Careers Coach in Southend-on-Sea

Working Arrangement: Office-based, with travel between locations and occasional employer visits.

The Role

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Careers Coach to support 18 -24 year old young people who have been claiming Universal Credit for 18 months or more through the Jobs Guarantee programme.

The programme provides participants with access to a fully subsidised, six-month paid work placement of up to 25 hours per week, helping them gain valuable experience and move closer to sustainable employment.

As a Careers Coach, you will provide tailored one-to-one and group support, helping participants identify their strengths, build confidence and develop the skills needed to secure employment. You will also support access to relevant education and training opportunities, while building relationships with local employers, referral partners and community organisations to create positive outcomes.

This is an office-based role covering Basildon, Grays and Southend, with a structured rota provided in advance to confirm your working location each day. Occasional travel to meet employers and attend community events will also be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess participants' individual needs, skills, strengths and employment aspirations to identify suitable pathways into work.
• Provide tailored careers guidance, coaching and practical support to help participants overcome barriers to employment.
• Support participants with CV writing, job searching, application forms and interview preparation.
• Identify appropriate training, education, work placements and volunteering opportunities to enhance participants' employability.
• Deliver individual coaching sessions, group training courses and employability workshops.
• Maximise available participant funding to support access to relevant training and employment opportunities.
• Undertake community outreach activities, including delivering sessions, organising events and attending local job fairs to promote the programme and generate referrals.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with referral partners, including Jobcentre Plus (JCP) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
• Engage with local employers, training providers and other stakeholders to identify and secure suitable opportunities for participants.
• Monitor participant progress, maintain accurate records and work towards achieving individual and programme performance targets.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Experience working in a customer-facing, target-driven environment, such as customer service, hospitality, social care, recruitment or sales.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, with the ability to build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and manage a varied workload.
• The ability to motivate, coach and support individuals to overcome barriers, build confidence and achieve their employment goals.
• Experience delivering one-to-one support, training or group workshops.
• A minimum of two A-Levels or an equivalent Level 3 Diploma.
• GCSE English Language at Grade B or above, or an equivalent Level 2 qualification.
• The ability to use technology effectively and work towards performance targets.
• A willingness to travel locally and access to your own vehicle.

Experience or knowledge of employability services, careers guidance, recruitment, supporting disadvantaged groups, employer engagement or the welfare benefits system would be beneficial.

Relevant qualifications in Advice and Guidance, Education and Training, Social Work or related subjects, as well as additional community languages, would also be advantageous.

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