Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

The Adult Education Service is part of Coventry City Council.  We provide a wide range of courses for Coventry residents age 19+ and much of our provision is targeted at people with the highest levels of need. 

We offer long courses in English, maths, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), ICT/Digital and vocational subjects such as Early Years, along with provision for adults with learning disabilities.  

We also offer a very wide range of short community courses in arts, crafts, music, dance, exercise, and family learning.  In addition, we run a highly supportive study programme for young people.

Our work-based learning offer includes Apprenticeships in the following subject areas: 

• Nursery Workers
• Teaching Assistants
• Leadership/Management; and 
• Customer Care. 

We also provide courses for adults who are seeking work via the Council’s Job Shop. 

Our main base is at Southfields Old School, CV1 5EJ, with provision delivered at around 25 other sites within Coventry, mostly in areas of highest need.

We welcome applications from anyone who wants to make a difference to the lives of people in Coventry.  

What is the job role?

Coventry City Council’s Adult Education Service is seeking to recruit a highly skilled, experienced, and passionate individual to support Education & Skills Area Lead aligned to the Work Skills curriculum area as part of our journey towards outstanding teaching, learning and assessment practice.

The Adult Education Service is positioned in the Skills, Employment & Adult Education team within the Council’s Regeneration and Economy Directorate. The strategic intent of the service is to maximise the employability of adults, so they can progress into work, further learning/training, or engage in voluntary, social and community activities.

As such, you will play a key role in co-designing, delivering and managing an inclusive and culturally sensitive curriculum that supports the aims of the One Coventry Plan and meets the educational needs of our diverse communities and employers, to make an active contribution to the local economy.

This role has a particular focus on managing the delivery of employment focused learning opportunities, particularly regarding Into Employment Programmes and wrap-around support, Apprenticeships and in-work/career progression.

This work will involve: outreach and development with small to medium sized enterprises, as well as large employers across the City and other stakeholders to engage new and different learners; monitoring inclusive curriculum development and quality; effective line management of tutors and learning support assistants; reflective practice; and embedding new technologies to drive improvements in learning outcomes and impact.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?

For the above role you will need a strong understanding of how to attract and engage employers, and work with support agencies such as Department for Work & Pensions, Job Shop, and Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. You will demonstrate significant contribution to curriculum innovation, ensuring quality improvement, diversity and inclusion in all provision.

In addition, you will have a working knowledge of adult education funding methodology and experience of managing and motivating staff, including staff development and performance management. You will also demonstrate ability to promote provision using a range of methods, including social media platforms.   

Our workforce data shows that people from minority ethnic backgrounds are under-represented within the service, and in particular the above roles, and we encourage applicants from these backgrounds to apply to further develop our work to ensure learning opportunities are culturally sensitive. This does not prevent individuals with or without other protected characteristics as set out within the Equality Act 2010 from applying for this post.

Coventry City Council is making positive progress in transforming its services and is looking for committed, energetic, professional leaders to be part of our improvement journey. Join us at the council if you're ready to take on challenges and elevate our service with your unique expertise and dedication. For more information or an informal discussion about the role please contact: Howard.Croft@coventry.gov.uk

Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre employment check with effect 1 Sept 22, please note, an online search may form part of this recruitment process.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date: 26th September  2024

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

Coventry City Council