At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals on their employability journey through mentoring and tailored guidance.
- Company: Murray’s Initiative, a charity dedicated to reducing substance-related harm.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, duvet days, cycle to work scheme, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements available to fit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while building your skills and experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in employability support or related fields; compassionate and organised.
Based within Murray’s Initiative’s Head Office in North Claremont Street with travel throughout Glasgow City for service delivery.
Starting Salary £24,479 per annum (pro rata). Part-time - 21 hours per week – Fixed term until 31st March 2027. We understand that many will have other commitments outside of work and so flexible working, part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements will be considered for the right candidate.
About Us: Murray’s Initiative (formerly known as Glasgow Council on Alcohol) is an independent Scottish charity that works to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm at both individual and community levels. Established in 1965, Murray’s Initiative adopts a long-term, trauma-informed and asset-based approach to changing the culture around substance use. Its services are built on a person-centred, harm-reduction model, supporting people whether their goal is to reduce consumption or achieve abstinence. Murray’s Initiative offers free, confidential counselling services for people concerned about their own or someone else's drinking. Murray’s Initiative delivers a range of interventions including groupwork and employability support as well as a number of holistic and inclusive services, such as a women’s service for survivors of gender-based violence, young persons peer education service, LGBTQ health and wellbeing support and tailored wellbeing programmes. Murray’s Initiative is also a recognised provider of professional development, offering a comprehensive training portfolio including education aimed at increasing awareness of alcohol use and promoting healthier lifestyles, COSCA Counselling Skills and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. Murray’s Initiative deliver services over 6 days per week and throughout Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, helping people make meaningful, positive change in their lives. The foundation of Murray’s Initiative is our supportive and inclusive culture for all who engage and work with us.
About the Role: The role of the Employability Support Worker is to support participants who are in the earlier stages of their employability journey. The Employability Support Worker will support participants with confidence building and motivation and will prepare participants to work towards training, education and volunteering. The Employability Support Worker will make a real impact to individuals’ day to day lives as they uniquely tailor their personal development, offer emotional and practical support and set realistic goals as part of their journey to employability opportunities. The Employability Support Worker will report to the Service Manager - Employability. This post requires membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for children and/or protected adults. Successful applicants will be required to join the PVG Scheme.
Key Responsibilities of the Employability Support Worker:
- Provide support through a variety of activities including regular telephone contact, face to face meetings, virtual mediums, mentoring, and group employability activities.
- Assist participants to explore their skills, experience and aspirations and look for opportunities to work towards longer term goals, such as supporting participants into training and/or education opportunities.
- Providing quality support services to participants through active planning, monitoring, evaluation and review of their requirements in partnership with them. This includes the formulation of action plans.
- Deliver agreed performance targets by supporting people to develop employability skills and achieve their individual employability goals.
- Formulate action plans to assist participants to remove barriers to gain employability skills and achieve employment goals.
- Meeting contractual compliance and promote the unique, person centred ethos of Murray’s Initiative.
- Prioritise workload to ensure a high quality, person-centred service to all participants.
- Adhere to the implementation of risk management procedures (including child and adult safeguarding protocols) taking personal responsibility for keeping up to date on the requirements of these procedures.
- Undertake any other duties as required by the Service Manager – Employability.
Qualifications and Experience:
- May hold a qualification in Advice and Guidance, or have equivalent learning gained through hands-on practice.
- Strong background in employability support or the voluntary sector, with experience of working directly with people to help them achieve employability goals.
- Demonstrable experience of providing person-centred support to individuals within recovery, community justice, mental health, or homelessness services.
- Delivery of practical employability support, both one-to-one and in groups.
Skills and Competencies:
- Be friendly, compassionate and naturally able to build relationships with individuals.
- Comfortable working one-to-one with individuals who may be in recovery, or who have experience of the criminal justice system, mental health challenges or homelessness.
- Understand the barriers people can face when accessing work and be able to offer practical, empathetic support that builds confidence and motivation.
- Organised and outcomes-focused, with experience of helping people progress into training, volunteering or employment.
- Confident using digital technology as part of your day-to-day work.
- Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage with participants and build good relationships.
- Planning, organisation, and co-ordination skills.
- Team working and networking skills.
- Ability to work on own initiative and remotely from line management.
- Commitment to working in line with Murray’s Initiatives values of collaboration, respect and empathy.
Why Join Us?
