BACKGROUND
Just Straight Talk was established in October 2012. JST provides advice and support to unemployed and economically inactive individuals seeking employment, training opportunities, education, improved housing, and enhanced health and well-being.
The post-holder must complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check, as the Project specifically targets legally defined vulnerable adults.
Just Straight Talk promotes integrity and good conduct in all employment matters. We will ensure all applicants are treated fairly, consistently, and impartially for all posts. JST will seek to avoid discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief and pregnancy or maternity throughout every stage of the recruitment process.
Overview
We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Coach to join our dynamic team. This new project, Future Ready, will support people aged 19 and above in Dudley by providing them with the necessary support and guidance to help achieve their life goals. It will also build their confidence, assist with job searching, offer benefit advice, and refer them to training, ultimately progressing them towards employment and providing ongoing support to sustain their employment. For this project, JST will work with 60 individuals over a period of 7 months.
The post holder will be responsible for engaging those 19+ in Dudley to provide assessment and specialist employment advice, support, and interventions. They will manage a targeted caseload of individuals and assess the barriers to employment they experience, including a lack of work experience, no CV, low confidence, no qualifications, homelessness, and caring responsibilities, among others.
Job Context
This is a UK-SPF employment support project for eligible adults aged 19+ within Dudley, funded by the UK Government, with Dudley MBC as the lead body.
* Participants must be over 19 years of age
* Participants must have the right to work in the UK.
Key Tasks
The post holder will operate and work flexibly to ensure the project delivers its outcomes for people in Dudley. The role will include:
Development and Delivery
· To manage a caseload of clients who have experienced common barriers to long-term unemployment and/or education
· Working with people 19+ who are NEET to source, support and help them access employment, training and educational opportunities
· Help people aged 19+ by building a vocational assessment based on their current barriers, needs and goals and additional support that may be needed
· Supporting people in overcoming their barriers to reaching their life potential and working with organisations across Dudley and wider to provide joint support for that individual
· To provide holistic support for barriers to employment
· Complete initial assessments with people to identify any support needs required, and if needs are identified, move to creating a personalised goals plan
· Use innovative approaches to engaging and targeting potential participants to ensure the project targets people who may usually be hidden from services
· To provide all information/documentation requested by Dudley MBC for activities undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness and success of Future Ready, including an impact report at the end of the project
· Ensure all online records are accurate and in line with requirements, including data confidentiality, details of registration, engagement, involvement, delivery undertaken, and relevant outcomes achieved
· Provide tailored employability sessions, support building a CV, job application and interview techniques, along with support to increase people's confidence, self-esteem and support with health or disability disclosure techniques
· Supporting people, including handholding to meetings, enrolments and interviews to access education, training and volunteering support
· Referral and signposting to other agencies to support the individual's support needs
· Capture and share evidence of individual progress, utilising various innovative and creative methods such as photography, video, diaries, case studies, and recordings.
· Complete required documentation and electronic systems, including registration forms, follow-up outcomes and evaluations to a high standard and within Funders' contractual and timescales
· Work effectively with the Project Manager to take direction regarding the JST services about the needs and gaps required across the project demographics, education & employability, welfare rights, housing and socio-economic support, mental well-being, activities that promote physical health and social connection and community
· Develop effective working relationships with partners & stakeholders regularly to share best practices
· Attend team meetings to aid regular communication
· Ensure positive actions to safeguard Adults & Young People you come into contact with, following policies and procedures around the safeguarding of those individuals
· Undertake advocacy support, including attending and contributing to multi-agency meetings
· Maintain good working relationships with all delivery/service providers
· Complete risk assessments if required, ensuring information is recorded regularly, reviewed and updated accordingly
· Attend all mandatory training and development sessions
· Work flexibly, including geographically across the partnership
· Adhere to lone working policies and procedures
Other
· Promoting and championing JST Organisation and its other projects
· Providing narrative reports and case studies to leads by deadlines
· Undertaking regular supervision with the Project Manager
· Actively participate in relevant staff training and development opportunities
· Attend and actively contribute to team meetings, including the sharing of best practices
· Adhere to and implement all relevant policies and procedures
· To undertake out-of-hours working as required
· Other activities as required for the success of the JST Project
· Other duties commensurate with the post
· Experience in interfacing with a range of different support agencies
· Car driver with access to own vehicle
· Working within a charity or social enterprise (desirable)
· Good Leadership skills and experience of working with volunteers with the ability to help others develop their leadership skills
· Networking and influencing skills to find additional resources for the community
· Experience in problem-solving to find solutions that work for a variety of people
Person Specification
All candidates will be considered on their ability to meet the requirements of this person specification.
Essential Experience, Knowledge & Skills
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively guide and support
· Experience of working with people to address barriers to employment and supporting with employability skills
· Good facilitation and presentation skills
· Good negotiation skills and persuasive skills
· An ability to initiate and develop relationships with partners, including local clinicians, employers and JCP staff
· An ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
· Good report-writing skills
· Good numeracy and information management skills
· Intermediate IT skills
· Working with NEETs, carers and lone parents who also experience complex barriers to starting, succeeding or staying in work. Vocational assessment and profiling skills.
· Safeguarding - Display an awareness, understanding and commitment to protecting and safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults.
· Excellent interpersonal skills - approachable, responsive, ability to build trust and rapport with people, ability to facilitate
· Effective written and verbal communication skills - an excellent communicator with active listening skills
· Be able to develop effective working relationships.
· Ability to think creatively and generate ideas and solutions
· Good organisational skills
· Knowledge of the 2010 Equality Act
· Experience in partnership negotiation and liaison work with other agencies to facilitate progression into work or retain it
· Experience of working on own initiative as well as being an effective team member
· Able to maintain a database and produce reports when required, paying attention to detail
· Ability to accurately record information in systems and follow processes
· Ability to adapt communication to meet the needs of a range of diverse learners, including those living with learning disabilities and other physical, sensory and mental impairments
Qualifications/ training
· Minimum of GCSEs grade 4 in English and Maths or equivalent.
· Evidence of continual professional development
· Information, Advice and Guidance qualification Level 4.
Personal qualities, attributes and behaviours
· Advanced interpersonal skills
· Proactive and positive with a 'can-do' attitude
· Ability to encourage, motivate and inspire people
· Commitment to confidentiality
· Demonstrate and promote social inclusion
· Non-judgemental and able to demonstrate respect for and understanding of people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, cultures and faith
· Be compassionate, empathetic and caring to everyone
· Enable yourself and others to act with confidence and authority to achieve the best outcome for everyone
· Work with others. Be inclusive by understanding and valuing others to achieve the best results for everyone and everything we do.
· Act with transparency and honesty; respect and value others to do the right thing at the right time for everyone.
Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 7 months
Pay: From £25,644.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
Work Location: In person