Portsmouth City Council Employment Learning and Skills Service manages and delivers a wide range of DWP, SFA and ESF funded supportive, developmental, training and employment focused programmes which are an integral part of the governments 'Welfare to Work' strategy. The programmes are aimed at providing an environment in which people who are long term unemployed, disabled or disadvantaged can progress towards and achieve sustainable employment.

What is the role?

You will work with a range of local employers, to identify, arrange and manage subsidised employment opportunities and placements for individuals with health conditions referred to the City Deals Job Pilot by Jobcentre Plus. You will conduct the initial assessment, provide career guidance, advice and support and develop an individual action plan; match them to suitable employment appropriate to their skills and assist them to gain sustainable employment beyond the period of subsidised employment.

You will be accountable for, sourcing the subsidised employment opportunities, motivate clients to progress and support them in the transition from benefits into work and maintaining ongoing in work support to a point where the client no longer requires face to face support and interventions to secure job sustainability.

You will develop and maintain an in depth knowledge of the local labour market, benefits system and entitlements, establish effective working relationships with local employers, recruitment agencies and jobcentre plus. You will also be required to market and promote the service to employers and suppliers by representing the team at appropriate events including job fairs, careers conventions and employer open days.

Due to the diversity of our customer base and the flexibility required in delivering our contracts you will be supporting people under the age of 18 and therefore an enhanced DBS Check will be required.

Who is the person?

You need to:

1. Have relevant experience in the employment/recruitment/training field. Be able to demonstrate experience and success in the field of Employer Engagement

2. Have experience of influencing others effectively and able to overcome objections and customer barriers positively.

3. Have the ability to manage and support a caseload of customers and professionally and effectively challenge their barriers to employment

4. Have the ability to carry out diagnostic assessments, develop individual action plans, performance reviews and monitoring visits

5. Have a sound knowledge of Equalities and Health and Safety policies with experience of carrying out risk assessments

6. Have experience and be able to demonstrate experience of carrying out job search activity for individuals in both group or 1-2-1 situations

7. Have the ability to work in a systematic way, prioritise and organise workload and work to deadlines

8. Have good interpersonal, communication and presentation skills - ability to promote and match clients to employers

9. Have good IT skills - Knowledge of using databases and Microsoft Office to record clients details

10. Have the ability to work on own initiative and within a team, flexibility to cope with the varying demands of the role and achieve desired results.

11. Be driven to succeed and set high personal standards and goals. A passion to motivate and lead by example.

12. Driving Licence and use of a car for business travel around the City and on occasion to accompany clients to interviews. Closing time/date, 17:00, on the 24th November 2014 Applications received after this may not be considered. Interview process: 9th December 2014

DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.