- Your work will contribute to make a real difference to people’s lives.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Very generous annual leave entitlement: full time employees start with an annual leave entitlement of 37 days (inclusive of 12 bank holidays) which increases with length of service.
- Duvet days where employees may take time off at short notice.
- Death in service policy.
- Cycle to work scheme where employees can save money on a new bike and spread the cost.
- And much more!
- Opportunities for continuous learning and career development.
- A supportive and inclusive work environment where your contributions are valued.
Application Process:
Interested candidates are invited to apply by clicking the Apply button now. Closing date for applications: Friday 18th September at 5pm. Shortlisting: Monday 21st September, 2026. Date of interviews: Thursday 1st October and Friday 2nd October 2026. Start date: Monday 2nd November, 2026.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Murray’s Initiative is an Equal Opportunities Organisation. We are committed to treating all workers and job applicants fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital / civil partnership status, age, race, disability or gender identity and expression or any other personal characteristic.
Employability Support Worker - PSP in Glasgow employer: Murray's Initiative
Murray’s Initiative is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values the contributions of every team member. With a focus on employee growth, we provide extensive training opportunities and a generous benefits package, including 37 days of annual leave and flexible working arrangements to accommodate personal commitments. Working in our North Claremont Street office, you will play a vital role in making a meaningful impact on individuals' lives throughout Glasgow, all while being part of a dedicated team committed to reducing harm and promoting recovery.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Employability Support Worker - PSP in Glasgow
✨Get Involved in Community Events
Dive headfirst into community events and social work fairs in your area. These are great opportunities to connect with potential employers like Murray's Initiative, grab some insider info, and showcase your passion for social work. Plus, meeting people face-to-face can really make you stand out!
✨Join Social Work Networks
Tap into social work networks and online communities, like local charities and organisations. Engaging in discussions or volunteering can help you build a strong reputation and could lead to part-time roles just like the one at Murray's Initiative. The connections you make could be the key to landing your next opportunity!
✨Make Your Passion Shine
When approaching part-time roles, be sure to highlight your passion for social issues in conversations and informal chats. Bring your experiences to life through storytelling – this can resonate well with organisations looking for someone who genuinely cares about making a difference!
✨Keep an Eye on Local Job Boards
Part-time roles in social work might not always be advertised in the usual places. Keep checking local job boards or community centres for openings, and don't hesitate to apply directly through Murray's Initiative's website – we love seeing proactive candidates who take the initiative!
We think you need these skills to ace Employability Support Worker - PSP in Glasgow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let your passion for social work shine through. Talk about why you're drawn to this field and how you've been involved in community service or support roles. We want to see your commitment and the heart you bring to the table!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to spotlight any hands-on experience you have! Whether it's internships, volunteering, or relevant coursework, detail how your past experiences relate to the role at Murray's Initiative. We love seeing candidates who have practical skills and a real understanding of social issues.
Certificates and Training Matter:If you've got any relevant certifications or training specific to social work (like safeguarding training or counselling qualifications), don’t forget to include these in your CV! These details can set you apart and show us you’re serious about your professional development.
Be Flexible with Your Availability:Since this is a part-time role, explain your availability clearly in your application. Let us know when you can start and how many hours you’re looking to work. Being upfront about your schedule will help us see how you fit into the team at Murray's Initiative.
How to prepare for a job interview at Murray's Initiative
✨Show Your Passion for Helping Others
In social work, it's all about your commitment to making a difference. Be ready to share specific experiences that highlight your passion for helping others, whether that's through volunteering, placements, or personal stories. We want to see that genuine drive during your chat with Murray's Initiative.
✨Know Your Social Work Theories
You might be quizzed on social work theories or models that inform your practice, like the person-in-environment approach. Brush up on these concepts and be prepared to discuss how you'd apply them in a practical setting. This could be a game changer in your interview for a Employability Support Worker - PSP at Murray's Initiative.
✨Flexibility and Availability are Key
As you're going for a part-time role, highlight your flexibility and how it would fit with the organisation's needs. Have examples ready that demonstrate your availability for various shifts or urgent situations—that's just gold for a social work role.
✨Prepare for a Situation-Based Discussion
Expect scenario-based questions where you'll need to demonstrate how you'd handle specific situations with clients or stakeholders. Think of a couple of real-life scenarios you've encountered and articulate your thought process. This will show Murray's Initiative that you're ready to hit the ground running in the Employability Support Worker - PSP role.