JOB PURPOSE

The Youth Trailblazer programme is a community-based employment and skills programme supporting young people across Erdington, Sutton Coldfield and Perry Barr to progress into employment, education and training. Working from accessible community venues and Jobcentres, the programme will provide personalised support that responds to each young person’s strengths, aspirations and barriers.

With a proactive, strengths-based and outcomes-focused approach, you will recruit and manage an active caseload of young people, develop individual action plans and provide practical coaching throughout their journey. You will work closely with employers, Jobcentre Plus, training providers and community partners to secure appropriate opportunities and achieve sustained positive outcomes.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

• Recruit and manage an active caseload of young people, providing timely, personalised and employment-focused support from initial engagement through to progression and sustained outcome.
• Complete eligibility checks, initial assessments and individual action plans, agreeing realistic goals that reflect each young person’s strengths, aspirations, support needs and barriers.
• Maintain purposeful and regular contact, using coaching, mentoring, challenge and encouragement to sustain engagement and help young people take ownership of their journey.
• Deliver high-quality one-to-one and group employability support, including confidence building, job search, CVs, applications, interview preparation, digital skills and workplace expectations.
• Identify and coordinate appropriate wraparound support, training, qualifications, volunteering, work experience and other activities that help remove barriers and build work readiness.
• Develop productive relationships with employers, identify suitable vacancies and progression opportunities, and support effective matching, applications, interviews, job starts and in-work retention.
• Work collaboratively with New Hope Global, Jobcentre Plus, schools, colleges, training providers, community organisations and internal WLCA services to provide a joined-up participant journey.
• Undertake outreach and deliver activity from community venues and Jobcentres across Erdington, Sutton Coldfield and Perry Barr, including the programme’s priority neighbourhoods.
• Achieve agreed individual and team targets for engagement, participation, progression and sustained employment, education and training outcomes.
• Maintain accurate, timely and audit-ready participant records, evidence and case notes on approved systems, complying with programme, data protection, safeguarding and quality requirements.
• Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding, wellbeing and risk concerns, following WLCA procedures and escalating concerns promptly.
• Contribute to job fairs, employer events, workshops, celebration activity, participant feedback and continuous service improvement.
• At all times demonstrate the values of the Association and the behaviours and competencies associated with the role; support wider Association activities where appropriate.
• Carry out any other duties reasonably consistent with the purpose and level of the role. Responsibilities may change as the Association and programme develop.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge & Abilities

• Good knowledge and experience of addressing the wider barriers that prevent young people from entering or sustaining employment, education or training
• Sound knowledge of employability provision, local referral agencies and services that can address health, wellbeing, financial, skills and other barriers
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities when working with young people and vulnerable adults
• Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and the importance of accurate, evidence-based case recording

Skills

• Positive, enthusiastic and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to motivate young people and maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Compassionate and empathetic, with the ability to build trust, understand individual circumstances and support progression towards a positive destination
• Strong coaching, communication and group facilitation skills, adapting style to different needs and levels of confidence
• Excellent organisation, caseload management and planning skills, with the ability to meet targets and deadlines
• Able to work flexibly, collaboratively and independently across different community and Jobcentre locations
• Good IT and digital skills, including Microsoft 365, spreadsheets, email, web research and databases/CRM systems

Experience

• Experience of successfully supporting unemployed of economically inactive people into employment, education or training in a busy, outcomes-focused environment
• Experience of managing an active caseload, completing assessments and action plans, and maintaining regular, purposeful engagement through to a positive outcome
• Experience of providing one-to-one coaching and delivering group employability sessions to young people or people facing barriers to progression
• Experience of sourcing vacancies or progression opportunities and supporting applications, interviews, job starts and retention
• Experience of outreach, participant recruitment and partnership working in community settings
• Experience of maintaining accurate electronic case records and evidence to meet contract, quality or audit requirements

Other Requirements

• Commitment to WLCA’s values, equality, diversity, inclusion, safeguarding and customer service.
• Commitment to confidentiality, integrity and the responsible handling of organisational and personal data.
• Willingness to undertake relevant training and maintain up-to-date professional knowledge.