Job Opportunity

Employment Support Officer

Job Description

Halifax Opportunities Trust are now looking for a passionate and enthusiastic team member to engage and support individuals facing multiple complex problems and assist them to move closer to and into sustained employment.

Hours: 15 hours per week
Contract Type: Part-time - fixed term contract until 31st December 2024
Location: Hanson Lane Enterprise Centre
Deadline: Tuesday 2nd July 2024
Salary: £28,135 (actual pro-rata £11,254 actual per annum)

We are looking for someone with:

Experience in managing own caseload in an employability focused environment
Experience of carrying out community engagement
Grade C or above in GCSE English or equivalent
To be able to communicate with a diverse range of communities and individuals
Halifax Opportunities Trust is committed to safer recruitment policies and practices. This includes appropriate DBS (disclosure & barring) checks for all, ensuring references are taken up and adequate training on safeguarding adults.

About the Role

Application Information and How to Apply

Job Description

Reports to:

Lead Employment Advisor

Job Overview:

To engage and support individuals facing multiple complex problems and assist them to move into sustained employment. To manage an agreed caseload of clients, develop and deliver a range of support, and inspire and motivate clients to achieve agreed targets as identified on their Action Plans. Achieve agreed programme job outcome targets and adhere to project compliance requirements.

Responsibility and Duties:

To engage with and support individuals in receipt of long-term welfare benefits to move into employment thereby ensuring targets for the programme, individual goals and job outcomes are being met.
Ensure personal monthly targets and KPIs are achieved and reported to Line Manager in a timely manner.
Through one to one guidance and group-based sessions, support individuals to overcome their barriers to employment including: drug & alcohol misuse, ex-offenders, mild to moderate mental health issues, disability, ethnic minority, NEET and homelessness.
Proactively contact individuals to raise awareness of the programme and inspire and motivate clients to participate and successfully complete Action Plan goals and programme activities.
To complete and maintain all appropriate paper and ICT based Programme records including Needs Assessment and Individual Action Plans and maintain all other documentation relating to programme delivery in accordance with funding and audit requirements.
To agree personalised Individual Action Plans with clients, set out SMART targets and track progress by carrying out regular Action Plan reviews in line with monitoring and quality requirements for the programme.
Work closely with relevant colleagues to meet job output/outcome targets by providing timely information on caseload clients’ employment requirements. Assist in matching current caseload clients to live vacancies.
To ensure service delivery is sensitive to the needs of the diverse communities across Calderdale.
Proactively contact individuals to raise awareness of the programme and inspire and motivate clients to participate and successfully complete Action Plan goals and programme activities.
Ensure that all actions taken adhere to Funder’s and the Trust’s quality and performance requirements.
To understand the local employment market and available training opportunities and assist clients to access those relevant to their identified needs.
Use information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
Uphold, safeguard and promote the organisations values and philosophy relating particularly to ethics, integrity, corporate, social responsibility, equal opportunities and diversity as referenced in the company policy and values standards.
Responsibility to act on any issues of concern in relation to Safeguarding Adults and Children. This requires adhering to and acting on policies and procedures.
To understand Health & Safety issues, and to act appropriately should areas of concern arise, in line with the HOT Health & Safety policy and procedures.
To understand child and adult protection issues, and to act appropriately should areas of concern arise, in line with the HOT safeguarding policy and procedures.

General Responsibilities

Work closely with Sure Start Children’s Centre colleagues, Job Centre Plus, other partners and agencies to identify, engage and support targeted individuals.
In conjunction with colleagues develop marketing initiatives e.g. Open Days, media publicity to promote the services provided.
With the assistance of the partnership’s online job brokerage service, support the participant in all aspects of job search and targeted in-work support.
Uphold and comply with Data Protection and confidentiality standards.
To maintain up-to-date, detailed records, and write reports and letters, as required.
Maintain client database and systems in line with audit & compliance rules.
Effective and efficient use of the Cezanne HR system.
Ensure client’s personal data is kept securely and not disclosed verbally, in writing or otherwise to any unauthorised third party and is only used for the purpose for which it is being held.
Take responsibility for own personal and professional development, in line with agreed annual performance objectives.
Attend and complete actions from regular supervision sessions with line manager.
Adopt a creative and innovative approach towards practice by being open to opportunities for improvements and encouraging staff to make suggestions.
Attend regular staff meetings, training days and other training as required.
Maintain up to date knowledge regarding legislation.
All staff must comply with Halifax Opportunities Trust policies and procedures including Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and Data Protection.
Take responsibility for own personal and professional development, in line with agreed annual performance objectives.
To undertake any other tasks and duties that may be reasonably requested by management.

