DFN Project SEARCH is a Supported Internship (SI) model. It offers young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) the chance to complete a full-time programme of work placement and employability training, whilst immersed within a business. The goal is sustainable employment, and the role of the Job Coach is integral to supporting the interns to access appropriate work experience within the business and to acquire the relevant skills needed for the workplace.
This SI is a collaboration between Asda, DEBP, YMCA and DFN Project SEARCH.
You will have a ‘Can Do’ attitude and be driven and enthusiastic about helping people with learning disabilities to meet their aspirations. You will have the ability to look for creative solutions to meet people's support needs in a way that respects their individuality. You will be able to work well using your initiative and in collaboration with other partners, whilst professionally managing expectations of all stakeholders.
Job purpose:
- To identify a student’s strengths, interests, and abilities related to skill acquisition, job development, and employment.
- To use job coaching techniques to support young people’s development towards employability.
- To seek appropriate employment consistent with the student’s interests and skills and to work with local businesses and industry to meet their employment needs.
- To determine and refer young people on the programme to appropriate support services for training and successful employment.
Main functions:
- Support young people with SEND to access the SI programme.
- Supporting young people to prepare for and undertake work experience rotations in a variety of roles within the host business/es settings.
- Train interns to the required standard in the areas of personal hygiene, communication, interviewing, and self-management as they relate to successful employment at the host business.
- Work collaboratively with the host business to identify job roles suitable for the interns and develop a scaffold approach to skills development and agree on a delivery plan.
- Actively supporting host business mentors to host an intern and meet for regular reviews.
- Liaise with parents/carers around progress on the SI.
- Provide travel training to the job site if necessary.
- Work collaboratively with the Tutor on the programme.
- To prepare young people for employment, application, and recruitment processes
- Advocate for interns around reasonable adjustments within the workforce.
- Champion the abilities of the interns and support employers to become more inclusive in their recruitment practices.
- Work with interns, employers, families, job development specialists, steering group partners, and other appropriate parties to problem-solve issues related to training and employment where necessary.
- Practice positive feedback techniques with interns, colleagues, and other staff.
- Explore jobs that match the intern’s interests and skills and communicate with all team members about job options.
- Work intensively with interns to secure sustainable and equitable employment.
- Networking and employer engagement activity with local and national employers to maximise opportunities for rotations and for employment for both interns and graduates within the local jobs market.
- Work with the tutor and education partner to review intern performance and carry out monitoring and auditing as required or requested by an external party such as Project SEARCH.
- Attend and actively participate/present at regular monthly Employment Planning Meetings with interns, information/feedback events, induction and recruitment events, conferences, training events, and operational meetings.
- To measure key outcomes and developments within the programme you support and to maintain records required by Project SEARCH to track the progress of each intern.
- To work collaboratively with the wider DEBP team and that of DFN Project SEARCH.
- To complete all DWP Access to Work funding evidence monthly.
- Ensure interns develop a portfolio/vocational profile that documents each internship, skills acquired, evaluations, references, etc.
- Attend training programmes provided via DFN Project Search including induction and CPD opportunities.
- Comply with DEBP, Project SEARCH, and the host employer policies and practices where relevant.
Key responsibilities:
- To understand the key outcomes for the programme/s you support.
- To work alongside your line manager and other colleagues to collate and complete the contract reports for funders, including impact measures and case studies.
- To work closely with the line manager to identify areas for development.
- To uphold the professional standards required by DEBP and DFN Project SEARCH and promote the work undertaken.
- To move young people with SEND into equitable and sustainable employment.
- To undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required by your employer.
An application form needs to be submitted for this post. Please go to https://debp.org/vacancies/.
Pay: £26,224.00 per year
Work Location: In person
