Job Description:

Position: Community Employment Specialist

Contract: Fixed term until 30th June 2018

Salary: £21,711 - £25,623per annum (pro rata)

Hours:24 hours per week

Structure:

TheCommunity Employment Specialist is a unique opportunity for a disabled person working in collaboration with WECIL and DWP to provide training and support to disabled people to source and sustain employment with a focus on peer support.

Job purpose

To provide a new dynamic to employment support and offer advice on different approaches to overcome barriers to employment, as well as suggesting alternative local support. The Community Employment Specialist (CES) will be able to provide valuable lived experience of being a disabled person and an understanding of the issues unemployed disabled people face. The CES will deliver one to one support and Employability training for groups of disabled people and work alongside the existing CES to do so.

The CES role will also have an opportunity to share their knowledge on disability with Jobcentre Plus staff and provide insight into how disability can affect employment.

Requirements of the Role:

  • Sourcing referrals of disabled people from Jobcentre Plus sites across Bristol. Includes organising and delivering Group Information Sessions for potential course candidates.
  • Maintaining relationships with Jobcentre Plus staff to ensure quality of referrals
  • To facilitate and support regular peer support groups for disabled people seeking or who have sourced employment in order to build community support for one another.
  • The CES is Delivering employability training to groups of disabled people and meeting outputs and outcomes agreed with DWP and WECIL
  • Providing advice to unemployed disabled people on approaches to overcome barriers to employment and suggest alternative local support.
  • Support J2E participants to identify personal barriers, manage health conditions and a route to overcome barriers. Provide a peer challenge when necessary and provide an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their abilities and think twice about what is achievable.
  • Informing and sharing their knowledge with Jobcentre Plus staff to help build understanding of the barriers disabled people face in sourcing and sustaining employment.
  • Promoting Journey to Employment and other WECIL services within the local disabled community.
  • Ensuring course capacity and retention targets are met and outcomes achieved for the attendees around employment, volunteering, work placements and training.
  • Working alongside the existing CES in a job share capacity to ensure all KPI’s and objectives are met and a joined up service is delivered to the J2E participants and DWP.
  • Meeting monthly quality and quantity reporting requirements
  • Working with local employers to facilitate work trials and work placements to enable participants to gain work experience and promote the benefits of employing disabled people, particularly utilising Access to Work.
  • Helping to identify access needs and work with the employer and individual to try to ensure appropriate adjustments are put in place.
  • Maintaining contact with individuals whilst in employment and supporting them to develop in their role if required.

Person Specification

Essential

  • Has a lived experience of disability and an understanding of the barriers disabled people face in gaining employment.
  • A can do attitude and is willing to learn and meet challenges with a solution focussed approach
  • Experience of designing and delivering group training session that meet outcomes and meet a variety of learning styles
  • A good communicator skilled in making links, building relationships and engaging with a wide range of audiences.
  • Has a flexible approach to work and has the ability to work in different environments and adapt working styles.
  • Has excellent planning skills and can deliver a project to time and within budget.
  • Takes a person-centred approach to helping people achieve goals and aspirations
  • Strong admin and IT skills including Excel and internal databases.

Desirable

  • IAG or training qualification
  • Full clean drivers licence and access to a vehicle

General WECIL responsibilities

  • Uphold WECIL’s Equal Opportunities Policies and ensure effective implementation in all relevant aspects of service delivery and staffing.
  • Act at all times within WECIL’s Rules, Policies, Procedures, Standing Orders and Financial Regulations and any other statutory requirements
  • Observe WECIL’s Code of Conduct at all times and advise any suspected breaches to the Line Manager.
  • To work to the WECIL Charter and support other staff members to do so.
  • To undertake training as required.
  • To attend staff and team meetings as required.
  • Observe health and safety procedures in the workplace to ensure personal safety and to safeguard the interests and safety of colleagues, customers and visitors.
  • Strong admin and IT skills including Excel and internal databases.