Job Purpose
The Connect to Work Team Lead will provide operational leadership for the delivery of the Connect to Work programme, ensuring services are delivered in line with the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), contractual requirements and Centre4's values.
The postholder will lead, motivate and develop a team, creating a high-performing culture that delivers excellent outcomes for participants, employers and partners. They will oversee day-to-day programme delivery, monitor quality and performance, provide coaching and supervision, ensuring participants receive person-centred, strengths-based guidance throughout their employment journey.
Alongside their leadership responsibilities, the Team Lead will lead on employer engagement and maintain a small participant caseload, remaining connected to frontline delivery while leading by example and contributing directly to programme outcomes.
Working collaboratively with employers, commissioners and partner organisations, the Team Lead will build sustainable employer relationships, promote inclusive recruitment practices and identify opportunities that contribute to Centre4's wider strategic and income generation objectives. They will use performance data, quality assurance and continuous improvement to ensure the programme consistently achieves its contractual outcomes and delivers an outstanding experience for participants and employers alike.
Key tasks and responsibilities:
Employer Engagement & Business Development
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with prospective and existing employers, creating sustainable employment opportunities for Connect to Work participants.
- Build strategic employer partnerships that contribute to both programme performance and Centre4's wider organisational objectives.
- Develop relationships that support Centre4's wider income generation strategy and strengthen long-term partnerships.
- Work collaboratively with the Head of Business & Development to identify opportunities to commercialise and promote Centre4's wider services and facilities.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with commissioners, referral partners, employers and community organisations.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the local labour market, identifying workforce trends and opportunities that inform programme delivery.
- Promote inclusive employment practices and demonstrate the benefits of recruiting people facing barriers to employment.
- Represent Centre4 at networking events, employer forums, partnership meetings and conferences, promoting both the Connect to Work programme and Centre4's wider portfolio of services.
- Act as Centre4's nominated representative on the Connect to Work Operational Board, contributing to strategic discussions and ensuring Centre4's interests are effectively represented.
Planning
- Work with Line Manager to develop operational and project plans for area of work.
- Remain up to date with local and national policy and activity to ensure that services align and meet community need.
- Ensure effective engagement and networking communities, authorities, partners and all stakeholders to support project objectives, with an eye on identifying opportunity, potential partnerships and wider Centre4 projects.
Delivery
- Maintain a small participant caseload, demonstrating best practice in supported employment delivery.
- Deliver high-quality vocational profiling, job matching, employer liaison and in-work guidance.
- Provide advice and guidance to colleagues on complex participant or employer cases.
- Ensure participant records are accurate, timely and compliant with programme requirements.
- Provide day to day supervision and monitoring of projects and contracts, ensuring delivery meets funding, compliance and organisation objectives and standards.
- Work with the team to deliver services that meet the needs of the community and beneficiaries, with a focus on empowerment and positive outcomes.
- Hold responsibility for safeguarding practice across projects, as Designated Officer, ensuring all delivery meets compliance and organisation, local and national policy and guidance.
- Ensure projects are delivered to meet all external compliance and action plans.
- Ensure all complaints are dealt with according to policy and procedure and learning influences future practice.
Leading teams
- Provide operational leadership for the Connect to Work contract, creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
- Manage workloads and resources to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
- Promote continuous learning, reflective practice and professional development across the team.
- Work with Line Manager to ensure that sufficient staffing and volunteer levels are recruited and maintained to deliver effective service and organisation objectives are met in relation to area of work.
- Line management responsibilities for allocated team members ensuring continuous training and development, targets and objectives are met to high standards with a focus on team health and wellbeing and retention of staff.
- Ensure effective team working, building harmonious and collaborative working across teams, the wider organisation and Centre4 community.
- Oversee the supervision of volunteers assigned to area of work to ensure safe and effective training, delivery and supervision.
Compliance and quality
- Safeguard children and vulnerable adults from harm and report concerns in accordance with Centre4’s internal and external referral arrangements.
- Monitor individual and team performance against agreed targets and quality standards.
- Undertake quality assurance activities including case audits, observations and file reviews.
- Analyse performance information to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
- Produce accurate reports for senior leaders, commissioners and funding bodies.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, GDPR, health and safety and all contractual requirements.
- Always operate within health and safety procedures.
- Ensure lone working practices are minimal and thoroughly risk assessed pertinent to individual circumstances.
- Conduct risk assessments ensuring that teams are equipped to deliver safe services providing responsive support and guidance.
Monitoring and evaluation
- Work with Line Manager to design and oversee monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess impact and delivery against objectives as appropriate.
- Provide reporting and monitoring as needed, ensuring teams monitoring and evaluation requirements are met.
Finance and funding
- Work with Line Manager to develop and secure funding to meet the finance requirements of the area of work operational plan.
- Delegated budget and forecasting responsibility ensuring projects and contracts are delivered to budget, with sufficient resources and best value.
Working for Centre4
- Uphold the ethos of Centre4 in all work and be a positive ambassador for the organisation.
- Comply and engage with all policy and procedure adopted by the organisation.
- Be committed to an inclusive approach to working that values and engages all our community and stakeholders.
- Maintain safe and high standards of practice in all work.
Other duties
The above is a non-exhaustive list of duties and you are expected to undertake any other duties as requested by your Line Manager. The organisation reserves the right to amend the job description in line with the changing demands of the business.
Pay: £32,312.00 per year
Benefits:
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
