At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to help vulnerable residents access employment opportunities and improve their earning potential.
- Company: Milton Keynes City Council, dedicated to making a real difference in the community.
- Benefits: 28 days annual leave, excellent pension, family-friendly policies, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to tackling social inequalities and creating opportunities for all.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while developing your leadership skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Relevant degree and at least two years of experience in employment support or guidance.
The predicted salary is between 34650 - 42350 £ per year.
Job Introduction
We're recruiting a Team Leader - Employment Support Services to lead and develop a dedicated service that helps some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents across Milton Keynes access employment opportunities, improve their earning potential and achieve positive outcomes.
At Milton Keynes City Council, we provide more than 200 services that make a real difference to local people and communities.
Our priorities include building a diverse and inclusive economy, tackling social inequalities and creating opportunities for residents to thrive.
As Team Leader, you'll lead a team delivering employment advice, guidance and support services, ensuring high quality outcomes, strong performance and excellent customer experiences.
You’ll play a key role in developing local employment pathways, managing funding requirements, working with partners and ensuring residents receive the support they need to move towards sustainable employment.
We are dedicated, respectful and collaborative and we are looking for a leader who shares these values and wants to make a meaningful difference across our city.
Site-Based role
This is a Site-Based role, and you'll be expected to work from the designated workplace.
Interviews for this role will be held on 11th September 2026
At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day.
We're dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.
- Find out more about working with us here: www. mkcounciljobs. org. uk
- Main Responsibility
- Design, develop and manage employment support services that create effective pathways into paid employment for residents who face barriers to work.
- Lead, support and develop a team delivering employment advice, guidance and support services, ensuring professional standards and performance targets are achieved.
- Drive the delivery of employment support strategies and programmes, helping residents improve their employment prospects and earning potential.
- Monitor performance, quality standards and funding requirements to ensure services achieve agreed outcomes and funding targets.
- Manage budgets responsibly, maximise income opportunities and ensure compliance with funding and audit requirements.
- Build strong relationships with partners and stakeholders, using data and performance information to improve services and support informed decision-making.
- Ensure services continue to meet quality standards, including inspection and information, advice and guidance requirements.
- The Ideal Candidate
- You hold a relevant degree, or equivalent level qualification and experience, together with at least two years' frontline careers or information, advice and guidance experience.
- With a strong understanding of employment support and adult guidance services, you can help shape services that improve outcomes for residents.
- Experienced in leading and developing teams, you know how to motivate colleagues, plan resources effectively and achieve high standards of performance.
- Confident in managing budgets and funding requirements, you can balance financial responsibilities with service delivery priorities.
- A skilled communicator, you can produce clear reports, analyse data and use evidence to drive improvements and informed decision-making.
- Thriving in a fast-paced environment, you can prioritise competing demands, solve problems creatively and respond positively to challenges.
- Committed to our values, you work in a dedicated, respectful and collaborative way and build positive relationships with colleagues, partners and residents.
- Safer Recruitment
Safer Recruitment applies to this role.
This means that, before any appointment is confirmed, we'll carry out a range of pre-employment checks to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
These checks may include identity verification, where candidates will be required to provide original identification documents, including a full birth certificate, employment history and reference checks, qualification checks and an
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check , (unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service). check where required.
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years.
In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here
Working at the Council | Milton Keynes
Roles are either 'site based' or 'home based'.
Site based roles are mainly based at the workplace, with the option to work from home for up to two days a week, depending on service needs.
Home based roles are mainly based at home, with the expectation of attending the workplace up to one day a week.
The working arrangement for each role is set by the manager, based on service requirements.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas.
Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness.
However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We're very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve.
Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you'd like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet
What makes us Milton Keynes City Council, see attached.
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Team Leader - Employment Support Service in Milton Keynes employer: Milton Keynes City Council
Milton Keynes City Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community through its Family Centre services. With a strong focus on collaboration and respect, employees are empowered to lead initiatives that support families and children, ensuring they receive vital early help. The work culture fosters professional growth and development, providing opportunities to engage with diverse community partners and make a lasting difference in the lives of residents across Milton Keynes.
Contact Details:
Milton Keynes City Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Leader - Employment Support Service in Milton Keynes
✨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 Milton Keynes City Council.
✨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 Milton Keynes City Council!
✨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 Milton Keynes City Council, 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 Milton Keynes City Council 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 Team Leader - Employment Support Service in Milton Keynes
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 Milton Keynes City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Milton Keynes City Council! 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 Milton Keynes City Council
✨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.
