Job title:Building Better Opportunities Advisor / Directorate: Places
Post number: / Division: Planning and Regeneration
Grade:6 / Section/team: City Region, Strategic Housing and Policy
Overall purpose of job:
To provide effective day to day delivery of the Building Better Opportunities programmeworking with clients who are furthest from the labour market, e.g. people with disabilities, mental health problems, 50+, BME, lone parent, etc on a one to one and group basis to assess their needs to enable them to access employment or education and training. For the economically inactive clients to progress them into job search activities, improved access to support services, engagement with their local community and improve their resilience.
Post holders will be expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties, which reasonably correspond to the general character of the post and are commensurate with its level of responsibility.
Main Responsibilities
  1. To establish and maintain relationships with adultsfurthest away from the labour market aged 25+.with a health condition or disabilityand provide careers advice, guidance and support to aid realistic progression.
  2. To develop, implement and review client action plans and case files to identify realistic goals.To monitor and evidence progress against pre-employment and post-employment actions plans through regular reviews.
  3. To establish and maintain relationships with colleagues to provide a cohesive support network for theclients, particularly linking with the Action Station, Health Trainers and the Well Being Hubs To develop coping strategies and effective participation for clients with barriers to progression.
  4. To establish and maintain relationships with referral and support agencies to support the adult clients in the career decision making process.
  5. To plan, organise and facilitate events based on client needs analysis information.
  6. To administer recognised assessment tools, interpreting and feeding back results to adult clients to support their progression in learning and work.
  7. To complete required documentation, data inputting, reports and returns in line with minimum service standards.
  8. To comply with audit and inspection processes to ensure quality standards and continuation of funding.
  9. To keep up to date with local labour market information, training opportunities and funding initiatives.
  10. To maintain and develop own resources, knowledge, skills, competence and professional development.

Knowledge
  • Extensive knowledge of the local labour market
  • Current knowledge of opportunities relating to skills development, training and available funding
  • Knowledge of how to make contact and maintain constructive relationships with a range of agencies
  • Knowledge of specialist local organisations who can provide support to clients
  • Good knowledge of ICT systems
  • Awareness of the Data Protection Act
  • Awareness of lone working practices
  • Understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures
  • Understanding of various disability benefits
Skills
  • Able to analyse data, summarise findings and write action plans
  • Able to research information in a range of formats and present findings clearly to clients
  • Able to carry out benefits calculations to demonstrate “Better off in work” figures
  • Able to develop strategies and styles of working that encourage effective relationships with clients from all levels and abilities
  • GCSE or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths and English
Experience
  • Experience of working with clients from a range of ages and abilities where there is potential for clients to present with major barriers to achieving progression into employment or training,e.g. drug and/or alcohol misuse issues orhealth conditions, 50+, BME, lone parents.
  • Experience of using evaluation and assessment tools and techniques on individuals
  • Experience of presenting ideas clearly and concisely, with content and style appropriate to the audience
  • Experience of motivating individuals to perform well
  • Experience of working with people with mental health issues and disabilities

Creativity and innovation:
The post holder will be responsible for:
.
  • Devising and implementing appropriate techniques to engageclients who meet the programme criteria.
  • Developing appropriate client action plans and training programmes based on needs assessments of individuals or specific client groups
  • Providing impromptu advice for clients on a range of different subjects without prior notice.
  • Achieving consensus of opinion in meetings where there are conflicting priorities and requirements. This will require the post holder to suggest innovative solutions to problems that might arise from these conflicting priorities in order to find a way forward.
  • Reacting to changes in Government, Partners and Council policies/strategies especially the increase of the number of positive outcomes for those participating in the programme.

Contacts and relationships:
  • Members of the public – those unemployed clientsaged 25+. Enquiries and contacts will be ongoing throughout the programme and some contact with clients will be required on a daily basis through a variety of mediums. Some relationships may be contentious requiring support, but will be carried out within operational guidelines.
  • Job Centre Plus (JCP). The post holder will be required to work very closely with JCP staff on a daily basis to identify suitable clients for the Programme and accept referrals. They will discuss client support needs with JCP staff and undertake joint activity where necessary
  • Support Agencies – Regular contact will be required with support agencies on behalf of clients who have specific barriers to employment which need addressing
  • Training Providers – The post holder will need to build relationships with the staff at relevant training providers to ensure that clients are able to access the training they require. This will be done as necessary according to the needs of the clients although it is anticipated that regular contact will be required
  • Internal colleagues and staff – Although they will work on their own for a significant proportion of time, the post holder will need to maintain daily contact with internal staff responsible for the operational and financial management of the programme
  • Business Community – The post holder may need to make infrequent contact with members of the business community to source work experience and job opportunities for clients.

Decision making:
  • The post holder will be required to assess the eligibility of clients and determine the nature and scale of their support needs following an initial needs assessment
  • The post holder will have a good understanding of the range of skills and employment opportunities that exist for this client group and will recommend clients to the most appropriate pathway for their development
  • Specialist knowledge of a range of organisations will be required, and the post holder will need to signpost appropriately to these organisations to meet client needs
  • In some instances, the support needs of the clients will be complex in nature and the post holder will be required to determine if another programme might be better suited to meeting these needs
  • Decision making will be required in terms of assessing the need for individual, focussed support against group interventions or activities which address the needs of a number of clients. The post holder will determine the nature of these activities and deliver them appropriately
Consequences
The consequences of the above decisions will impact on the employability and skills of the client group and as such, could impact on their ability to secure employment, training or access community groups either within the life of the programme or into the future
The above will also impact on the delivery of the programme and the achievement of specified outputs. This in turn could impact on the council’s ability to secure future external funding
Responsibility for resources:
Financial resources:
The post holder will have responsibility for a small £2.5k budget for delivering training and events
Physical resources:
The post holder will have responsibility for a laptop and mobile phone, worth £450, and will need to transport these to various locations across North Lincolnshire when meeting regularly with JCP staff, partner organisations and clients. The post holder will be away from their base for approximately 60% of the time.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work demands:
  • Work will be subject to changing demands and priorities due to the context of work and emerging labour market intelligence
  • The post holder will also need to adapt workload and priorities in response to external influences over which they will have little, or no influence for example changes in government welfare policies and the demands of Job Centre Plus staff
  • Requests for impromptu advice on a number of areas relating to Labour Market Information.
  • Some routine aspects to the job e.g. decision-making cycle
  • Interruptions from staff on a regular basis, either personal visits or telephone calls, over a range of issues
  • Conflicting priorities between different tasks

Physical demands:
The role requires no more than normal physical effort. A minimum amount of lifting is required when taking laptops and files to partner and client meetings.
Working conditions:
Work will normally be undertaken at Council or partner organisation premises. The post holder will be expected to undertake meetings with clients in public places or in clients’ own homes.
Travel across North Lincolnshire will be required.
Work context:
The job involves medium risk to personal safety. The post holder will be expected to undertake lone working with vulnerable adults with a range of needs. They may be required to transport clients to appointments in their own vehicles or meet clients in their own homes.

Position in organisation:
Indicate how many staff the post is directly accountable for:







The post is subject to:
Disclosure of convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exemption) Act 1974 Yes □No□
Political restriction Yes □ No□
Employee:
(signed) / (print) / Date:
Manager: (signed) / (print) / Date:

Policy and Resources Cabinet Member – 19th September 2012, Implemented – 8th October 2012 Page 1 of 6