Employment Link Officer - SEND in Coventry

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias. The Employment & Skills Service is part of Coventry City Council. We work with a range of delivery partners to provide a wide portfolio of top quality support to Coventry residents of all ages who are looking for work. We work with partners across the city and our Employer Hub actively works with local employers to generate opportunities for local people.

Our friendly and welcoming Job Shop is situated in Coventry City Centre. We are here to support all Coventry residents to search for employment, training, apprenticeships and work placements. People can explore a wide range of local vacancies that are updated daily and access training opportunities. We also provide ground-breaking specialist support for local residents who face multiple and sometimes complex barriers that make it hard for them to find a job. The Job Shop and our exciting range of specialist employment support programmes are among the very best support available in the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing service and make a difference to the lives of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). ‘Changing Futures Together’ is part of the Job Shop’s employment service and has been developed to make a difference to the lives of young people with barriers, helping them to develop their employment skills and progress into meaningful, sustainable and good quality employment. We work in partnership with the Council’s SEND team to ensure our customers have better choice and control, good quality support and the opportunity to progress through a range of employment pathways. We support individuals with learning disabilities, autism/neurodiverse, physical disabilities and people who face major barriers when it comes to gaining employment.

As our Employment Link Officer, you will be responsible for leading on Supported Internships and employer engagement, creating an extensive network of employers in order to develop a wide range of employment related opportunities. This includes workplace visits, work experience placements, supported internship placements, inclusive apprenticeships and paid employment opportunities. You will work as an integrated member of the team alongside our Supported Employment Manager and Study Programme Manager. You will work closely with our existing employer partners, schools, colleges and a wide range of other partners to ensure that the opportunities you develop match the needs of the individuals we support.

You will line manage Job Coaches who have their own caseloads to ensure that the young people we support have secure transitions when they leave us. You will ensure that our employers receive outstanding support and that any issues are addressed promptly and effectively. You will play a key role in ensuring that we provide high quality person-centred support and that the service operates in line with the Supported Employment Model.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

You will be committed to Equality and Inclusion and fundamentally believe that everyone has the right to be part of and contribute to the economy. You will believe that given the right opportunity and support, everyone can make a positive contribution and have a meaningful and fulfilling life. You will be outgoing with exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to inspire others. You will be able to develop and sustain strong relationships and utilise these to influence and negotiate opportunities.

You will have experience of supported employment, understanding the needs of employers and the business case for employing a diverse workforce and be able to utilise this knowledge to develop a broad range of opportunities. You will thrive on new challenges and be self‑motivated with a can‑do approach, able to work effectively on your own and as part of a team as well as travel independently to a variety of locations. You will have excellent communications and IT skills and be able to effectively communicate with a wide range of people both verbally and in writing.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long‑term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date(s): Thursday 15th January at The Job Shop. The interview will consist of a face‑to‑face panel interview and a presentation.

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting‑edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant, and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package – to find out more please visit Coventry City Council Vacancies.