At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals with disabilities to find meaningful employment and achieve their career goals.
- Company: Join a dedicated team at Intuitive Thinking Skills, focused on inclusivity and empowerment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave, pension scheme, and sick pay.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them overcome barriers to work.
- Qualifications: Experience supporting individuals with complex needs and knowledge of the local labour market.
Location: Leicestershire & Rutland (County based role). There will be a hybrid approach to working (Community and local hub based). Hours: 37.5 pw Monday to Friday. Accountable to: Team Lead /Service Manager /Head of Supported Employment.
We’re currently recruiting Employment Specialists to join our dedicated Leicestershire & Rutland teams. This role forms part of a specialist programme designed to support individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions or other barriers to work into sustainable paid employment. We will also have a dedicated team working with participants in work who are at risk of losing their job or need to find something more suited to them and the barriers/challenges they may have.
As one of our Employment Specialists, you’ll play a pivotal role in helping our participants achieve their employment goals. Working primarily with individuals who have health-related support needs, you’ll identify suitable job opportunities and provide tailored guidance to help them secure meaningful, sustainable employment. You’ll offer bespoke advice and support to each client, alongside developing strong relationships with referral partners and local employers, that will be key to enabling successful employment outcomes.
To succeed in this role, you’ll bring proven experience supporting individuals with multiple and complex needs. You’ll have a track record of working in target-driven environments while consistently delivering services standards that meet contractual and quality standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Meet, and strive to exceed personal performance targets, Key Performance Indicators and all Quality and Compliance measures.
- Progressively manage a caseload of referred customers with a learning disability.
- Learning disability awareness and self-development/knowledge to provide specialist support to customer group.
- Undertake in-depth assessments using a suite of tools to fully understand a customer’s circumstances, preferences and holistic barriers to progression to employment.
- Achieve the Customer Service and Quality Standards required on the programme.
- Work closely with participants and employers to create tailored solutions for participants.
- Co-produce personalised tailored Action Plans featuring SMART targeting to enable positive and timely progression.
- Use an integration framework of local specialist services to obtain support to address specific issues (e.g. substance misuse, anger management, debt advice, health and vocational training).
- Where appropriate, use social prescribing to develop and improve customer circumstances.
- Work with multiple agencies to develop holistic approaches to support customers.
- With customer consent undertake case conferences with external agencies to jointly optimise support packages.
- Fully understand the local labour market to source suitable job opportunities.
- Undertaking direct marketing to employers using digital and electronic formats e.g. email, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc.
- Identify the specific recruitment needs of each employer and undertake tailored pre-screens and group assessments.
- Co-produce effective in-work support plans with participants and employers, based on an assessment of need, providing practical support to ensure a smooth transition into work.
- When appropriate facilitate job carving opportunities.
- Be mindful of Health & Safety within the customer’s workplace and actively promote and report (if appropriate) to ensure a safe working environment for all customers.
- Develop an understanding of specialist signposting services in the county, building knowledge in areas such as specific disabilities, housing, benefits etc.
- Maintain IT files and customer records to the required compliance and quality standards.
- Work from local hubs and community outreach locations (sometimes alongside other services e.g. housing, health and primary care centres) to increase service accessibility.
Skills and ExperienceEssential
- A good working knowledge of the local labour market in the specified geographical locations.
- Experience of working with people with multiple and complex needs in particular those with learning disabilities.
- Fully IT literate in using a range of Microsoft Office programmes to include 365 products and modern digital technologies, i.e. Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business.
- Experience of working in a target driven environment.
- Experience of delivering services to meet contractual and quality standards.
Desirable
- Knowledge of Connect to Work or IPS/Supported employment standards.
- Level 3 Award in Employability Services Sector or equivalent.
- Knowledge of the employability industry.
- Knowledge of the recruitment industry.
- Full driving licence.
In return for all you’ll bring to Intuitive Thinking Skills, we’re offering a competitive salary range of £29,000 to £31,000 per annum (dependent on experience) along with these benefits:
- 26 days annual leave + Bank Holidays (opportunity to buy/sell additional days).
- Company Pension Scheme.
- Sick Pay.
Additional Information: Dependent on the role applying to you may be required to process a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS/DS) check. 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.
Employment Specialist employer: AKG
AKG Learning is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture. As an Engagement and Enrolment Officer, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on learners and employers in the community, supported by comprehensive training and professional development initiatives. Located in a vibrant area, AKG Learning offers a dynamic environment where your contributions are valued, and you can thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Employment Specialist
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at AKG.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from AKG!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like AKG, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at AKG or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Employment Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to AKG:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to AKG! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AKG
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
