Employment Officer
Ref: VAC-12821 RA
Derry/Strabane Council Area
37.5 hours per week, 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
£22,000 on the scale £20,200 - £24,999
Our Client:
Is an award winning social enterprise – offering services that focus on supporting people into employment, training and volunteering. Through the European Social Fund project that they run, they support people every step of the way on their journey to employment. They offer accredited training to build up skills and confidence as well as work place experience and voluntary placements. Their dedicated staff work with people to help them become job ready and then secure employment.
Main Function:
- As a part of the Verve project team the Employment Officer will provide the highest quality support to our participants to enable them to secure the job they want and keep it.
- The post holder will have a particular focus on securing jobs for people with learning difficulties and autism, while promoting learning and work experience to ensure they achieve their individual goals.
- The Employment Officer will engage effectively with parents, carers and employers in a professional manner to ensure the optimum opportunities and outcomes can be achieved by the participants.
- Project Verve is funded through the European Social Fund.
Mission:
Supporting people with learning difficulties and autism into jobs with a future.
Vision:
A society where people with learning difficulties live, work and socialize as valued citizens.
Main Responsibilities:
Employment Support
- Mentor and support participants throughout their individual journey towards employment, providing person-centered support to help them achieve their goals. This will include sourcing work placements, voluntary jobs and paid employment opportunities.
- Provide group support through Job Clubs to prepare participants for job searching, job applications and interviews.
- Support participants to achieve their learning goals through motivation and encouragement to participate in training.
- Ensure effective induction of participants, carrying out initial and formative assessments and co-creating respective Individual Progression Plans.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with a network of employers to secure employment opportunities for participants. Provide awareness sessions to Employers
- 6Ensure the Group has a visible presence in your geographical area through development of links with local community networks and appropriate stakeholders.
- Develop professional relationships with participant stakeholders, e.g. JBO’s, family, social workers, to ensure participant centred approach.
- Develop strong working relationships with appropriate agencies and organisations who may be beneficial to project Verve.
- Grow the Group brand within the respective geographical area, promoting all services on offer.
Organisational:
- Actively promote Group Training and Employment Services and products.
- Work effectively with the Groups Employment Support Officers, Trainers and other colleagues to provide a full range of support, optimizing positive progression for participants.
- Liaise with appropriate agencies and organisations to recruit potential participants.
- Ensure organisational, team and individual annual KPIs are met.
- Contribute to the promotion of the Groups services through a range of media as required.
- Undertake any training as deemed necessary by Senior Management and to carry out any other duties as deemed appropriate to the post by Senior Management.
Quality and Compliance:
- Comply with organisational, project and legal codes of practice and conduct and attend all mandatory training to ensure compliance.
- Ensure accurate record keeping of participant attendance, retention and progression in compliance with organisational data protection and confidentiality policy.
- Contribute to the company’s self-evaluation and quality improvement planning processes, ensuring continuous improvement in all areas of practice.
- Comply fully with Group's 'Organsiational Approach to Safeguarding' ensuring that knowledge and skills in this area are kept up to date to ensure the safety and well-being of participants.
- This includes the notification to Senior Management of any untoward incident / accident involving either staff or participants, and the recording and reporting of any such incident / accident to the appropriate authorities.
- Proactively identify risks in relation to participant safety and carry out general and individual risk assessments as appropriate, ensuring risk management procedures are followed.
- Ensure the implementation and observance of Health and Safety Regulations.
- Contribute to the monthly activity/financial monitoring returns as outlined by funders.
- Maintain accurate financial records required for expenses and funder requirements.
This job description is not definitive and may be subject to review as the duties and responsibilities determine
Personnel Specification:
Essential:
Minimum of one year’s paid experience of working with either:
- Participants with learning disabilities/difficulties;
Experience assisting individuals into work;
Experience of liaising with employers. - Additionally:
Proficient in the use of the Microsoft Office suite. - Excellent social media, communication and presentation skills.
- Clear understanding and articulation of the principles of supported employment.
- A full current driving licence and access to a car.
- Consideration will be given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants with a disability who cannot hold a licence.
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable - hours are flexible and may involve evening and weekend work as required.
- Minimum level 2 qualification in English and Maths.
Desirable:
- Foundation Diploma in Supported Employment.
- Proven track record of securing employment for people with barriers to learning.
- Experience of building local networks.
- Working experience of government programmes to support people to gain and sustain employment.
Shortlisting will be based on the evidence that you supply on your application to satisfactorily demonstrate how, and to what extent, you meet the above criteria. The shortlisting panel will not make assumptions as to your circumstances, qualifications, and experience.
Please note that employment with this organisation may be subject to a check from the Access NI Service. For positions in regulated activity, a check of the Data Barring Service (DBS) will be required. For further information, please refer to the Access NI Code of Practice at: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/accessni
Benefits:
- 22 days annual leave plus 12 statutory days (pro-rata)
- Health Cash Plan (on successful completion of probationary period)
- Access to confidential Staff Counselling & Financial Advisory Services
- Stakeholder Pension Scheme (5% employer contribution)
- Bike to Work Scheme
- Holiday purchase scheme
- Flexible working initiatives
- Wellbeing initiatives
How to Apply:
Please send your full and up to date CV along with a cover note or email to David/Robert in our Multi-Sector team in order to apply for this role.
Please note at this time, applications can only be accepted from those who already hold legal right to work in Ireland.
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