Employment & Skills Adviser in Leeds

As an Employment & Skills Advisor (Supported Employment), you will be passionate about supporting Leeds' most vulnerable residents into employment using your specialist skills and experience to help Leeds deliver the Inclusive Growth Strategy and the government achieve its economic growth mission. You will be working on a national programme with key significance for the local economy. By working closely with adults who have significant barriers to employment, you will be creating bespoke learning journeys which match customer aspirations.

The role will require an understanding of assessment processes, pathways, and support services and will involve working collaboratively with education providers and businesses to help Leeds residents find suitable, sustainable employment. The role is integral to our Employment & Skills Service and you will be working alongside other advisors in the Leeds Employment Hub offering tailored support to target clients to support a healthier, greener, and more inclusive economy that works for everyone.

The E&S Advisor (Supported Employment) focus will be to support customers with significant barriers which would benefit from a supported employment approach into employment opportunities, tailoring a bespoke learning journey and multiple workplace experiences, which fit the customers' skills, aspirations, and choices.

Responsibilities

• Successful management of a number of cases (at any one time) which include:
• Vocational Assessment - establish and make appropriate decisions on the appropriate level of intensive support to customers.
• Develop an employment plan that identifies their strengths, interests, challenges, and training needs using sound judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Coaching and building resilience and independence in participants including managing expectations of customers and family members.
• Employer Engagement - encouraging and promoting partnership working to improve interns' access to services and to maximise individual choices to employment opportunities.
• Identifying reasonable adjustments and/or assistive technology.
• Ensuring the safety of job seekers and interns and understanding of the risk around safeguarding and Health & Safety at Work legislation.
• Liaison with professionals from a wide range of organisations in order to maximise community engagement and build and maintain networks including: employers, training providers, Jobshops, children's centres, and schools to maximise opportunities for participants.
• Managing documentation in line with service standards, contractual requirements, and quality assurance procedures.
• Manage and handle information and data in line with the Council's agreed policies on Information Governance.
• Contribute to programme quality and development through steering groups and review panels as appropriate.
• Plan workload and manage own caseload of customers and day-to-day activities, including managing and assessing risk and personal safety.
• Accurately monitor and evaluate the progress of individual customers, maintaining accurate client records that meet both legal standards and external contract requirements that involve working to targets.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth, and Zero Carbon. Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health, Safety, and Wellbeing. Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training, and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity of Leeds City Council. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A minimum Level 3 IAG qualification.
• Ability to deliver flexible employability support.
• Significant experience of caseload management to achieve positive outcomes.
• Significant knowledge of a range of job search techniques.
• Significant knowledge of barriers to employment & learning.
• This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
• Holds a minimum Level 3 IAG qualification.
• Ability to achieve targets and positive outcomes for customers.
• Ability to meet service objectives.
• Ability to promote and market programmes/services.
• Ability to monitor continuous improvement strategies.
• Ability to plan and prioritise individual work in order to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge — Significant knowledge of a range of job search techniques.
• Significant knowledge of the labour market in Leeds, including growth sectors and trends.
• Significant knowledge of barriers to employment & learning.
• Of the Council's Inclusive Growth agenda and other key Strategic Plans.
• Of the diversity of cultures in the communities of Leeds.
• Experience — Significant experience of caseload management to achieve positive outcomes.
• Significant experience of assessing learner needs and providing appropriate support.
• Significant experience of working proactively with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Significant experience of working in a range of community settings.
• Significant experience of working with and addressing barriers experienced by customers.
• Ability to speak one or more languages associated with multicultural communities in Leeds.
• Experience of delivering Supported Employment.
• Knowledge of Supported Employment.
• Knowledge of SEQF Model Fidelity Level 3 Certificate for Supported Employment Practitioners.

Benefits & Additional Information

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions. A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays. Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements. A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities. A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship, you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying. Right to work in the UK verification requirements apply.