Skills Advisor

Position: Employment and Skills Advisor
JOB PURPOSE The Youth Trailblazer programme is a community-based employment and skills programme supporting young people across Erdington, Sutton Coldfield and Perry Barr to progress into employment, education and training. Working from accessible community venues and Job centres, the programme will provide personalised support that responds to each young person’s strengths, aspirations and barriers. With a proactive, strengths-based and outcomes-focused approach, you will recruit and manage an active caseload of young people, develop individual action plans and provide practical coaching throughout their journey.

You will work closely with employers, Jobcentre Plus, training providers and community partners to secure appropriate opportunities and achieve sustained positive outcomes.

JOB DESCRIPTION Key Tasks & Responsibilities Recruit and manage an active caseload of young people, providing timely, personalised and employment-focused support from initial engagement through to progression and sustained outcome. Complete eligibility checks, initial assessments and individual action plans, agreeing realistic goals that reflect each young person’s strengths, aspirations, support needs and barriers. Maintain purposeful and regular contact, using coaching, mentoring, challenge and encouragement to sustain engagement and help young people take ownership of their journey.

Deliver high-quality one-to-one and group employability support, including confidence building, job search, CVs, applications, interview preparation, digital skills and workplace expectations. Identify and coordinate appropriate wraparound support, training, qualifications, volunteering, work experience and other activities that help remove barriers and build work readiness. Develop productive relationships with employers, identify suitable vacancies and progression opportunities, and support effective matching, applications, interviews, job starts and in-work retention.

Work collaboratively with New Hope Global, Jobcentre Plus, schools, colleges, training providers, community organisations and internal WLCA services to provide a joined-up participant journey. Undertake outreach and deliver activity from community venues and Job centres across Erdington, Sutton Coldfield and Perry Barr, including the programme’s priority neighbourhoods. Achieve agreed individual and team targets for engagement, participation, progression and sustained employment, education and training outcomes.

Maintain accurate, timely and audit-ready participant records, evidence and case notes on approved systems, complying with programme, data protection, safeguarding and quality requirements. Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding, wellbeing and risk concerns, following WLCA procedures and escalating concerns promptly. Contribute to job fairs, employer events, workshops, celebration activity, participant feedback and continuous service improvement. At all times demonstrate the values of the Association and the behaviours and competencies associated with the role;

support wider Association activities where appropriate. Carry out any other duties reasonably consistent with the purpose and level of the role. Responsibilities may change as the Association and programme develop. PERSON SPECIFICATION Knowledge & Abilities Good knowledge and experience of addressing the wider barriers that prevent young people from entering or sustaining employment, education or training Sound knowledge of employability provision, local referral agencies and services that can address health, wellbeing, financial, skills and other barriers Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities when working with young people and vulnerable adults Understanding of…