School Cadet Engagement Officer

SOUTH EAST RESERVE FORCES AND CADETS ASSOCIATION - VACANCY SCHOOL CADET ENGAGEMENT OFFICER (SCEO)

A vacancy has arisen for the role of School Cadet Engagement Officer (SCEO) with South East Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (SERFCA). This is a unique and exciting role for anyone interested in supporting the youth of the South East and promoting cadets in schools.

This full time role is based in Aldershot or Maidstone but will require regular travel throughout the SERFCA area (Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire).

The successful candidate will have exceptional organisational skills and will understand that the key to success will be built on your ability to establish, develop and maintain respectful and enduring relationships with key stakeholders from the Education and Military sectors. You will have excellent numeracy and literacy skills, be computer literate and be able to brief complex, detailed information clearly and effectively to senior stakeholders and colleagues.

Range of tasks include:

· building strong relationships with school Senior Leadership Teams (SLT), provide them with advice, practical and tangible support, guidance and encouragement in order that they are better prepared to grow their cadet units for long term sustainment and success.

· providing advice and support to schools in respect to recruiting an Staff Sergeant Instructors (SSI) and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

· follow up expressions of interest from schools interested in establishing a cadet unit in their school, conduct a suitability assessment, and provide support and guidance to successful candidates through the application process.

· directing schools to cadet funding opportunities and providing support and guidance through application processes.

· Identify failing units and alongside single Service points of contact, produce and implement actions plans for their recovery.

· develop relationships with the local authorities/agencies and facilitate regional networking in order to position the cadet forces as an integral part of the respective community and signpost accordingly.

Experience in the Cadet Forces (or a voluntary youth organisation), MoD and or education sector is advantageous. You will be personable, highly motivated, well organised and able to work on your own initiative with good problem solving abilities. You will be an excellent communicator and be familiar with producing monthly progress reports. You will be expected to liaise confidently and competently with school Principals and Governors and single Service regional Cadet Force headquarters. The role will entail travel around the South East so a full driving license is essential.

Your contracted hours will be 37 hours per week and you will report to the Head of Cadets and Youth, SERFCA. This role attracts a salary of £35,290.00 p.a. plus additional benefits, including:

· Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme

· 25 days annual leave (previous HM Armed Forces service and previous service in the Public Sector may attract additional entitlement)

· 8 public holidays per year and you will also receive 1 additional day for HM The King’s birthday

· 15 Days Special Paid Leave a year military reserve commitments · Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing

· SERFCA is an arms-length public body of the Ministry of Defence, mandated to give advice to the Defence Council, manage the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ estate, deliver community and Employer Engagement for Defence, and provide administration services to the Army Cadet Force.

· The appointment commences with a probationary period of six months.

A full Job Description follows. CVs and covering letters are to be submitted electronically to Frances Beardsley, Office & Support Services Manager, se-offman@rfca.mod.uk

Queries regarding this role are to be directed to Office & Support Services Manager at the e-mail above.

Applications to be submitted by 30 April 2024

Further detailed information regarding the role contact the outgoing SCEO by email se-sceo@rfca.mod.uk

SOUTH EAST RESERVE FORCES’ AND CADETS’ ASSOCIATION

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: School Cadet Engagement Officer

Pay Band: C2

Line Manager: Head of Cadets and Youth

1. Roles and responsibilities. The School Cadet Engagement Officer (SCEO) plays a key role in the identification, assessment and establishment of new Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Contingents, and in successfully mentoring the school teams through this process. To achieve this, SCEOs work to the Cadet Engagement Programme (CEP) Joint Team, consulting with the single Service Cadet Force HQs and training teams as appropriate to identify the most appropriate candidate schools for new Contingents, and in sustaining Contingents once established. SCEOs will primarily engage with the school senior leadership, including members of the governing body and head teachers (or equivalent senior leaders as appropriate). Therefore, the work of the SCEO is crucial in encouraging the school to engage fully with CEP and their Contingent to achieve success.
2. Tasks. The SCEO is responsible for:

a. Regular visiting schools and providing feedback to the Joint Team (JT) on the unit’s current situation, the unit’s capacity to sustain itself and grow (and their willingness to do so). SCEOs will provide guidance and recommend any measures that could be adopted to overcome obstacles and challenges faced by schools.

b. Monitoring closely schools in their area to identify potential changes to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and to inform the JT immediately they are aware of a change to the SLT or key personnel within the CCF and support the implementation of measures to mitigate any potential risks to the unit.

c. Supporting the school in providing a positive image of the CCF to incoming new head teachers.

d. Proactively facilitate regional networking in close collaboration with CCFA, RFCAs, Regional Points of Contact (RPoCs) and single Services to provide formal and informal opportunities to share learning and best practice, make best use of available resource and to help identify wider training opportunities to promote and facilitate growth.

e. Attending meetings, workshops and other activities related to the CEP as and when required.

f. Supporting where appropriate, Department of Education and MOD communications.

g. Providing reports routinely and other information as may be required, upon request to the JT on school’s growth progression and any identified or potential risks.

h. Working with the JT on the development of documentation in support of cadet growth.

i. Manage and supporting schools in their application for funding that may become available from time to time in support of cadet sustainment and growth.

j. Maintaining close working relationships with single Services and the Service CF training teams to provide a unified approach and timely, practical support to schools.

k. Supporting schools as agreed by RC Cadets Branch and single Services through the application process to establish a CCF.

l. Working outside their defined geographical area when necessary to support CEP aims and outputs.

j. SCEOs will provide tangible close support, guidance and encouragement to schools in order that they are best placed to grow and sustain their units. SCEOs will continue to ensure risks are identified and reported early so that effective action plans can be put in place and new risks can be effectively mitigated. SCEOs are to ensure schools do not consider their involvement as intrusive, or as an inspection regime. Therefore, an approach which is seen as helpful, encouraging and one that provides practical support is to be adopted. It is essential that SCEOs work closely with single Service training/delivery teams in order to achieve success.

3. Where capacity allows, SCEOs may be given other tasks that supports SERFCA wider cadet and youth portfolio which will include support to:

a. SERFCA Armed Forces Briefings.

b. Joint Service Cadet and Youth Committees.

c. Lord Lieutenant’s Awards.

d. County Committee Meetings.

e. Best Practice Meetings.

f. Input to AGM and other key SERFCA meetings.

g. HQ SE Cadet Meetings.

h. Visit Cadet CCF Summer Camp with the Chief Executive.

I. SERFCA weekly Co-ord Meetings.

m. Attend events in the absence of the CE or Head of Cadets and Youth