LEMIS+ Mentor (Economically Inactive Participants)

ROLE PROFILE

Job Title:                LEMIS+ Mentor (Economically Inactive Participants)
Accountable to:     Project Manager
Salary:                  £25,335 p.a.
Location:              Skainos Square, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast
Hours of work:     37.5 per week
Leave:                  22 days plus 12 statutory days
Pension:               National Employee Savings Trust (NEST) Pension Scheme
Health Care:         An employee health care plan is available after successful probation
Probation:             This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period.  The Company reserves the right to extend this probationary period.  
Contract term:      End March 2022

Applications will close 25th April 2018 at 4.30 p.m.

Job purpose

JOB BACKGROUND:
This post is part of the LEMIS+ Project, a Belfast wide employment project implemented by a consortium of organisation led by Ashton Community Trust.  The other LEMIS+ Project Partnership organisations are:-

•    GEMS NI
•    Upper Springfield Development Trust
•    Impact Training
•    East Belfast Mission

The post will involve working at neighbourhood level in East Belfast Mission to support the development of an employment service infrastructure to improve the potential of long-term unemployed, economically inactive and workless people to gain employment. They will undertake the necessary outreach work to identify and engage an appropriate number of potential clients to meet the agreed caseload and employment targets.

Job Purpose

To provide mentoring sessions to adults who are experiencing economic inactivity/worklessness, due to barriers such as poor health and support through intensive one to one mentoring for those participants with health and social issues. Confidence and self -esteem building. Secure trust of participants to share issues preventing them starting journey to employment. Adopt a holistic approach to address participant’s health, social and employability issues through an agreed action plan. Seek specialist support from other service providers regarding social and health issues. Organise participant group activities to increase confidence and knowledge of employability. At appropriate progression point refer participant to Employability Mentor.

Main duties and responsibilities:

1.    Provide a structured programme of support for economically inactive and workless people that can progress them towards employment and/or further education/training.
2.    Undertake initial assessments of barriers using agreed and bespoke diagnostic tools.   Develop and implement individual action plans to overcome barriers to employment or further education/training, setting goals, actions and achievable outcomes
3.    Provide mentoring sessions to all participants, as required, which remove barriers to employment or further education / training.
4.    Effectively manage a caseload and provide professionally focused support referring to other agencies/organisations as required as part of individual action plans.
5.    Undertake progress reviews and ensure targets are achieved that reflect positive outcomes in relation to employment, employment-related skills development or progress to further education/training.
6.    Establish and effectively maintain outreach provision of services across the designated area.
7.    Support specific training, education, employment and work experience opportunities for economically inactive and workless people which will help to promote their integration into the labour market.
8.    Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with relevant employer, statutory, community and voluntary organisations.
9.    Maintain accurate records of all engagements and work undertaken with participants and ensure the accuracy and completion of all administrative forms, reports, etc. in a timely manner.
10.    Review, with line manager, outcomes against performance targets and reflect on practice, working to the highest professional standards.
11.    Fully participate in self-evaluation reviews and quality improvement planning.
12.    Participate in team meetings, supervision and other team activities.
13.    Carry out all duties in accordance with the values and policies of East Belfast Mission
14.    Perform such other relevant tasks deemed necessary by the management team of the LEMIS+ Project to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the project action plan.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Undertake any other related responsibilities commensurate with the evolving objectives of the post and the evolution of the East Belfast Mission, as may reasonably be requested by management.
•    Work flexibly on evenings, weekends and during school holidays to ensure full delivery of the programme.
•    Undertake training in order to develop work related skills and knowledge.
•    Work within the ethos of East Belfast Mission
•    Ensure the effective implementation of and adherence to, the East Belfast Mission policies and procedures
•    Participate in East Belfast Mission Performance Management and Appraisal process, and agree short, medium and long term goals with line manager.
•    Identify learning and development needs with your line manager and evaluate T&D to demonstrate needs have been met.
•    Share best practice and achievements, and contribute to opportunities to present outcomes and case studies.

Personnel Specification

Note to Applicant: When completing your application form you should demonstrate/evidence the extent to which you have the necessary education, experience, knowledge and skills identified as required by the application criteria for the post.

Important
Applications must only be completed using computer as no hand written applications will be considered for short listing
Please read questions carefully and provide full and clear detail in answer to each of the question

Short-listing Criteria
 
East Belfast Mission reserves the right to only short-list those applicants who can clearly demonstrate by providing personal and specific examples of the following criteria.

Essential Criteria

Applicants must have, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:

1.    A level 3 qualification in coaching (e.g. life coaching) or mentoring, counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, advice and guidance or equivalent;
2.    At least one years’ experience of delivering a similar service to people experiencing economic inactivity due to health/well-being or other barriers limiting their options              (Number of years’ experience may be increased should there be an need to facilitate manageable shortlists)
3.    The ability to work independently and unsupervised, to use initiative to identify forward plans, prioritise and monitor work to meet agreed objectives
4.    Proven experience in working within a target driven environment in which people are progressed to employment and/or further education/training
5.    Have excellent understanding of maintaining confidentiality; professional boundaries; data sharing protocols, safeguarding processes and lone working processes
6.    Have excellent communication and presentation skills; to include writing letters, case reports and support plans
7.    Have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
8.    Have a proven ability to motivate and engage with challenging clients with complex needs and barriers
9.    Demonstrable experience of time management skills
10.    Demonstrable experience of working in a fast paced & proactive working environment with a ‘can-do’ attitude
11.    Valid driving licence and access to transport appropriate for the post.  (Consideration will be given to candidates, who because of a disability, cannot hold a driving license but they must have access to a mode of transport that allows them to fulfil the duties of the post)

Desirable Criteria

1.    Experience of working in partnership with internal teams and external agencies to achieve successful outcomes
2.    Professional Membership of a Coaching, Mentoring or Counselling Body
3.    Commitment to own professional development and to supporting the professional development of colleagues

Original proof of qualifications will be requested if recommended for appointment.

(Desirable criteria may used to shortlist applicants, should there be a need to facilitate manageable shortlists)

Vetting
Appointment to this post is subject to successful applicant declaring all pending prosecutions, convictions, cautions and bind-over orders and their name will be submitted to Access NI for a check to be carried out.

References
Appointment is also subject to the return of Complete and satisfied references obtained from previous and or present employers   

East Belfast Mission is an Equal Opportunities Employer