Rockhopper Children's Services

Job Description
Job Title: People Development Officer
Reporting to: Operations Manager
Responsible for: None

The role is responsible for:

 the development, delivery, assessment, and quality assurance of training across the organisations children’s homes. This role ensures staff are competent, compliant and confident in delivering high-quality care in line with regulatory requirements.
 Centre Manager and Assessor for the organisation’s diploma programmes.
 Providing basic recruitment support, working closely with Home Managers to ensure they meet the necessary staffing needs for their homes.
 On occasions supporting Rockhopper senior leadership and the Home

Managers with HR related matters.

Location: Rockhopper Head Office – Edwinstowe House, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire Mansfield NG21 9PR
Working with: Managing Director, Operations Manager, Registered Managers, Deputy Home Managers, care staff
Rockhopper Children’s Services is an independent group of homes for children with a range of special educational needs. The post holder will uphold the mission, values and goals of the Group as expressed in the Vision and Mission Statement.

Main Roles and Responsibilities
Training and Development
• Identify training needs through audits, quality reviews and interactions with home managers
• Sourcing and commissioning external training providers to deliver bespoke training as requested by home managers
• Where appropriate, support in the planning and delivery of training and workshops
• Support all home managers in maintaining training matrices and ensure compliance with regulatory and organisational requirements
• Work directly with home managers to support new starters through induction and ongoing development
• Ensure training reflects current legislation, best practice, and safeguarding standards
Diploma Centre Management and Assessing
• Centre Manager for the organisation’s diploma programmes, to include liaising with awarding body as required and management of associated systems and accounts
• Assess learners progress towards their diploma against relevant standards (e.g. Children and Young People’s Workforce)
• Maintain accurate assessment records and portfolios
• Support learners to successfully complete qualifications within agreed timeframes. Should adequate progress not be being made, you will liaise with home managers to address concerns
• Prepare for, and participate in external verification, quality assurance and standardisation processes as required
Quality Assurance and Audits
• Support internal audits related to training, staff competence, and compliance
• Complete written audit reviews and share with home managers and senior managers
• Maintain working relationships with all home managers to identify specific training needs

Recruitment Support

• Support recruitment activities in line with organisational needs
• Advertise vacancies on platforms such as Indeed and the company website
• Liaise with home managers to understand current and future recruitment requirements
• Download, screen, and distribute CV’s to relevant managers
• Support the onboarding process where required
HR support
• Act as the conduit between Home Managers, senior management and external HR resource supplier on an ad-hoc basis as required.
• Maintain key HR related data for Rockhopper for utilisation within KPI data and for monitoring areas such as staff turnover, vacancies, exit interview feedback, sickness absence data, gender, ethnicity etc.
General Responsibilities
• Travel between homes as required to support training, assessment, audits and recruitment
• Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times
• Promote safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Undertake any other reasonable duties in line with the role, as requested by the Operations Manager and/or Managing Director
Safeguarding
• Ensure your knowledge is up to date and promote the strong safeguarding culture of the Company
Personal Development
• Keep abreast of knowledge and maintain an understanding of current and future trends in residential social care
• Ensure you work to see your own skills and expertise are developed proactively through the Company’s appraisal systems

This job description was correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change and development according to the prevailing needs of the Group.

Person Specification – People Development Officer
Essential Desirable
Qualifications Level 3 (or above) qualification in a relevant field such as Health and Social Care, Education, Training, or HR

Assessor qualification (e.g., A1, CAVA, TAQA)
Evidence of ongoing CPD, particularly in safeguarding, children’s social care, or training practice. Diploma Centre Manager experience or relevant Centre Management qualification
Training/Teaching qualification (e.g., PTLLS, AET, CET)
Safeguarding Level 3 or equivalent
HR related training (employment law basics, safer recruitment, etc.)
Experience Demonstrable experience in planning, delivering, or coordinating training programmes
Experience assessing learners against recognised standards (e.g., Children & Young People’s Workforce)
Experience maintaining training records, matrices or compliance documentation
Experience supporting recruitment processes, including screening CVs and liaising with hiring managers
Experience producing written audit reports or quality assurance documentation
Experience working within a regulatory or compliance driven environment (e.g. children’s residential care, education, health & social care) Experience in a children’s residential setting or working with young people with additional needs
Experience working with awarding bodies, external verifiers or Ofqual regulated qualifications
Experience handling basic HR queries or data (turnover, sickness, onboarding)
Knowledge Understanding of training best practice, adult learning principles and competency-based development
Strong knowledge of safeguarding principles and safer working practices
Understanding of relevant legislation and guidance within children’s social care (e.g., Children’s Homes Regulations, Quality Standards)
Knowledge of recruitment workflows and safer recruitment expectations
Awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion principles Knowledge of quality assurance frameworks within learning and development environments
Awareness of KPI reporting, HR metrics and workforce planning
Skills & Abilities Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise multiple activities across different homes
Strong communication skills with the ability to build positive working relationships with managers, staff, external trainers and awarding bodies
Ability to deliver training sessions and workshops with confidence
Strong assessment skills, able to evaluate learner progress and maintain accurate records
High attention to detail in managing data, audits and compliance documentation
Ability to manage sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism
Competent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office, online training systems and recruitment platforms
Ability to travel between homes as required.Ability to design or adapt training content for different learning styles
Data analysis or reporting skills to support KPI and workforce monitoring
Personal Qualities Professional, credible and able to represent the training function confidently
Self-motivated with a proactive approach to solving problems and supporting services

Flexible, adaptable and able to work across fast paced and evolving environments
Commitment to safeguarding, high-quality care and continuous improvement
Reflective, curious and committed to own professional development
Values-driven with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Other Requirements Enhanced DBS check