Graduate Education Worker Scheme

Applications for our August 2022 Graduate Scheme intake are now open in the following cities:

Birmingham, Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, London, Nottingham, Peterborough, Salford, Weston-super-Mare

How does the Graduate Scheme work?

Our Graduate Scheme is a two-year career-development programme and we ask candidates to commit to staying with the charity for at least this duration. After completing your first year of the scheme there will be the opportunity to take on a new challenge and apply for a promotion to Senior Education Worker. Once you’ve completed the two year scheme, you’re guaranteed a position with us - our Graduate Scheme roles are permanent jobs. As we’re an expanding organisation, new job roles and further promotions are regularly available for those who stay beyond their initial two years.

What training will I receive?

You will begin our Graduate Scheme with an eight-week training programme in August and September 2022. Up to five weeks of this training will take place with your cohort in London, so you’ll get to know them really well whilst you learn everything you need to prepare you for working in an IntoUniversity centre. Support with accommodation and travel costs will be provided to those who aren’t based in a London centre.

Throughout the graduate scheme you will also take part in our Leadership Exploration and Development Programme (LEaD), where you will receive further training on how to set and achieve meaningful goals for personal and professional growth, as well as further examining our values and your role in the wider organisation and having the opportunity to consider and develop your own leadership profile.

Application and selection process

The first stage is to complete our online application form before 9am on Monday 21st March 2022.

Once we’ve completing our first review of applications, we will be in touch with you with details of a very short video presentation for you to complete, to help us with the shortlisting process. When we write to you, we will provide full guidance on how to complete this task, and we will ask whether you have any specific requirements or need adjustments in order to access the task or to perform to the best of your ability.

We will invite shortlisted candidates to attend one of our online selection days on either 11th April or 13th April 2022. All those invited will participate in a series of group activities, individual activities and short interviews. Candidates who most clearly demonstrate the right qualities for our graduate scheme will then be asked to return for an online panel interview on 19th, 20th or 21st April 2022. You can read about the qualities that we’re looking for on the following pages of this job description.

Please note that in line with our Safer Recruitment practices, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check if selected for this role in England, and to a PVG scheme membership check if selected for this role in Scotland. The charity's policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders can be found here, and you can find full details of DBS’s code of practice here and full details of Disclosure Scotland’s code of practice here.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for people who can demonstrate our values: Talent, Quality, Compassion, Aspiration and Teamwork.

Talent: At IntoUniversity, we value and recognise the talent of every person. Are you someone who enjoys motivating others by reinforcing their self-belief? We need staff who will believe in our young people and support them to succeed. You will also be ambitious to enhance your own professional development.

Quality: At IntoUniversity, we complete everything to the highest possible standard Are you someone who is hard working and has the commitment to see things through? We need people who take pride in their work and complete tasks to the best of their abilities. You will have a growth mindset, embracing challenges and reflecting on how to develop and improve. You will also have the ability to plan, prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.

Compassion: At IntoUniversity, we practise pastoral, long-term care Are you someone who is kind and supportive of others? We need team members who can motivate and interact positively with children and young people. Providing a consistent adult presence in their lives is a crucial part of our programme of support. Alongside support with learning, you will also be attuned to the pastoral needs of our students.

Aspiration: At IntoUniversity, we behave aspirationally and positively Are you someone who has a positive outlook? We need staff to be aspirational role models to our young people and make learning come alive. You will also need excellent communication skills to interact positively and professionally with our families, partner schools, visitors, volunteers and staff.

Teamwork: At IntoUniversity, we promote teamwork and togetherness Are you someone who enjoys working as part of a team to achieve shared goals? We work to transform the landscape of Higher Education in the UK and we want people with the vision and drive to help us make that a reality. You will be kind and supportive of colleagues, students and stakeholders. You will also be committed to building an inclusive culture in which everyone is valued for the unique people they are.

Eligibility for the role

In order to be eligible for the graduate scheme, applicants must:

• Have completed - or are predicted to complete - an undergraduate degree to a 2.2 or higher.
• Have achieved a grade C or higher in GCSE Maths and English/ achieved National 5s or Standard Grade at Credit level (grades 1-2) in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Have some previous experience (voluntary or paid) of working with children or young people.
• Have the right to work in the UK (please note that as a charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

The main duties of the role

To work with your team to plan and deliver all parts of the IntoUniversity programme, including leading a class of 30 secondary students from the front, working with groups of primary-aged children and providing occasional one-to-one support.

To deliver the full IntoUniversity programme in your centre, and either to:

• take responsibility, with full support, for one specific area of the IntoUniversity programme at your centre; either Primary or Secondary FOCUS or Mentoring. This might include, for example, taking the lead in planning FOCUS Weeks, training new mentors or liaising with your centre’s Secondary Schools; or
• take responsibility, with full support, for specific areas of the IntoUniversity programme in your Cluster. This might include planning, delivering and training volunteers for the Buddy programme, leading Cross-Centre events, or planning the Holiday FOCUS programme.

To lead delivery of the IntoUniversity programme effectively to children and young people in different settings, including schools-based workshops, Academic Support sessions and educational visits. This includes positive behaviour management and adherence to the IntoUniversity safeguarding policy.

• To assist with the organisation and delivery of the Academic Support, FOCUS and Mentoring Programmes.
• To assist IntoUniversity Centre Leaders in liaising with schools and other partner bodies, in organising the classroom and resources and in planning project delivery.
• To update and maintain IntoUniversity displays, publicity and resources.
• To work with IntoUniversity Centre Leaders to recruit children and young people to the programme, including after-school Academic Support and FOCUS Weeks.
• To develop educational resources and worksheets for use across all IntoUniversity programmes.
• To ensure compliance with all necessary regulations and legal requirements, including the Children’s Act, Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, and legislation and policies related to Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety.
• To undertake any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of this post.