At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support a team of Job Coaches to empower students with SEND towards meaningful employment.
- Company: Join Orchard Hill College, an Outstanding Specialist College transforming lives across London and Surrey.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, pension schemes, flexible working, and extensive employee wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team dedicated to inclusivity and student success.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience with SEND and proven leadership skills are essential for this impactful role.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
Working Pattern: Term-Time Plus 3 weeks in the holidays. Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, April 2025) offering life-changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We operate vibrant community-based College Centres across London and Surrey, where committed specialist teams deliver a variety of programmes designed to meet the diverse needs of our students. Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual, and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community.
We are currently seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Job Coach to join our team at Orchard Hill College. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in leading and developing our employability provision, helping young people and adults with SEND overcome barriers to learning and achieve meaningful employment outcomes. As a Senior Job Coach, you will provide operational leadership to the Job Coach team, ensuring high-quality, consistent employability support across all College sites. You will oversee work placements, employer partnerships, quality assurance processes, and staff development, while maintaining a small caseload of students to model excellent practice. Through your work, you will make a significant contribution to improving student progression, independence, and long-term employment opportunities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, supervise, coach and support Job Coaches, ensuring high standards of performance and professional practice.
- Oversee and quality assure employability provision, including work placements, workplace coaching, risk assessments, student progress records, and compliance documentation.
- Coordinate referrals, caseload allocation, and Job Coach deployment to ensure timely and effective support for students.
- Maintain a targeted student caseload, supporting learners with job searching, CV development, interview preparation, work placements, and progression into employment.
- Develop and strengthen employer partnerships, creating sustainable work placement and employment opportunities while promoting inclusive employment practices.
Key Requirements
- Significant experience supporting individuals with SEND, mental health challenges, complex needs, or other barriers to learning into work placements or employment.
- Proven experience supervising, line managing, coaching, or developing staff, including conducting appraisals and performance reviews.
- Demonstrable experience quality assuring employability delivery, work-based learning programmes, and compliance processes.
- Strong experience developing employer relationships, delivering training, and implementing the Supported Employment model to achieve positive learner outcomes.
Orchard Hill College is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
- Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
- Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments.
- Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more).
- Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).
The College is an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013 which is home to 13 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our vacancies page. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHC and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
Closing Date: 3rd September 2026. Interviews will take place on: 14th September 2026. To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.
Senior Job Coach employer: Orchard Hill College
Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT) is an exceptional employer dedicated to supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises professional development and employee well-being. With a strong commitment to high-quality provision and specialist expertise, OHCAT provides unique opportunities for growth and leadership in the education sector, making it an ideal place for those passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable young people across London, Surrey, Sussex, and Berkshire.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Job Coach
✨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 Orchard Hill College.
✨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 Orchard Hill College!
✨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 Orchard Hill College, 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 Orchard Hill College 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 Senior Job Coach
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 Orchard Hill College:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Orchard Hill College! 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 Orchard Hill College
✨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.
