Employment Support Officer

**Purpose of the Role**

As an Employment Support Officer within the UKSPF Community-Led Employment Support Project, your role is to provide tailored assistance to individuals in the Wirral community, working in tandem with the Employment Health and Wellbeing Officer. You'll collaborate with clients to understand their employment challenges and develop personalized action plans. Your focus will be on enhancing their employability through CV writing, interview preparation, and accessing training opportunities. Additionally, you'll identify and address any barriers to employment, offering referrals to specialized services as needed. By working closely with the Employment Health and Wellbeing Officer, you'll contribute to empowering Wirral residents, particularly those from Ethic Minority Communities to secure sustainable employment and improve their overall wellbeing.

Additionally, you also need to support Employment Health and Wellbeing Officer with administration work, will oversee the employment project and ensuring all documentation and evidence is compliant.

**MAIN DUTIES**

**Employment Support Officer**

Handle incoming and outgoing telephone enquiries, directing clients to appropriate services internally and maintaining professional communication standards.

Maintain updated records of client interactions and activities, utilising various database systems such as Charitylog and Hanlon, alongside paper-based records.

Provide personalised advice and guidance to economically inactive and unemployed clients, as well as those at risk of Redundancy across Ethnic Minority Communities, empowering them with job search skills for sustainable employment.

Actively engage with local employers to identify job opportunities and facilitate connections with potential employment prospects.

Collaborate with Employment Health and Wellbeing Officer to ensure quality and accuracy of all UKSPF documentation, reporting issues to the Team Leader as necessary.

Promote Wirral Change's objectives and values within the community, fostering positive relationships and awareness.

Undertake any additional duties consistent with the role of an Employment Support Officer, as directed by the Employment Team, to ensure the effective functioning of the program.

Organise diaries and appointments efficiently, prioritising workloads to ensure project deadlines and individual targets are achieved while adhering to strict timelines.

Contribute to organisational events, meetings, and functions to support the overall mission and growth of the organisation, focusing on employment-related initiatives.

Utilise various software packages to maintain records and databases, including statistical information about projects and events, while maintaining communication with partner organisations for compliance updates related to employment support, including a working demonstrable knowledge of MS office 365.

Coordinate and manage all aspects of client documentation, ensuring accurate and timely completion, storage, and retrieval of necessary records, while following GDPR guidance to ensure security of personal Information at all times.

Assist in the preparation and distribution of regular reports and newsletters to stakeholders, summarising program achievements, upcoming events, and opportunities for client engagement.

**ESSENTIAL QUALITIES**

IAG advice and Guidance at Level 2 or 3 or equivalent.

Excellent communication skills across a range of mediums, along with strong verbal and written skills

Be aware of and work towards meeting set monthly targets and KPIs.

Be empathetic by nature, an attentive listener, and be non-judgmental when approaching client issues.

Be comfortable when meeting clients, and to instil confidence in where it is needed.

Have excellent ICT skills, including MS Office, especially Word, Excel and Outlook and social media

Illustrate an ability to plan and manage hectic workloads and record data accurately and effectively.

Have a reasonable understanding of the UK benefits system, right to work requirements, and employability techniques.

Have a good knowledge of local services, third sector provisions and similar organisations across the Wirral.

A Strong team work ethic is essential, and you should be willing to adopt and share techniques, practices, and knowledge within the team.

Be inventive and able to diversify on a client-by-client basis, to overcome any potential issues, including language and disability barriers, and explore potential opportunities.

Be able to provide a full Enhanced DBS.

**DESIRABLE QUALITIES**

Additional languages or translation skills are a definite bonus.

Experience in a similar role, and a good understanding or experience of working with diverse communities.

Be able to make good use of relevant contacts, including individuals and organisations across the borough.

Able to focus on people, their needs and barriers, and a determination to provide the best support within your abili