Employment Coach, Fixed Term until March 31st March 2022 and subject to funding.

The Council

Northumberland County Council operates a huge range of services across one of the largest counties in the UK. Local Government’s ongoing challenges and the diversity of our residents means we have to work smarter. That’s why we want bold, creative and agile thinkers who can help us move forward and innovate.

For further information about working for Northumberland County Council, please click here: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/working

The Service

The service delivers several employment support programmes supporting long term unemployed residents and people impacted by the labour market downturn resulting from the Coronavirus crisis. You will work on one of the service employment programmes which include the DWP Work and Health Programme or the DWP JETS programme.  The successful candidate will be based with the employability team of the Learning and Skills Service, working alongside employability and curriculum programme staff including Employment Coaches, Business Advisers, Tutors and with other Council services supporting residents to take up employment and training opportunities.

 The role

The primary function of the Employment Coach role is to manage a caseload of customers supporting them to move back to the labour market quickly and the role is expected to be both virtual with some face to face delivery. You will deliver an exceptional service to local people helping them to access a coordinated offer of labour market support and a clear and accessible route to employment in both established and growing industries including care, retail, driving, call centres and NHS etc.

• It is expected that you will be able to move away from traditional direct delivery mechanisms to deliver remotely when needed and be innovative and responsive to residents' labour market support needs.
• Will provide jobseekers with a personalised programme of support leading to sustained employment, informed by local labour market needs
• Have an eye for detail and ability to complete accurate and compliant customer paperwork and financial records and be able to use appropriate mechanisms to track and monitor participants, ensuring quality, compliance and data measures are adhered to.
• Be able to demonstrate experience in achieving performance and quality assurance targets in line with contractual needs

We are looking for an individual who has the passion, drive and enthusiasm for making a positive impact to those displaced in the labour market or those who have long term barriers including health conditions.  The successful candidate will have excellent customer service and caseload management skills, a performance-driven approach to meeting targets, ability to work to targets, the ability to work autonomously and as part of a team and will be responsive to new demands with a flexible and can-do attitude.  Ability to build excellent working relationships with NCC colleagues and productive partnerships with external partners including Job Centre Plus is essential.

The service will be coordinated by NCC’s Employability and Skills service and staff will be based at Wansbeck Workspace and will work on an outreach basis across Northumberland and or/virtually.

We are offering:

• A starting salary of £24,982  - (Salary range is £24,982 - £27,041)
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (or other pension scheme)
• A wide range of staff benefits including a competitive annual leave provision
• Flexible working arrangements (subject to meeting GNE programme and business need)

Essential requirements:

• Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
• Understanding of DWP out-of-work benefits and the wider benefits system

For further information about this vacancy, please contact Rachel Druce for an informal discussion.

Contact details: E:  rachel.druce@northumberland.gov.uk  T: 01670 6238292

Further details can be found in the attached job description and person specification here and for guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please click here.

If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to attend an interview please email hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk

Closing date for applications is Midnight on 10 February 2021