Job title: Employment & Skills Advisor - 2 posts
Salary: SO2 £37,280 - £39,152
Hours: 37
Contract: Full Time Fixed Term until 31st July 2028
Location: Merrion House, Leeds
Are you passionate about improving people’s lives and making a difference in local communities? If so, we’d love to hear from you!
We are seeking a motivated and professional individual to support our work across the city, focussing on our most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. You will work closely with key stakeholders and partners to support our learners into further learning, volunteering and or employability, having a strong focus of improving the mental health and wellbeing of our learners. You will be supporting the Inclusive Growth Strategy and helping Leeds to achieve its Economic Vision.
This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact whilst working within a supportive and forward-thinking team.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Building strong relationships with community groups, LCC services and local partners
- Engaging with learners, teachers, community groups and stakeholders to gather feedback and foster collaboration
- Analysing data and producing clear, structured reports to understand priorities, inform service planning and decision making
- Supporting the delivery and impact of the Adult Skills Fund
What We’re Looking For:
- A ‘can do’ attitude
- Experience of working with diverse communities
- Experience in community engagement
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong analytical and report writing skills
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, competing priorities and meet deadlines
- Ability to be adaptable and flexible
- A proactive, collaborative solution focussed approach
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a team that values inclusion, innovation and impact
- Opportunities for professional development and training
- Flexible working arrangements
- Make a real difference to the lives of local people in Leeds
About you
As an Employment & Skills Advisor, you will:
- Hold a minimum Level 3 IAG qualification
- Have the ability to deliver flexible employability and learning support
- Have significant knowledge of a range of job search techniques and the barriers to accessing employment & learning
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 guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Alison Fenton, Employment & Skills Manger on 07891271900 or email alison.fenton@leeds.gov.uk.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, 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, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose To provide support, information, advice and guidance, and brokerage services to engage a range of identified groups and to assist them to progress into sustained further learning and/or work opportunities.
Responsibilities
- Recruit target groups into contracted learning and skills and work focused project activity
- Liaise with professionals from a wide range of organisations, partners and stakeholders in order to maximise community engagement and to transition learners into work and or further learning
- Support the Employment & Skills Manager in maintaining The matrix standard by ensuring delivery of high-quality information, advice and guidance (IAG) services
- Organise and support the delivery of engagement activities in the community
- Build and maintain networks including: employers, VCFS, 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
- Contribute towards the service achievement of targets for outcomes into employment and learning
- Support the E & S Manager to identify and design new activities to ensure targets and outcomes are achieved
- Manage 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 and Data Protection
- Contribute to programme quality and development through steering groups and forums
- Develop a sound knowledge of local and national policy and initiatives in the IAG, Functional Skills, Digital, employability and skills sectors
- Gather information about local needs to ensure that provision is responsive, co-ordinated and benefits from the input of specialist IAG knowledge
- Plan workload and day to day activities; including managing and assessing risk and personal safety
- Accurately monitor and evaluate the progress of individual learners, maintaining accurate records that meet both legal standards and external contractual requirements.
- 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
Qualifications
Minimum Level 3 IAG qualification
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
- Significant knowledge of a range job search techniques
- Significant knowledge of the labour market in Leeds, including growth sector areas and trends
- Significant knowledge of barriers to employment & learning
- Knowledge of the Council’s Inclusive Growth agenda and other key Strategic Plans
- Knowledge of the diversity of cultures in the communities of Leeds
- 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
- Experience of preparing and presenting reports
- Significant experience of working with and addressing barriers experienced by learners
Essential behavioural and other characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
- Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters
Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
- Experience and knowledge related to the delivery of Mental Health and Wellbeing support
- Holds a relevant qualification relating to the delivery of Mental Health Support
