Employment Specialist

Job Details

Directorate: Chief Executive

Section: Economic Development - Jobs, Enterprise and Training

Location: Swann House

Grade: Level 7

Salary: £31,022 - £33,699 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

These are fixed posts for 12 months.

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that’s where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

[Employer hidden]’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on why work for us

The Role:

We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Employment Specialist to deliver the Department for Work and Pensions’ Connect to Work programme in Stoke-on-Trent.

This voluntary supported employment programme helps people with disabilities, health conditions and complex barriers move into and sustain meaningful employment.

You will provide person centred support using the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), managing your own caseload from vocational profiling through to in work support.

The Jobs, Enterprise and Training (JET) team sits within the Council’s Economic Development service and plays a key role in supporting residents into work while helping businesses access the skills and talent they need to grow.

Working closely with employers, training providers, DWP and community partners, JET delivers a range of employment and skills programmes that contribute to the city’s wider economic growth ambitions.

As part of the broader Economic Development team, you’ll be joining a forward-thinking service focused on creating a stronger, more inclusive local economy for Stoke-on-Trent.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide one to one, person centred employment support Develop SMART action plans with clear employment goals
• Support CV writing, job search, applications and interview preparation
• Deliver high quality Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Build and maintain strong relationships with local employers
• Source vacancies, including hidden opportunities, and negotiate job opportunities
• Support workplace adjustments and job carving where appropriate
• Provide on the job coaching and sustained in work support
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to performance targets
• Work in community venues and employer settings across the city

About You:

• Holds a Level 3 qualification (or equivalent experience) in supported employment or a related field
• Has experience supporting people with disabilities or those facing labour market exclusion
• Understands employment legislation and workplace adjustments
• Has experience of employer engagement and securing paid job outcomes
• Can manage a caseload effectively in a performance driven environment
• Is confident building partnerships with employers, training providers and community organisations
• Can advocate on behalf of clients and negotiate positively
• Demonstrates empathy, resilience and a non judgemental approach
• Is committed to equality, diversity and inclusive employment

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Christopher Wakefield, [contact hidden]

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At [Employer hidden], we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.

Company

About us

[Employer hidden] is a unitary authority employing approximately 4,600 staff who deliver 700 services to more than 260,000 residents. Our city comprises of six towns: Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall. We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. We have undergone significant changes over the last few years. New ways of working have already transformed many service areas and we are determined to continue to develop more innovative approaches to ensure that we can maximise the benefits of transformation.

Our city

Although the 13th largest city in the UK, Stoke-on-Trent is rapidly outstripping a number of parts of the country with our economic growth and recovery.

Stoke-on-Trent is a city with a strong sense of civic pride - we’ve been voted the kindest city in the UK – and a place where you’ll receive a hugely warm welcome. We have a rich and diverse culture, steeped in our prestigious industrial heritage as the celebrated ‘world capital of ceramics’. But we don’t just want to celebrate our proud past – we firmly believe that Stoke-on-Trent’s best years are ahead of it. We are determined to raise aspirations and match them with high-quality education and health provision, as well as improved opportunities to secure fulfilling and well-paid work. Through uniting social and economic opportunities, we are maximising the full power of the city council as a secure and steadfast institution within the city.

Rewards and benefits

When you work for [Employer hidden] you’ll be helping to improve the lives and wellbeing of our residents. We’ll provide you with support, learning opportunities and flexible working options and some amazing benefits including; a competitive salary, generous holidays, an excellent defined local authority benefit pension scheme, annual leave purchase scheme, cycle to work schemes just to name a few. We also have access to lifestyle benefits which offer a wide range of discounts such as family days out, travel, retail and many more.

Our commitment to you

Vibrancy and diversity are two of Stoke-on-Trent’s greatest assets. A city founded on creative endeavour should value and celebrate the multitude of voices, ideas and identities that shape its culture. We are committed to creating a culture which is truly inclusive, where all staff feel valued, listened to, supported and able to do their work to the best of their abilities at all times. And we must ensure that our decisions and policies nurture and empower communities across our city and do not inadvertently disadvantage groups and individuals that we want to help to thrive.

Our approach to Equality and Diversity is an invitation to all our communities to work with and for us so we can continue to improve how we deliver services residents need.

Our employee networks are inclusive, open forums for colleagues with similar lived experiences. They allow staff to meet, support and mentor each other, alongside being a voice for under-represented groups to advise and support the organisation when developing policies and services.

Notes for applicants

When you click 'apply', you will be re-directed to [Employer hidden]'s online application site.

To submit your application, you will need to login to our site (this is a separate login to WM Jobs).

First time applicants will be asked to create a new account.

We would love to hear from you!

Contact details: [contact hidden]