School Cadet Engagement Officer

Report to: Head of Cadets and Youth

General Description:

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. Regularly 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. Closely monitoring schools in their area to identify potential changes to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and to inform the JT immediately if 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

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £35,290 a year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Company pension
• Free parking
• Sick pay