College Advisor - Voluntary

Our Aim

Liberty Training is an organisation devoted to improving the lives of society's most vulnerable and needy individuals, supporting them to achieve the most in their lives. With our combined knowledge and experience Liberty Training deliver an optimum service to help young people achieve their full potential and make a positive impact on society through our nurturing and supportive Specialist Post-16 College and our soon to be established high school, Liberty High.

Your Role

As an Advisor at Liberty Training, you will support the development of the college in line with the college’s development plan, supporting and challenging leaders to deliver excellence of the students, families and staff.

Requirements

This is a voluntary role, travel expenses incurred as a result of fulfilling your role as advisor will be reimbursed. You will be required to attend six meetings per academic year, one per half term.

You must have an outgoing, friendly and confident personality with a positive attitude and a passion for helping others. Our team are motivational speakers, inspirers, and energisers who broaden horizons and break down barriers to progression.  

At Liberty, we have a learner-centred approach and are looking for someone with the same philosophy. We have a holistic approach to working with our learners, helping them wherever possible with the challenges that life may throw at them, and to join our team, you would need that same outlook.  

Key Responsibilities

Advisors work together to carry out their core functions:

1.      Ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

2.      Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its students and the performance management of staff

3.      Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

4.      Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard

Advisors must also ensure that the governing body complies with all legal and statutory requirements. Advisors should seek the advice of the Governance Professional and other professional advice as appropriate.

Governing body strategic responsibilities

Governing bodies work closely with headteachers and senior leaders. Headteachers are responsible for day-to-day management whereas the role of the governing body is strategic. As such, advisors are responsible for:

·        Determining the mission, values and long-term ambitious vision for the college

·        Deciding the principles that guide college policies and approving key policies

·        Working with senior leaders to develop a strategy for achieving the vision

·        Ensuring that parents, students, staff and the wider community are involved, consulted and informed as appropriate

·        Ensuring that all students have access to a broad and balanced curriculum such that students are well prepared for the next stage of their education and adult life

·        Setting the college’s budget and ensuring it is managed effectively together with premises and other resources

·        Agreeing the college’s staffing structure and keeping it under review to ensure it supports delivery of the strategy

·        Ensuring robust risk management procedures are in place and that risk control measures are appropriate and effective

Monitoring and evaluating college performance

Advisors must monitor the priorities that have been set to ensure progress is being made by:

·        Measuring the college’s impact and progress towards its strategic objectives

·        Ensuring the required policies and procedures are in place and the college is operating effectively in line with these policies

·        Evaluating relevant data and feedback provided by college leaders and external reporting on all aspects of college performance

·        Asking challenging questions of college leaders in order to hold them to account

·        Holding the headteacher to account for standards, financial probity, and compliance with agreed policies

·        Visiting the college to monitor implementation of the strategy and reporting back to the board (this could be in a link advisor capacity)

·        Ensuring that there are policies and procedures in place to deal with complaints effectively

Panels and Committees

When required, advisors are expected to serve on panels or committees in order to:

·        Hear staff grievances and disciplinary matters

·        Review decisions to exclude students

·        Deal with formal complaints

Contribution to the Governing Body

Advisors should ensure that they are making a positive and meaningful contribution to the governing body by:

·        Attending meetings (a minimum of 3 full governing board meetings and a number of committee meetings each year), reading papers and preparing questions for senior leaders in advance

·        Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with senior leaders and colleagues on the board

·        Getting to know the college, including visiting the college occasionally during college hours

·        Undertaking induction training and developing knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis

General duties

·        To fully understand the aims, objectives and ethos of Liberty Training and to reflect these in your daily working life

·        To adhere to Liberty Group policies and procedures 

·        To act in a professional yet approachable manner at all times

·        To attend regular meetings and supervisions to help your own professional development

• To manage your own personal and professional development.

·        To attend training as required

·        Any other tasks as required or requested by the Headteacher/Directors