At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing barriers to employment and guide them towards meaningful job opportunities.
- Company: Join a passionate team dedicated to changing lives through employment in Dorset.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, health perks, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic community-based role with extensive travel and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community by helping others achieve their career goals.
- Qualifications: Experience in support roles and strong communication skills are essential.
Location: Sherborne, Blandford Forum, Bridport and Lyme Regis (Covering North and West Dorset with regular community-based outreach)
Salary: £27,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Role Overview:
We are recruiting passionate and motivated Employment Specialists / Work Coaches to join the new Connect to Work programme across Dorset. This exciting national initiative, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, supports individuals facing significant barriers to employment, including people with disabilities, autism, learning disabilities and long-term health conditions. As an Employment Specialist / Work Coach, you will provide intensive, person-centred support to help individuals move towards, secure and sustain meaningful employment. Working within either the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model or the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), you will guide participants through every stage of their employment journey, from vocational profiling and action planning through to job placement and sustained in-work support. This is a highly rewarding community-based role, ideal for someone who is passionate about changing lives through employment and helping people achieve their full potential.
Key Responsibilities:
- Case Management & Participant Support
- Manage an active caseload of approximately 20-25 participants
- Build trusted relationships with individuals motivated to move into employment
- Complete vocational profiles to identify skills, aspirations and employment goals
- Develop personalised action plans to support progression into work
- Deliver one-to-one support tailored to individual needs and circumstances
- Support participants throughout their employment journey, from referral through to sustained employment
- Employment & Job Search Support:
- Provide practical employability support including:
- CV development
- Job searching
- Application support
- Interview preparation
- Career planning
- Identify and address employment barriers, including health conditions, confidence, skills gaps and workplace challenges
- Support participants with disclosure decisions, workplace adjustments and benefits-related discussions
- Promote sustainable employment outcomes and long-term career progression
- Employer Engagement:
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local employers
- Proactively identify suitable employment opportunities aligned to participant goals
- Undertake reverse marketing and job matching activities
- Conduct job analysis and support employers with recruitment solutions
- Complete a minimum of meaningful employer engagement activities each month
- Support employers to implement workplace adjustments and inclusive employment practices
- Community & Partnership Working:
- Spend the majority of working time in community settings, supporting participants where they are most comfortable
- Develop strong relationships with:
- Health and wellbeing services
- Local authorities
- Community organisations
- Education and training providers
- Employers
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to maximise outcomes
- Promote Connect to Work services throughout the local community
- Performance, Compliance & Quality
- Achieve targets relating to:
- Programme starts
- Job entries
- Job sustainment
- Employer engagement
- Fidelity measures
- Maintain accurate records and case notes using internal systems
- Ensure compliance with programme requirements and quality standards
- Contribute to service development and continuous improvement activities
- Adhere to safeguarding, data protection and organisational policies
Essential Criteria:
- Experience working in a target-driven support, employability, health, social care or community setting
- Experience building relationships and supporting individuals on a one-to-one basis
- Proven ability to manage a caseload and prioritise workload effectively
- Strong communication, motivational and coaching skills
- Ability to engage individuals facing multiple barriers to employment
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement abilities
- Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Willingness to travel extensively throughout the local area
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience supporting disabled, neurodivergent or vulnerable individuals
- Experience within:
- IPS
- Supported Employment
- Employability Services
- Welfare-to-Work
- Community Support
- Social Care
- Mental Health Services
- Level 3 Advice & Guidance qualification
- Level 3 Employability qualification
- Knowledge of employment-related benefits and support services
- Understanding of the Supported Employment model
- Experience supporting individuals into or within employment
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- Company pension scheme
- Health and wellbeing programme
- Employee discounts
- Free fitness classes
- Free flu vaccinations
- Company events and social activities
- Referral bonus scheme
- Sick pay
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Opportunity to gain specialist IPS and Supported Employment qualifications
Additional Information:
- Community-based role covering North and West Dorset
- Approximately 65% of time spent in community locations supporting participants and employers
- Daily travel required across the contract area
- Occasional overnight stays may be required for training and meetings
- Enhanced DBS check required
- Full training provided in IPS and SEQF delivery models
How to Apply:
For more information or to apply for the Employment Specialist / Work Coach role, please contact: Robert Rowe
C2W Employment Specialist in Dorchester employer: Trigon Recruitment Ltd
As a Justice English Tutor, you will be part of a dedicated team committed to making a positive impact on the lives of prison-based learners. Our supportive work culture fosters professional development and offers unique opportunities for growth within the education sector, all while contributing to meaningful rehabilitation efforts. Located in a dynamic environment, we provide competitive benefits and a chance to truly make a difference in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land C2W Employment Specialist in Dorchester
✨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 Trigon Recruitment Ltd.
✨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 Trigon Recruitment Ltd!
✨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 Trigon Recruitment Ltd, 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 Trigon Recruitment Ltd 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 C2W Employment Specialist in Dorchester
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 Trigon Recruitment Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Trigon Recruitment Ltd! 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 Trigon Recruitment Ltd
✨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.
