Restart Employment Advisor - Thanet in Kent

Do you want to help people step confidently into the world of work? We’re looking for a driven and resilient Restart Employment Advisor to join our team in Margate, supporting learners, job seekers (including prison-based learners), and clients as they prepare for employment, apprenticeships, and sustainable careers. This is a fast-paced, people-focused role for someone who thrives on outcomes and making a real difference.

What you’ll do:

• Coach and prepare learners and job seekers for employment, apprenticeships, and work experience
• Build strong relationships with colleagues, partners, and employers
• Deliver high-quality, end-to-end information, advice and guidance aligned to Matrix and Gatsby Standards
• Induct, assess, and onboard participants, identifying strengths, ambitions, and development needs
• Create and manage action plans (ILRs, PLPs, Digital PLPs) that drive progression
• Deliver engaging one-to-one and group coaching sessions
• Support CV writing, cover letters, and job/apprenticeship applications
• Coach learners in strengths-based recruitment and interview techniques
• Undertake job search activity using online platforms and tools
• Match learners to vacancies and work experience opportunities
• Arrange and prepare learners for interviews to a high standard
• Provide in-work support to help learners sustain employment or apprenticeships
• Track progression outcomes and respond to feedback from learners and employers
• Maintain accurate records using case and performance management systems
• Support job fairs, workshops, and employability events

Who we’re looking for:

• Resilient, self-motivated and target-driven
• Ideally from a recruitment, employability, sales, coaching or advisory background
• Self-employment experience (or experience supporting self-employed individuals) is highly desirable
• Organised, proactive and confident managing a varied caseload
• Committed to safeguarding, compliance, and achieving KPIs

If you’re motivated by impact, thrive in a target-driven environment, and want to help people move forward, we’d love to hear from you.

About Us:

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community. We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity.

Benefits:

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Diversity at Forward Trust:

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness. When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work:

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview. If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding:

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.