Employment Support Specialist

Job Description & Person Specification

Title:	Employment Support Specialist
Reports to:	Service Coordinator – EmployAbility
Accountable to:	Employment and Communities Area Manager
Location:	Contracted base but this role requires travel across the whole county
Hours:	37.5 hours per week
Date reviewed	April 2018

Employment Support Specialist – 6-month contract East Surrey Employment Support Specialist – Caterham Employment Support Specialist – Epsom Employment Support Specialist – Redhill Employment Support Specialist – Staines

Job Purpose

To provide services that support and enable people to achieve their own personal employment and community inclusion goals. You will give due regard to a customer’s absolute right to be in control of and ensure their privacy, dignity and respect and in the spirit of collaboration and partnership working with the customer and their support networks.

Key Responsibilities

As an Employment Support Specialist, you will provide and deliver:

Role Specific Objectives – Customer Focus

To find meaningful work and volunteering opportunities in their local communities
Identify work related goals and aspirations and create clear action plans to help them achieve these
Work towards clear personal outcomes and goals
Liaise with carers and other professionals to help identify the customer’s goals and aspirations and find natural support in their community
Support with career guidance, job searching, applications, interviews, in work support and ongoing career development
To educate employers on how to support people with additional needs
Help people learn how to travel to their place of work
To understand different company policies and procedures
Plan how to step down workplace support and increase their independence
Understand how to get help with employment and wor related benefits
To complete vocational profiles, risk assessments, worksite analysis and other documentation to ensure a safe working environment
To support employer and employee with on-going work place issues
Develop and increase employability, independence and social skills
Help people play an integral role within and be part of their local communities.
Advocate in work and community settings
Take risks and be safe in accordance with their personal risk assessments.
Receive and take part in services and support when they want and need it. This includes evenings and weekends.

Role Specific Objectives – Working Relationships

Support and enable customers to review their Surrey Choices documents in a timely manner and contribute to this process where appropriate and required.
Support and enable customers and carers with job applications forms and signpost to specialist support if appropriate
Work with employers and other stakeholders to identify opportunities and negotiate job carving if appropriate
To promote the benefits of work for people with additional needs to customers, carers and employers and education providers
To support all Surrey Choices services to embed opportunities in work, volunteering and independence in community amongst all our customers.
To support the Employment and Community Manager and Service Coordinator in delivering funded projects ensuring delivery of a professional service in a timely manner
Be able to represent the service at employment and community events
Be familiar with employment and benefit legislation
Link with local Jobcentres, employers and other stakeholders
Communicate effectively and professionally with employers, customers, their families and support networks, health and social care professionals.
Facilitate and have professional working relationships with customers, their families and support networks, health and social care professionals and agencies.
Maintain regular suitable contact with customers parents, carers and support networks and ensure they are suitably and appropriately involved with the care and support of the customer or person for whom they have responsibility.
Maintain regular contact with employers, education providers and other stakeholders to ensure successful outcomes,
Work in collaboration with other Surrey Choices staff to share and promote good practice, continuous improvement and equitable services across the county.

Other Objectives

Maintain professional and personal boundaries with all customers, parents & carers, colleagues and other professionals.
Comply, observe and promote the company’s Code of Conduct.
Comply with the company’s policies and procedures at all times.
Take all reasonable precautions to maintain the health and safety of self and others, ensuring that any risks in relation to this are reported and remedial action taken in a timely manner.
Take responsibility for own continuous professional development and maintaining an adequate level of knowledge and skills pertaining to the role.
Undertake any other duties that may reasonable be required of this role and as requested by manager (s).
To manage and ensure effective responses to allegations of harm in line with Surrey Choices Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.
To ensure services manage handle and store personal and corporate information in accordance with the Surrey Choices Information Governance Policy and procedures.
Actively support and promote Surrey Choices business objectives, operating model and core values.

Person Specifications, Qualification, Experience, Skills, Knowledge

Qualification and Training

Essential

Minimum 5 GCSE

Desirable

Degree or further education desirable but not essential
BASE NVQ in support employment desirable

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Excellent written and spoken communication skills
Proactive self-starter who is able to work with others in a multi-agency environment.
Ability to use initiative and be innovative. Finding solutions to problems and being resilient
Attention to detail and ability to work with minimum supervision
Excellent organisation skills. Ability to prioritise work in an environment that may have conflicting pressures and demands.
Competent IT skills, with evidence of ability to learn new computer systems
Time Management, making effective use of time and resources
Negotiating and sales aptitude with an ability to motivate others.
Ability to understand and work within relevant legislation, particularly around disability and employment.
Results oriented with ability to maintain relationships with employers, education providers and external partners.
Person centred with aspirations for all people to achieve their potential
Flexible working to cover weekends and evening if appropriate

Desirable

Worked with community organisations, education providers or employers to find opportunities or can demonstrate related skills
Delivering projects effectively within agreed timescales
Knowledge of disability and employment issues

Personal Qualities

Essential

Passionate about equality of opportunity with experience of working with diverse communities
Knowledge of issues relating to disability and work
Able to manage own work load
Highly motivated and able to motivate others
Able to manage and deliver on projects.
Flexible worker willing to work evenings and weekends if appropriate
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle*

Person Specifications, Qualification, Experience, Skills, Knowledge

* This job involves travelling to lots of different places across Surrey to see customers and employers. If you are an applicant with a disability and cannot drive, we will discuss reasonable adjustments. Please contact the hiring manager for more information.