SEN Employer Engagement Co-ordinator

Location: Medway / London
Salary: £31,555 - £33,298 pro rata
Hours: Part Time (22.5hrs per week)
Contract: Temporary with a view to becoming permanent
Start Date: As soon as possible

Please send completed application forms (we do not accept CVs) to jobs@thinkforward.org.uk by 9am on Monday 11th February 2019. We anticipate interviews taking place during the week commencing Monday 18th February, 2019.

Overview of ThinkForward and MoveForward

ThinkForward is a breakthrough coaching programme that offers young people 1 to 1 support through trusted and long-term relationships to help them overcome challenges in and out of school and linking them to ready for work activities provided by a community of businesses. By the end of the programme young people develop the aspirations, skills and mind-sets needed to thrive and sustain employment. MoveForward is our programme designed specifically to work with young people who have mild to moderate learning disabilities.

Overview of role

This role will cover both the London and Medway areas, with an emphasis on Medway.

1. The MoveForward SEN Employer Engagement Co-ordinator will coordinate the Ready for Work activities that ensure young people with learning difficulties transition smoothly through education and into sustained employment.
2. Responsible for identifying, developing and maintaining strong employer partnerships to deliver these activities.
3. To be the “expert” on the local employment landscape to inform MoveForward’s Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG).
4. To have an excellent understanding of and confidence using data to plan, analyse and evaluate activities.


Key responsibilities:

Coordination of activities - to ensure young people on the programme gain the knowledge, skills and experience needed to become “Ready for Work” (R4W).

A. To source and coordinate a termly/annual programme of Ready for Work activities based on the needs of young people with learning difficulties, including those outside of term-time.
B. To organise activities that develop Work Readiness Capabilities such as self-awareness, resilience, communication and independent living skills.
C. To advise Coaches about group work led by experts (such as in personal finance, travel and relationships).
D. To prepare businesses and their employees for engaging with young people with learning difficulties, training supervisors and mentors, advising on agendas and carrying out risk assessments as required; obtaining feedback from participants and volunteers after activities to assess the impact and any improvements or follow up activities required.

Partnerships Management - to ensure ThinkForward remains a collaborative and non-duplicative organisation.

E. To use labour market data to research, qualify, cultivate and solicit a range of national and local business partners that will deliver Ready for Work activities, supported internship and supported employment opportunities.
F. To identify, build and maintain strong partnerships with businesses, job brokers, training providers and educational institutions who can provide activities, support and employment opportunities for young people and to work with them to realise those opportunities;
G. To collect feedback and data from partners on young people’s engagement and attendance and through quality assurance to take steps to broker supportive meetings between Coaches and the partner, and review or terminate a partnership where necessary.
H. To liaise to the fundraising team on any fundraising opportunities including corporate partnerships, volunteer/individual giving, national partnerships and delivery contracts.

Job brokerage and on the job coaching - to understand the local employment landscape to ensure MoveForward provides informed and relevant guidance and opportunities to its participants.

I. Via training opportunities, bulletins and databases ensure Coaches have live local information on jobs and courses so they can deliver quality CEIAG in coaching/group sessions.
J. Set up and support young people to complete supported work experience placements.
K. To communicate regularly with the central team and other local coordinators to share best practice, sector knowledge and any potential national partnerships.

Impact and Data

L. To use data on young people’s vocational profiles to plan activities.
M. To meet any reporting and paperwork requirements for contracts/donor agreements associated with these activities.
N. To use data to assess the impact of activities.
Management of Apprentice/Intern/Work Experience
O. To supervise any office based interns or work experience as required.
Person Specification

ThinkForward operates a staff competency framework to inform our recruitment and performance management of staff. The following behaviours define the expectations for this position.

Professional expertise

• Experience of working with and empathy for young people with learning difficulties, including excellent grasp of safeguarding procedures.
• Experience of developing networks and managing mulitple stakeholders.
• Experience in engaging with or selling to corporate partners and businesses.
• An existing network of organisations offering a wide range of support and guidance for 15 - 24 year olds with learning difficulties.
• CEIAG qualified (desirable).
• Demonstrates good understanding of the local and national labour market.
• Demonstrates good understanding of educational pathways in the UK.
• Project management experience.
• Confident with spreadsheets and databases.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

Communication

• Is approachable and adaptable; able to communicate professionally with stakeholders and audiences of all levels including young people.
• Excellent written and presentation skills.
• Takes active steps to communicate new developments in a timely manner.
• Makes use of the strengths of different channels/methods of communication to publicise and communicate activities and opportunities to wider team.
• Is, open and transparent with colleagues and line manager.
• Is assertive and persuasive when required.
• Constructively manages barriers to effective communication
• Communicates relevant and appropriate information about young people with partners
• Ensures that communications within ThinkForward reflect our brand, values and business objectives

Planning and Organising

• Exceptionally well organised, methodical and able to deliver to deadlines
• Has a flexible but determined approach, puts measures in place to ensure reliability of volunteers and young people does not damage the experience of participants or reputation of the organisation
• Has strong attention to detail, with systems and processes in place to maintain high standards of delivery.
• Prioritises own workload in accordance with higher level goals and objectives
• Meets deadlines and advises others promptly of likely delays against plans

Teamwork

• Continually engages in joint activities and shared information/ideas with colleagues to achieve mutual objectives
• Seeks out the best opportunities to collaborate with external partners to the benefit of ThinkForward young people
• Gains the cooperation and buy-in of team members to challenging tasks
• Helps colleagues to enhance personal skills/knowledge
• Accepts decisions that are made for the good of the team after consultation and communication.

Impact and quality focused

• Actively monitors changes or developments in outcomes and quality, and continuously seeks to improve them including improvements to systems and resources
• Ensures that relevant data is input and produces accurate management information
• Continually identifies and communicates likelihood or otherwise of meeting targets
• Adapts to varying work situations and is flexible in their approach to resolving challenges.

ThinkForward is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment. This post is offered subject to an enhanced DBS check.

ThinkForward are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships