Job title:
College Job Coach – term time only – two vacancies available
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:
Job Coaches provide subtle support that enables the student to learn systems and processes within their workplace, so they become a valued employee! You will build confidence and support them to learn the skills they need to do the job to the best of their ability.
Students at Little Gate College will complete up to 3 work placements across the academic year. These placements may be in different roles with different employers. A Job Coach works with a student, their parents/carers and the employer, providing travel training, benefits sign posting, and giving support and guidance to the whole family.
Job Coaches can be supporting 1 or 2 students in various sectors from hospitality, health and social care, maintenance, engineering, customer service, construction and more.
Job Coaches may work as a pair or individually within a placement and autonomously within a wider team.
To be a Job Coach is immensely rewarding work as you get to directly support a student on their journey to paid employment.
Position reports to:
Programme Manager
Staff who will report to this job title:
N/A
Location:
Your usual places of work will be at the workplaces of the students whom we support and the Little Gate College in Hastings. Our services cover a wide geographical area across East Sussex; Hastings, Bexhill, Eastbourne and Rother and the role includes a requirement to travel between sites and placements.
Other work locations may include but are not limited to other offices or branches of the Charity and any agreed remote working location (which could include your home).
Salary: £13.25 per hour (equivalent to £12688.20 for a 12 month, term time only contract pro rata to actual contract term)
Usual hours of work will be 21 hours per week, 7 hours per day, Monday – Wednesday starting at 8.30am. Usually 38 weeks per year, term time only, plus compulsory 2 weeks of CPD training in a standard 12 month contract. Annual leave is to be taken outside of college term time during academic holidays.
In certain circumstances, it may be necessary to adjust or exceed your normal working hours in order to meet the requirements of your job.
Probationary period:
3 months
Holiday Entitlement:
5.6 weeks per annum inclusive of bank and public holidays (pro rata to contracted hours and contract term)
Contract type:
Fixed-term contract until 31st August 2027.
Little Gate may offer a new fixed-term or permanent contract in this or a different job role at the end of this fixed-term contract.
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.
DBS requirements;
Child and Adult Workforce Enhanced with Barred List checks
Main tasks of job:
Job Coaching & Employer Engagement support.
- Provide in work support to students in their placements; plan, instruct and systematically fade support using Training in Systematic Instruction (TSI).
- Set up, monitor and review work placements with clear goals and success measures.
- Build and maintain relationships with employers; identify, design or carve roles that fit students’ strengths and employer needs.
- Conduct and/or contribute to initial health & safety checks and risk assessments prior to placements, reviewing as needed.
- Communicate regularly with employers to gather feedback and address barriers promptly to sustain progress.
Education & Learning Integration
- Work alongside education staff to embed classroom learning in the workplace and bring workplace learning back into education days.
- Contribute to student Action Plans with SMART goals linked to EHCP outcomes; review and update regularly.
- Identify and coach employability skills (communication, timekeeping, teamwork, task completion, problem solving, H&S awareness). Keeping, teamwork, task completion, problem-solving, H&S awareness. ‑keeping, teamwork, task completion, problem‑solving, H&S awareness).
- Deliver travel training (route planning, ticketing, safety, contingency plans) to increase independence.
Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG)
- Provide information, advice and guidance to students who face barriers to training or employment.
- Undertake vocational profiling and task analysis to match students to roles and tailor support strategies.
Records, Funding & Compliance
- Maintain accurate, timely records of placements, attendance, progress, interventions, employer contact and outcomes in line with Little Gate policies.
- Monitor and record that learning needs are being met through regular communication with education staff and employers to support timely outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, data protection, health & safety, audit and quality procedures.
Safeguarding, Pastoral & Professional Conduct
- Safeguard children and adults at risk; follow policy and reporting procedures without delay.
- Liaise with the Head of College and Programme Manager on pastoral or wellbeing concerns.
- Manage your workload effectively; prioritise to meet objectives and deadlines.
- Collaborate with colleagues; share best practice, cover where needed, and contribute to team meetings and required training (incl. TSI).
- Support promotional events within the academic year.
- Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Head of College.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
This role includes KPIs that are designed to support quality work placements with employer partnerships with sustainable outcomes which will be regularly reviewed;
- Meeting student EHCP outcomes
- Student SMART goals
- Travel training
- Student and Employer satisfaction and retention rates
- Successful student transitions and sustained employment outcomes
- Quality and timeliness of data reporting
KPIs are designed to support your professional growth and celebrate your achievements. As our programme develops, these targets will increase reflecting our shared ambition to make a bigger difference together.
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;
The successful candidate will be a motivated and adaptable professional with a genuine commitment to supporting young people with learning disabilities and autism to achieve their potential. You will have experience of working with employers and understand the challenges and opportunities around recruitment, training, and employment. Strong organisational skills, initiative, and the ability to work flexibly across classroom and workplace settings are essential. You will be an excellent communicator, able to build positive relationships with students, staff, parents/carers, employers, and external partners, demonstrating empathy and professionalism at all times. Competence in using IT systems and maintaining accurate records is required, alongside a willingness to undertake relevant training, including safeguarding and Training in Systematic Instruction (TSI).
A good level of education (minimum GCSE Grade 4/C in English and Maths) and the ability to travel independently across Hastings, Bexhill, Eastbourne, and Rother are also key requirements.
Essential Criteria;
- Willingness to work across a wide variety of workplaces and roles.
- Car driver with access to a car for work purposes.
- Enhanced DBS (with Barred List checks).
- Experience of work and successfully dealing with employers and/or supporting people in training or employment.
- Understanding of recruitment, training and employment issues (incl. reasonable adjustments).
- Strong self-organisation, initiative, and the ability to work under pressure and flexibly within agreed procedures.‑organisation, initiative, and the ability to work under pressure and flexibly within agreed procedures.
- Effective communication (oral and written) and negotiation skills with students/customers, staff, employers, and professionals.
- Demonstrable empathy and professional conduct.
- Ability to meet the physical requirements of in‑work support.
- Competent with Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams/SharePoint); able to maintain accurate records for monitoring, quality and audit.
- Willingness to undertake all relevant training (incl. TSI and safeguarding).
- Understanding/awareness of Equal Opportunities; respect and adherence to Little Gate policies and procedures.
Desirable Criteria;
- Knowledge of risk assessment and workplace health & safety.
- Experience working with people with ASD and/or learning disabilities.
- Training in Systematic Instruction (TSI) and/or other Supported Employment approaches.
- Knowledge of safeguarding (children and adults).
- Basic knowledge of welfare benefits and how work impacts benefits.
- Relevant qualification (e.g., Level 3 Supporting Teaching & Learning, Advice & Guidance, or similar).
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
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