Job Coach – Supported Apprenticeships in Reading

Job title:

Job Coach – Supported Apprenticeships

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exemptions) Order 1975 applies to this post. Disclosure and Barring Clearance is required prior to employment to this post.

Main purpose of job:

Little Gate exists to support people with learning disabilities and/or autism to move into meaningful paid employment. We offer several pathways into work depending on each person’s needs, strengths and aspirations. Our Supported Apprenticeships programme is an education pathway into employment, combining paid work with structured learning delivered by specialist training providers.

This role sits within our Supported Apprenticeships programme, providing structured, personalised support to young people aged 17–24 as they prepare for, begin and progress through an apprenticeship.

As a Job Coach, you will support apprentices to secure, sustain and progress in meaningful paid roles while completing a nationally recognised qualification. You will deliver personalised, structured support across the full apprenticeship journey – from early preparation and recruitment, through in‑work coaching, to qualification completion and long‑term independence. The support coaches provide is often subtle, enabling the individual to learn systems and processes within their workplace so they become a valued employee. You will help the young person build confidence and learn the skills they need to do the job to the best of their ability.

Job Coaches support apprentices across a wide range of sectors including hospitality, health and social care, maintenance, engineering, customer service, construction and more. You will work closely with employers and specialist training providers to ensure apprentices thrive in the workplace and meet the requirements of their apprenticeship standard. This includes supporting functional skills, travel training, portfolio development, confidence building and problem‑solving in real work environments.

Job Coaches work autonomously but within a wider team. As well as supporting apprentices in their workplaces, you will attend meetings at our various offices and the farm in Beckley.

This is immensely rewarding work, offering the opportunity to support young people throughout their apprenticeship journey.

Following your training as a Job Coach there may be opportunities to learn additional skills and the potential to work in other areas of the charity.

Little Gate Values:

All staff are expected to demonstrate and promote our organisational values:

• Respect – valuing every individual’s strengths, aspirations and lived experience.
• Inclusion – creating accessible, supportive environments where everyone can thrive.
• Ambition – believing in the potential of the people we support and striving for meaningful outcomes.
• Collaboration – working positively with colleagues, families, employers and partners.
• Integrity – acting with honesty, professionalism and accountability..

Position reports to:

Supported Apprenticeships Line Lead

Staff who will report to this job title:

N/A

Location:

Your usual places of work will be at the workplaces of the trainees whom we support and the Little Gate Supported Employment office in Battle. However, your job duties include a requirement that you will travel away from these locations as may be required by the Charity for the proper performance of your duties. Other locations may include but are not limited to other offices or branches of the Charity, any agreed remote working location (which could include your home).

Our services cover a wide geographical area across East Sussex.

Salary:

£13.25 per hour

Contract Type and Hours of Work:

Fixed-term contracts – part-time, full-time, variable hours and casual/bank work agreements available. Days and hours of work may be variable dependent on contract type and the business needs of the Charity and those we support. Usual core hours of work are Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5.30pm but you will be asked to work outside of these days and hours (weekend, early morning and evening work) by mutual agreement with your line lead.

Probationary period:

3 months

Holiday Entitlement:

5.6 weeks per annum (pro rata) inclusive of bank and public holidays

Safeguarding requirements:

All employees and volunteers, regardless of their posts, share in the responsibility for protecting our work trainees and students, keeping them safe from harm whilst they are attending Little Gate and for reporting concerns about any person’s welfare and safety.

Lone Working

This role involves lone working in community and workplace settings. Little Gate Staff must follow Little Gate’s lone working procedures at all times.

DBS requirements;

Child and Adult Workforce, Enhanced with Barred list checks

Main tasks of job:

• Manage a caseload of apprentices, delivering support in line with the Supported Employment Quality Framework.
• Complete vocational profiling and develop personalised action plans with clear, achievable goals.
• Support apprentices through job search, applications and interview preparation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employers to identify inclusive apprenticeship opportunities, including job carving where appropriate.
• Conduct workplace health and safety checks prior to placements.
• Liaise with training providers to monitor qualification progress, functional skills, portfolio development and reasonable adjustments.
• Deliver structured in‑work coaching, gradually reducing support as independence grows.
• Support apprentices to overcome barriers through practical advice, guidance and confidence‑
• Track progress against apprenticeship milestones and programme targets.
• Maintain accurate records to demonstrate impact and meet quality requirements.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, employers, families and training providers.
• Manage workload effectively and meet agreed deadlines.
• Adapt to changing priorities and respond flexibly to employer and apprentice needs.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and different tasks may be required as necessitated by the changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.

Person Specification;

Essential Criteria;

• Flexibility & availability– willingness to work in a wide variety of work settings and job roles, and to work early mornings, evenings and weekends when required.
• Driving & travel– full driving licence with access to a car for work purposes, and willingness to transport trainees when required.
• Safeguarding & compliance– a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and adhere to Little Gate policies and procedures.
• Professional skills
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to build positive, professional relationships with young people, families, employers and external partners.
• Demonstrate empathy, understanding and patience.
• Strong self-organisation and self-motivation.
• Ability to use initiative within a structured framework.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to work flexibly and autonomously while being part of a wider team.
• Ability to maintain accurate records for monitoring, quality and audit purposes.
• Ability to use IT systems, including Office 365, independently and effectively.
• Commitment to inclusive employment, equality and diversity.
• Willingness to undertake all relevant training.

Desirable Criteria;

• Experience working with young people aged 17–24 with autism or learning disabilities.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship standards, training providers, functional skills support or portfolio requirements.
• Training in Systematic Instruction or other supported employment methodologies.
• Knowledge of workplace health and safety and risk assessment processes.
• Other job coaching or supported employment training.
• Basic knowledge of welfare benefits or employment support systems.

Qualifications;

Strong Maths and English skills equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 (Grade C) or above, demonstrated through qualifications, training, or relevant experience.

Important Information

Application deadline:

Sunday 4th October 2026 (23:00 hrs)

Interview dates:

7th, 8th and 9th October 2026