Person Specification

Experience and Knowledge:

Essential:

Have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the needs of multi-generational workless families/individuals with multiple and complex problems.
Be experienced in delivering one to one guidance to support disadvantaged individuals/families overcome barriers to employment, including; lack of confidence, parenting skills, childcare and behavioural issues, debt, limited basic skills and health issues.
Experience of managing own caseload in a employability focussed, performance orientated environment, meeting deadlines, achieving and often exceeding agreed target outputs and job outcomes.
Experience of consistently devising and documenting personalised and SMART client Action Plans and tracking progress by carrying out regular Action Plan reviews in line with monitoring and quality requirements.
Be experienced in handling difficult and sensitive situations.
Experience of carrying out community engagement and inspiring clients to access and successfully complete programme activities

Desirable:

An understanding of local training opportunities.
Knowledge of the benefit system and legislation.
Experience of delivering DWP/ESF/SPF employability programmes.

Education and Qualifications:

Essential:

‘C’ or above in GCSE English or equivalent
Knowledge of MS Office, Excel and email

Desirable:

NVQ level 3 or above in Information Advice and Guidance

Abilities and Skills

Essential:

Establishes and maintains excellent working relationships.
Ability to communicate with a diverse range of communities and individuals
Ability to advocate for local people, whilst keeping good working relations with service providers
Demonstrates initiative.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Prioritises own work to achieve outcomes.
Works effectively with tight deadlines and under pressure.
Understands the need for and maintains confidentiality at all times.
Awareness of safeguarding issues that might face vulnerable people in the community
Good communication skills, including written skills.
Ability to carry out administrative tasks efficiently and effectively.

Desirable:

Multilingual in community languages

Traits and Characteristics:

Essential:

Innovative and creative approach to tasks.
High level of commitment to finding new ways to improve the lives of local people
Reliable, adaptable, enthusiastic and with a sense of humour.
Team player who contributes well to groups.
Passionate in pursuing organisational objectives.
High level of tact and discretion when dealing with sensitive information
Proactive and able to work under pressure to meet targets.
Able to enthuse and communicate well with clients experiencing complex barriers to employment.
Positive can do, flexible and resilient attitude to meet the varying demands of the role.
Commitment to the promotion of equality and diversity in service provision.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a multi-agency environment.

Desirable:

An understanding of equality and diversity issues within a diverse and multi-cultural environment with a commitment to tackling discriminatory practices

Circumstances:

Essential:

Willingness and ability to work outside normal office hours, including evenings and occasionally at weekends
Fit to carry out all tasks associated with the post.
Willingness to work remotely in the community
Willingness to undertake basic or enhanced DBS check as appropriate.
Must be eligible to work in the UK.

Desirable:

A full UK driving licence and use of car for work.

How to Apply

Closing date for applications is Friday 28^th June 2024.

For an informal discussion regarding the above post please contact Lisa Connelly on 07891831740.

To apply, please view the job description and personal specification and complete the online application form

Privacy Notice

Halifax Opportunities Trust is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018. Halifax Opportunities Trust takes its responsibilities under the Act very seriously.

The information provided by you is collected for the purposes of processing your application for employment against the Job Description and Person Specification. Application forms are used to determine who to interview for the advertised position by way of shortlisting.

If you are successful in your application and are subsequently offered a position with Halifax Opportunities Trust, the data collected will be used to carry out pre-employment checks and ensure your suitability for the position. The data will then be transferred onto your personnel file.

You may withdraw consent at any time to recruitment@regen.org.uk. In addition you have the right to see what information is held about you, to have inaccurate information corrected, to have information removed from our system unless we are required by law or a statutory purpose to keep it and the right to complain to the Data Protection Officer if you feel that the data has not been handled in accordance with the law. Halifax Opportunities Trust Data Protection officer is Malgorzata Ciewiertnia and can be contacted at Privacy@regen.org.uk .

Application forms will be kept for a period of six months for unsuccessful candidates. For successful applicants, the information will be transferred to your personnel file and will be kept for a maximum of the individual’s employment with us plus seven years or as per recommended guidelines for jobs working with children and vulnerable groups, term of employment plus 25 years or until such a time as the data is reviewed.

What makes HOT a

great place to work?

We’re a Real Living Wage employer because we recognise the benefits of paying a decent wage to all our staff.

We are a Mindful Employer which means we take our employees’ wellbeing very seriously and find ways to promote good mental health within the organisation. We offer a dedicated, confidential phone-line support service (Mindful Employer Plus) through which staff can access practical advice and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

We are a Disability Confident committed employer.

The Trust offers a NEST auto-enrolment pension to all qualifying staff.

How we create opportunities

Pay

Perks

progression

People Powered

Purpose Driven

It's people who makes us great

As a charity, our day-to-day is underpinned by doing good. This doesn’t only apply to the 1,700 people we reach each day, it also applies to the 180 people who work at Halifax Opportunities Trust. We like to recognise the good things our employees do, which is why we celebrate when people go above and beyond to bring our values to life, with acknowledgement awards. Furthermore, we’re driven by the following three principles:

Our Values

In our daily endeavours to achieve our goals, we are guided by our values. They reflect our culture, the way we want things to be and our expectations of the people we work with.