JOB TITLE: Training and Employment Adviser
TEAM: Refugees into Jobs
GROUP: Services
LOCATION: London
REPORTS TO: Project Co-ordinator
GRADE: 5 (£27,378 pro rata)
HOURS: 21 hours per week (over 3 days which must include Tuesday and Wednesday each week)
Context and Purpose of the Job
The Refugee Council is one of the leading organisations in the UK working with asylum
seekers and refugees. Our operational teams based in various locations in England provide advice and assistance across a wide range of issues, including helping asylum seekers through the complexities of the asylum system, addressing issues of destitution and assisting refugees and asylum seekers to access key services including housing, welfare benefits, health, education and employment.
This Training and Employment Adviser role is based within our Refugees into Jobs service which forms part of the larger Integration Team at the Refugee Council. The Integration Team focuses its support on refugees who have been recognised as having protection needs and have been granted permission to stay in the UK but are now struggling to rebuild their lives in a new and unfamiliar country. Many need advice and guidance in areas such as housing, health, education/training and employment.
This role will specifically focus on the delivery of high quality training and employment related activities which will effectively support people to rebuild their careers and progress towards paid work. Central to this work will be the delivery of our employment information, advice and guidance (IAG) service. This programme supports refugees currently out of work and struggling to understand the UK labour market by providing them with high quality advice which will guide them on a journey towards securing appropriate employment.
Our services make strong use of volunteers. Our employment service is supported by a number of excellent volunteers whose role is to help service users (new refugees) to follow and progress effectively through their agreed action plans. They offer one to one support based on the Training and Employment Support Worker.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Assessment and Action Planning
1.1. To carryout an initial employment needs assessment with all new refugees in order to identify previous skills, experiences, capabilities and aspirations in relation to future employment goals
1.2. To assess prior learning and achievements and make use of appropriate tools and mechanisms in the recognition and adaptation of overseas qualifications
1.3. To develop Individual employment action plans with each new refugee that will illustrate possible ‘paths’ through a range of training and employment support components leading to the achievement of the refugee’s aspirations and employment goals
1.4. To work with refugees to determine suitable timelines in achieving milestones as highlighted in their action plans.
1.5. To determine and plan support activities that will help the individual refugee achieve their goals and aspirations
1.6. To deliver language and basic skill assessments in order to determine the correct entry point for an individual refugee into specific learning solutions
2. Advice and Guidance
2.1. To deliver career information, advice and guidance in an easily understood manner to support an individual’s progress towards successful training and employment outcomes
2.2. To deliver group training sessions on job search, CV development, interview technique and other employment assisting topics in a clear and easily understood manner to those less familiar with the UK job market and who may not have English as their first language
2.3. To carry out regular progress review meetings with refugees throughout their employment support period
2.4. To constantly build on your knowledge of the recruitment techniques used by employers in the UK and adapt them to support refugees
2.5. To keep up to date with local training and employment support provision as delivered by colleges, refugee community organisations and other third party supporting agencies
2.6. To collate and produce informational material that is accurate, current and appropriate for the client group
3. Employment Support
3.1. To create an excellent working relationship with Job Centre Plus staff to ensure the our services complement JCP services throughout the employment period.
3.2. To build productive relationships with training providers and refugee supporting agencies in support of the service.
3.3. To work with industry bodies, professional organisations and other agencies in identifying routes into work and entry points depending on qualification and experience
3.4. To liaise with other Refugee Council teams, local authorities, refugee community organisations, colleges and other providers when necessary and to negotiate service facilities and referral arrangements.
3.5. To engage with employers local and national employers to create work placement and paid opportunities for our clients.
4. Co-ordination & Development
4.1. To develop excellent team working with all elements of the Integration Service in support of the individual’s longer term integration.
4.2. To actively participate in discussions and plans for the development of the Integration Service and to actively contribute in team meetings, section meetings and planning sessions.
4.3. To effectively monitor client progression (outputs and outcomes) through the use of organisation’s client database and other appropriate tools.
4.4. To support the organisation in constantly providing and improving a highly customer focused service
4.5. To set up methods to collect client feedback and regularly collate, evaluate and report on feedback. To support, and input into, the production of management information reports as required
4.6. To support the client recruitment activity by undertaking outreach work where necessary
4.7. The ability to work as part of a team and achieve common goals
4.8. Willingness to work flexibly and at various locations according to the needs of the service
5. Health and Safety
The post holder will manage health and safety within their own workplace, ensuring the safety of staff, volunteers, clients and others. This includes responsibility for safety systems, facilitating risk assessment, safety audit and the implementation of action plans as appropriate.
6. Personal effectiveness
With the support of the Project Co-ordinator, the post-holder will need to effectively manage their workload, assessing their priorities in terms of balance between the reactive workload and the medium and long-term plans.
7. Flexibility
In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed and the post may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the job, at the appropriate grade. This job description will, therefore, be subject to periodic review with the post holder, to ensure it accurately reflects the duties of the job.
8. Equal Opportunities statement
As part of its recruitment policy, the Refugee Council intends to ensure that no prospective employee or actual employee is discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, class, disability, age, religious belief, or political persuasion, or is disadvantaged by any condition or requirement which is not demonstrably justifiable with the Person Specification.
JOB TITLE: Training and Employment Adviser
Qualifications
Desirable
NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in careers guidance would be desirable but not essential.
Experience
Essential
1. Significant direct experience in careers advice and guidance
2. Experience of undertaking in-depth Initial Needs Assessments and the subsequent creation of individual Action Plans
3. Experience of providing Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to disadvantaged groups (particularly to refugees would be a distinct advantage)
Desirable
4. Experience of assessing work experience and qualifications gained overseas and the compatibility with UK equivalent qualifications
5. Experience of running group training sessions on job search, CV development and other employment assisting topics
6. Experience of working closely with volunteers in the delivery of operational services
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential
1. The ability to deliver impartial advice clearly, and in an easily understood manner to those not necessarily familiar with the UK job market and who may not have English as their first language
2. A good knowledge of the range of training, support initiatives generally available to those seeking to progress towards employment
3. A good understanding of the barriers that refugees and asylum seekers face when seeking employment
4. The ability to work well in a team and collaborate with other team members to promote opportunities for the client group
5. Strong verbal and written communication skills combined with excellent IT literacy skills
6. A high level of interpersonal skills with the ability to work under pressure
7. Willingness and availability to travel outside the region, including some overnight stays
Desirable
8. A good knowledge of the UK labour market and recruitment techniques used by employers in the UK
9. The ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships both internally and externally and to advocate the rights and values of the client groups at all levels
10. Good administrative skills in the setting up and management of systems that will ensure effective client feedback and appropriate and timely management reporting
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