Employment & Resilience Coach

Contract: Full-time, fixed term – 2 years (starting September 2025)

Looking for a role where you can genuinely change lives? Be a catalyst for change in the lives of care-experienced young people (aged 16 to 24). As part of a collaborative, multi-agency team, you’ll deliver targeted one-to-one and on occasion small group coaching that equips young people with the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to thrive in the world of work. Your role will focus on developing their employability - enhancing job readiness, communication, and workplace resilience. By helping them overcome barriers, you will empower them to achieve lasting success in education, training, and sustainable employment. This role sits within a unique collaboration between Somerset Council and Shaw Trust, focused on helping young people transition confidently into employment, training, and education.

What the role involves:

• Support a caseload of young people, helping them build the confidence, skills and resilience they need to succeed. Support will be tailored to the individual, recognising that no two journeys are the same.
• Manage and provide intensive support to a caseload of referred care experienced young people (up to 15, depending on complexity of cases): provide advice and guidance, identify expectations and how stakeholders can assist the young person should this be necessary.
• Work closely with the young person’s key worker and promote a team around the child approach. Support young people in securing and thriving in employment, training, apprenticeships, and supported internships.
• Assessing employment readiness and developing action plans tailored to individual needs.
• Supporting with job searches, CV writing, applications, interview prep and work placements.
• Helping overcome practical barriers such as transport, childcare, or confidence issues.
• Engaging with employers to ensure placements are positive and well-supported.
• Work in partnership with Somerset Council Leaving Care, Children Looked After, Statutory Virtual School, Health and Education Teams and other stakeholders.
• Recording progress, meeting KPIs, and sharing case studies that show real-world impact.
• Promoting diversity, inclusion and safeguarding at every stage of the journey.

You’ll play a key part in reducing the number of young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and helping them access real, sustainable opportunities. You will be part of a small team of 2 covering Somerset as a whole with support from a range of professionals across Children’s Services at Somerset Council and employment support from The Shaw Trust.

Who we’re looking for:

• Someone who’s passionate about helping young people unlock their potential – especially those who’ve faced significant challenges.
• A good standard of education (minimum 5 GCSEs at grade C/Level 4 or above or equivalent).
• A Level 3 vocational qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience supporting vulnerable or care-experienced young people.
• Experience of working within multi-agency teams.
• Understanding of and ideally experienced in building resilience and improving the employability skills of vulnerable and/or care experienced young people to better cope with transition and change.
• Ability to complete assessments and build meaningful support plans.
• Committed to listening to the voice of care experienced young people and working with them to co-design a positive future for them.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle – this role covers all of Somerset.
• Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of young people (occasional early starts or later finishes).
• Knowledge of the employment, training and education landscape.
• Experience working to targets and achieving measurable outcomes.
• A background in employment support or coaching young people into sustainable work/training.

You’ll also be someone who:

• Builds strong, trusting relationships.
• Adapts your approach to suit different needs and situations.
• Is calm, approachable and committed to doing what’s right for young people.
• Is aligned with our values around safeguarding, equality and inclusion.
• Has excellent communication skills – written, verbal, and digital.

Why work with us?

• Be part of an exciting new initiative focused on innovation and impact.
• Join a collaborative programme with real cross-sector partnership.
• Work alongside skilled professionals from Somerset Council and Shaw Trust.
• Receive comprehensive training and continuous development.
• Help shape the future for care-experienced young people in Somerset.

Additional Information:

• This role is subject to safer recruitment checks including an Enhanced DBS.

If you want to be part of a service that puts young people first and helps build brighter futures, we’d love to hear from you.