Employment Specialist - Blaenau Gwent & Torfaen

Role: Employment Specialist (Connect to Work)

Location: Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen (area - based role focused on community outreach)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Reports to: Team Lead /Head of Supported Employment

Intuitive Thinking Skills are recruiting Employment Specialists for our Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Connect to Work team. This specialist programme helps people with disabilities , health conditions or other barriers to work secure sustainable paid employment. Our support also supports people who are at risk of losing their job or need work better suited to their circumstances.

You will help participants achieve their employment goals, primarily supporting people with health-related needs. You’ll identify suitable opportunities and provide tailored guidance to help them secure meaningful, lasting employment.

Alongside personalised support , you’ll build strong relationships with referral partners and local employers to enable successful employment outcomes.

You will need proven experience supporting people with multiple and complex needs , working towards targets and delivering services that meet contractual and quality standards.

Main Responsibilities

• Meet personal performance targets, key performance indicators, and quality and compliance requirements, aiming to exceed them.
• Build and manage a caseload of referred participants with learning disabilities .
• Develop your knowledge of learning disabilities to provide specialist support to participants.
• Use a range of assessment tools to understand each participant’s circumstances, preferences and barriers to employment .
• Deliver the programme’s required customer service and quality standards.
• Work with participants and employers to develop tailored solutions .
• Co-produce personalised action plans with SMART targets to support timely, positive progress .
• Coordinate support through local specialist services to address needs such as substance misuse, anger management, debt, health and vocational training .
• Use social prescribing where appropriate to improve participants’ circumstances .
• Work with partner agencies to provide holistic support . With participant consent , hold joint case conferences to coordinate support packages.
• Use your knowledge of the local labour market to identify suitable job opportunities .
• Market directly to employers through digital channels, including email, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
• Identify employers’ recruitment needs and carry out tailored pre- screening and group assessments.
• Co-produce needs-based in-work support plans with participants and employers . Provide practical support for a smooth transition into work and facilitate job carving where appropriate .
• Promote health and safety in participants’ workplaces and report concerns where appropriate to support a safe working environment.
• Build knowledge of specialist signposting services across the county, including support for disabilities, housing and benefits.
• Keep digital files and participant records in line with compliance and quality standards.
• Work from local hubs and community outreach locations to improve access, sometimes alongside housing, health and primary care services .

Skills and Experience Required

• Sound knowledge of the local labour market in the areas covered by the role.
• Experience supporting people with multiple and complex needs , particularly learning disabilities.
• Confident use of Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 products , alongside digital tools such as Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business .
• Experience working towards targets.
• Experience delivering services that meet contractual and quality standards .
• Understanding of supported employment fidelity standards .
• Level 3 Award in Employability Services Sector , or an equivalent qualification.
• Understanding of the employability sector.
• Understanding of the recruitment sector.
• A full driving licence .

If invited to interview , you’ll need to demonstrate a passion for supporting people with complex needs and barriers , along with a sound understanding of Connect to Work and supported employment programmes . This understanding may come from pre-interview research or direct experience.

Thorough interview preparation is essential.

Intuitive Thinking Skills offers £29,000–£31,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus the following benefits:

• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell additional days
• Company pension scheme
• Company sick pay
• Smart- casual dress code
• Annual company events
• Annual bonus and pay increases , subject to business circumstances

Further Information

You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Inclusive Recruitment and Accessibility

Intuitive Thinking Skills is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds, experiences and working styles. Candidates are encouraged to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Applicants do not need to meet every desirable criterion to apply; we are interested in relevant skills, potential and values alignment as well as direct experience.

Compliance

It is the responsibility of all staff to abide by organisational policies to ensure compliance with relevant standards e.g. ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) as well as adhering to statutory duties in relation to safeguarding, Prevent and health and safety.

City

Blaenau Gwent & Torfaen (Community Based)

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