Job Description

Job Title:Work Experience Mentor

Responsible to:Business Manager – Young Persons Supported Work Experience

Job Summary:

Standguide are looking to recruit several Work Experience Mentors to deliver across North Tyneside, South Tyneside, North Yorkshire, the Humber, Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside.

The successful applicants will deliver a programme of support that involves placing young people into suitable work experience placements. These young people, aged 18-24 will be claimants of Employment Support Allowance - Work Related Activity Group or the equivalent Universal Credit - Limited Capability Work Group, who are likely to have some physical or mental health issue. This activity will be underpinned through one-to-one Action Planning and review meetings to ensure customers are focused on completing their placement.

There will be a heavy focus on matching candidates to work experience placements and providing support to candidates whilst on placement. The work placement will be between 4 and 16 hours per week with a duration of between 4 to 8 weeks. You will be responsible for achieving targets set by your Line Manager to ensure we meet our contractual obligations.

Flexibility in relation to location is essential in order to cover the contract area.

Previous experience of placing harder to help customers into placements would be advantageous.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Marketing the programme to Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches and other referral agencies to ensure you recruit and attach your targeted number of new participants onto the programme each month.
  • Conduct an Initial Diagnostic Assessment with the participant using the Outcome Star to record a baseline of the young person’s levels of confidence, motivation, jobsearch activity, perceived barriers and overall attitude towards work.
  • Implement and follow a detailed SMART action plan with each participant attached to programme, adhering to all of the contract quality and compliance guidelines to achieve 100% accuracy.
  • Match candidates to Work Experience placements of between 4 to 8 weeks, suitable to their needs and barriers.
  • Working directly with employers to set up a suitable Work Placement, explaining the supportive nature of the placement, agreeing the content of the placement, conducting a health and safety assessment to ensure a safe working environment
  • Ensure your participants start and complete their placement, thereby ensuring maximum retention.
  • Support all young people in the workplace, either via telephone for those with less severe barriers or through accompanied visits (up to 2 hours per week) for those with the highest needs.
  • Ensure ‘keep in touch arrangements’ are in place with the young person / employer throughout the placement to check progress and address any additional needs/issues quickly.
  • Conduct a post- placement review with each candidate to measure distance travelled, and produce a post – work experience Exit Report
  • Provide advice to individuals on their jobsearch following the course, building on their employability and IT skills to ensure they are competitive in the job market.
  • Meet contractual targets within specified timelines agreed at your monthly performance review

Candidates must have full access to a vehicle with valid business insurance.

Successful candidates will be subject to references and DBS check.

Other Responsibilities

  • Be conversant and ensure full compliance of all company policies, procedures and statutory requirements with particular reference to Health & Safety (including Safeguarding), The Prevent Strategy, Equality / Diversity, ‘Access for All’, Discipline and Grievance
  • Be prepared to work at other locations / contracts to share good practice and cover absence as necessary
  • Prepare, deliver or participate in any appropriate learning or development programmes or courses as required by the company; this includes any staff meetings
  • To maintain continual professional development
  • To carry out all duties and responsibilities, whether specified above or otherwise, in a manner that will at all times promote and support the company’s objective of achieving continuous quality improvement in all aspects of its business

THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN AGREED BY THE POST HOLDER AS AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST

NAME:………………………………….. SIGNATURE:………………………………

DATE:……………………………

Document Control / Section: / Document:
Job Description – WORK EXPERIENCE MENTOR / Issue No:
V1 / Issue Date:
JUL 2017 / Amended by:
JMG

PERSON SPECIFICATION–WORK EXPERIENCE MENTOR

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / HOW ASSESSED
1. Education & Qualifications /
  • Good general education to level 3 as a minimum
/ Application and Certificates
2.Knowledge & Experience /
  • Knowledge of Jobcentre Plus provisions and the requirements of Matrix and Investors in People
  • Experience of working to and achieving targets.
  • Marketing experience – networking and promotion in a variety of forums
  • Experience of time management – organising work within the district to maximize productivity
  • Experience of mentoring individuals
/
  • Knowledge of local district trends
  • Experience of CRM systems - Maytas, PRaP or any other Government recognised database systems
/ Application and Interview
3. Skills & Abilities /
  • Computer literate, with experience of Word, Excel and using databases
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Analytical skills with the ability to communicate complex information in both written and verbal form
  • Self motivation and self confidence
  • Negotiation skills
/ Application, Presentation, Written Assessment and Interview
4. Personal qualities /
  • Current, full driving license and access to a car 5 days a week
  • A commitment to equality/diversity and experience of delivering strategies in relation to this issue
  • Willingness to travel to other Standguide centres as required
/ Interview and References
Document Control / Section: / Document:
Job Description – WORK EXPERIENCE MENTOR / Issue No:
V1 / Issue Date:
JUL 2017 / Amended by:
JMG