want a role where you can learn, contribute and have a real impact, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

Engage with stakeholders: use various communication methods to establish young people’s EET status and identify those needing support.

Identify NEET Risks: through effective data handling and tracking, ensure young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) are identified and reported, to ensure they receive timely support.

Maintain records: keep accurate and up to date records of young people’s participation in EET or NEET and upload data to our database to enhance our tracking processes in accordance with data protection guidelines and DfE reporting cycles.

Support young people facing barriers: provide as required, Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) on post 16 EET pathways to NEET young people (and other stakeholders) and signpost or refer them to relevant services. This includes supporting the delivery of occasional participation events, activities and educational visits throughout the year but primarily during school holiday periods.

Essential skills and attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage and motivate young people.

• A natural ability to build trust and positive relationships with young people from diverse backgrounds.

• Empathy, resilience and a genuine commitment to supporting young people to achieve their goals.

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload and maintain accurate records.

• Good attention to detail and confidence working with data and information systems.

• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and able to learn new databases and digital systems.

• Ability to work independently while also contributing positively as part of a team.

• Flexible and proactive approach, with a willingness to engage with young people in community settings and undertake home visits alongside colleagues.

• Willing to go out into the community and undertake home visits (with colleagues).

Desirable

• Level 3 (or above) Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) qualification, or a willingness to work towards one.

• Knowledge of post-16 education, apprenticeships, training and employment pathways.

• Experience of working with young people, particularly those who may face barriers to education, employment or training.