At Mencap, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed in work — and to feel proud of what they can do. Through our Employ Me programme, our teams support people with a learning disability and/or autism to build skills, grow confidence, and move closer to the career they want.
Our Good News Blog is full of stories showing what’s possible: someone thriving in their first paid job, another person mastering travel training, a learner finally feeling confident enough to speak up in team meetings. These moments don’t just happen. They happen because of people like you.
We’re looking for compassionate, self‑motivated Relief Job Coaches who want to make a real difference in Northampton.
What does a Relief Job Coach do?
You’ll provide individualised 1:1 support to people with a learning disability and/or autism who are either working or preparing for work.
In this role, you might:
- Support someone on their first day in a new workplace
- Help a learner practise skills until they’re confident and independent
- Work closely with Caseworkers and Tutors to set goals and track progress
- Liaise with employers to make sure the right support is in place
- Provide travel training, interview preparation, or on‑the‑job coaching
- Support interns in classroom sessions
Relief work is offered as and when required, usually for short or ad‑hoc support, with the occasional longer assignment. And unlike zero‑hour contracts, you’re never obligated to accept work — you simply commit fully to any work you do take on. It’s perfect for people looking for work that flexes around their life.
Who are we looking for?
Experience is great — but a positive attitude matters even more. Many of the people we support learn differently and at their own pace, so you’ll need to be:
- Patient
- Encouraging
- Reassuring
- Motivated by helping others succeed
Everyone we support is different, so we welcome Job Coaches from all walks of life. You might share a hobby with someone, have industry experience that inspires confidence, or bring your own lived experience of disability, mental health, rehabilitation or the criminal justice system. Differences aren’t just welcome — they help us match the right coach with the right person.
What essentials will you bring?
- Experience supporting people (in any setting)
- Awareness of supported employment
- Accurate record‑keeping and professional conduct
- Flexibility to work in a range of environments
- A genuine interest in learning disability and autism
Please see the full job description for more detail and requirements of the role.
If this feels like the right role for you, please apply with an up‑to‑date application, that shows your skills, experience and tell us why you want to join Mencap’s employment team!
We operate a blinded recruitment process, your CV will not be shared until interview stage.
Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated. Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings. For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!
Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in. At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues. Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere. · Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation. · Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes · Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves. We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies. We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.
