At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals with mental health challenges to find meaningful employment and build confidence.
- Company: Join Leeds Mind, a leader in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Full-time role with opportunities for personal growth and community impact.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on community engagement and employer networking.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them overcome barriers to work.
- Qualifications: Empathy, strong communication skills, and a passion for supporting others.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Could you help someone experiencing mental health challenges take the next step towards meaningful work? Join Leeds Mind as an Employment Support Coach and help people build confidence, overcome barriers and achieve their employment goals.
Leeds Mind promotes positive mental health and wellbeing and provides help and support to anyone who needs it in and around Leeds. We have faith and optimism in our clients and so the services we deliver are built around their needs. We support the people of Leeds to discover their own resources to ‘recover’ from periods of poor mental health, and to live life independently with their mental health condition.
Our culture and values
Our values of Being Open, Supportive, Brave, Connected, and Resourceful are pivotal to the work we do.
Equality, diversity and inclusion policy
Leeds Mind is committed to creating an inclusive environment – equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do. We are committed to ensuring that our colleagues, volunteers and people who access our services feel a sense of belonging at Leeds Mind that gives them the confidence to share their unique perspectives and experience. By creating an inclusive environment that fosters belonging, we aspire to attract colleagues and volunteers who offer diversity of experience and thought. We believe this will ultimately improve the service we provide as well as the employee and volunteer experience.
Role
40% of people who are unemployed struggle with their mental health. Many want to work, but face barriers. With a little support, coaching, guidance and patience, we can change this. You can change this.
As an Employment Support Coach, you’ll work with people with severe mental health challenges, assisting them to find meaningful, long term employment. You’ll work with their clinical team to help find ways to break down barriers to working, and support them in taking the next steps in their career.
The role has two major focuses:
- First and foremost, you’ll spend time in the community working with a caseload of 20 clients. We find the best results come from meeting face to face with job seekers, so you’ll spend time meeting in public places like coffee shops, libraries, or community hubs. Here you’ll work on CV support, interview coaching, helping to decide what roles would be best to apply for, and helping build action plans to make meaningful steps towards employment. You’ll support your clients through every step of their journey.
- The rest of your time will be spent building connections with local employers. Whether it’s large employers with many opportunities, or the local butchers who have a team of 4. When looking for opportunities for our clients, it’s not the size of the employer that matters, it’s the opportunities they can provide.
This role does come with KPI’s. The two main ones are how many people you help into long term jobs in a year, and how many potential employers you connect with on a weekly basis. The numbers are realistic, and reflect the support needed by our clients to gain employment. You’ll be trained on how to track your progress on our internal systems so that we can feedback on our progress to the funders of this work.
Responsibilities
A day in the life of an Employment Support Coach will involve:
- Supporting a caseload of around 20 clients with mental health challenges to find, prepare for, and sustain meaningful employment.
- Developing personalised action plans to help clients identify job goals, tackle barriers, and build confidence for interviews and applications.
- Reaching out to local employers through networking, cold calling, and face-to-face meetings to create opportunities for your clients.
- Building lasting employer relationships, challenging mental health stigma in the workplace, and providing ongoing support to both employer and employee.
- Delivering one-to-one coaching on CVs, job applications, interview techniques, reasonable adjustments, and workplace disclosure.
- Working closely with clinical teams, attending multi-disciplinary meetings, and co-locating in community settings.
- Maintaining accurate, timely records in line with GDPR and safeguarding requirements, and contributing to audits and quality improvement.
The person
To be a successful Employment Support Coach, you’ll need:
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a caseload, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Empathy and sensitivity when working with people experiencing mental health difficulties, with a non-judgemental approach.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with clients, employers, and clinical teams.
- A solution-focused mindset to help clients overcome barriers and achieve their employment goals.
- The initiative to network with and engage employers and stakeholders.
- Good IT skills including Microsoft Word and Excel, and confidence using digital case management systems.
- A basic awareness of safeguarding vulnerable adults and a commitment to equality and diversity.
- Willingness to complete the IPS Employment Specialist training programme.
Employment Support Coach in Leeds employer: IPS Grow
At Shaw Trust, we are dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment where every employee can thrive. Our commitment to social purpose means that as an Employment Specialist, you will play a vital role in transforming lives while enjoying a collaborative culture that values your contributions. With opportunities for professional development and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the South West community, Shaw Trust is an exceptional employer for those passionate about social mobility and equality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Employment Support Coach in Leeds
✨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 IPS Grow.
✨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 IPS Grow!
✨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 IPS Grow, 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 IPS Grow 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 Support Coach in Leeds
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 IPS Grow:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to IPS Grow! 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 IPS Grow
✨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.
