Employment and Skills Advisor - Req24464

Fixed Term until 31/03/2025.

Leeds City Council’s Employment and Skills Service are currently looking to recruit an Employment & Skills Advisor who can help deliver the aim to support a healthier, greener and more inclusive economy that works for everyone. 

Connecting people and opportunities, promoting access to jobs, training and careers guidance and supporting employers with their recruitment and Skills needs. Helping to improve the skills and employment prospects for Priority Wards.

We are looking for someone who is experienced, dynamic, inspiring, self-motivated with the ability to engage, support and encourage target groups, and building and maintaining relationships with community organisations and other Council services.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As an Employment & Skills Advisor you will bring to the role:

• Holds a minimum Level 3 IAG qualification or Level 3 AET Qualification 
• Ability to deliver flexible employability support 
• Ability to promote and market programmes/services
• Experience of working with and addressing barriers experienced by customers
• Experience of working in a range of community settings and a wide range of stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes

About the role 

The Employment and Skills Advisor role will provide support via information, advice, guidance and service brokerage which engage a range of identified customer groups and assists them to progress into sustained further learning and/or work opportunities. Supporting the delivery of bespoke training/recruitment activities within the community in conjunction with a range of partner organisations.

Working within the deprived communities in the City building and maintaining relationships with networks, community organisation, key stakeholders and other Council services to promote and the develop the Employment and Service offer.

Supporting the delivery of bespoke training/recruitment activities within these communities in conjunction with a range of partner organisations and supporting a small caseload of customers to help achieve positive outcomes.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Emma Woolford, Employment & Skills Manager. Call 07891 279261 or email emma.woolford@leeds.gov.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Adults and Children's barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period. 

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK  - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

 

Job Description

Job Purpose: To provide support, advice and guidance, and brokerage services to engage a range of identified customer groups and to assist them to progress into sustained further learning and/or work opportunities

Responsibilities: 

• Recruit particular target group customers into contracted learning and Skills and work focused project activity.
• Liaison with professionals from a wide range of organisations in order to maximise community engagement and to transition customers into work and or education.
• Organise and support the delivery of engagement activities in the community.
• Build and maintain networks including: employers, training providers, Jobshops, children’s centres and schools to maximise opportunities for participants.
• Deliver a range of confidential support, information, advice and guidance and advocacy and brokerage of services to individuals and groups.
• Contributing towards the achievement of targets for outcomes into Employment and learning.
• To support the E&S Manager to identify and design new activities to ensure targets are achieved.
• Managing documentation in line with service standards and quality assurance procedures.
• Manage and handle information and data in line with the Council's agreed policies on Information Governance.
• Co-ordinate the LTHT/NHS community.
• Contribute to programme quality and development through steering groups and review panels as appropriate.
• Develop a sound knowledge of local and national policy and initiatives in the IAG, functional skills, employability and Skills sectors. 
• Gather information about local needs to ensure that provision is responsive and co-ordinated and benefits from the input of specialist IAG knowledge. 
• Plan workload and manage own caseload of customers and day to day activities; including managing and assessing risk and personal safety.
• Accurately monitor and evaluate the progress of individual customers, maintaining accurate client records that meet both legal standards and external contract requirements that involve working to targets.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and Skills.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and Equality & Diversity policies of Leeds City Council. 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION 

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills Required

• Ability to achieve targets and positive outcomes for customers.
• Ability to meet service objectives.
• Ability to deliver flexible employability support.
• Ability to promote and market programmes/services.
• Ability to monitor continuous improvement strategies.
• Ability to plan and prioritise individual work in order to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate. 

Knowledge Required

• Significant experience of a range job search techniques.
• Significant experience of the labour market in Leeds, including growth sectors and trends.
• Significant experience of barriers to employment & learning.
• Of the Council’s Inclusive Growth agenda and other key Strategic Plans.
• Of the diversity of cultures in the communities of Leeds.
• Holds a minimum Level 3 IAG qualification and or PTTLS (or equivalent teaching qual).

Experience Required

• Significant experience of caseload management to achieve positive outcomes.
• Significant experience of assessing learner needs and providing appropriate support.
• Significant experience of working proactively with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Significant experience of working in a range of community settings.
• Of preparing and presenting reports.
• Significant experience of working with and addressing barriers experienced by customers.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equality & Diversity Policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct. 

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Skills Required

Ability to speak one or more languages associated with multicultural communities in Leeds (desired not essential).

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