Employability Manager (AW)

NHS Borders; Melrose; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Borders is seeking an Employability Manager (Band 7) to lead the organisation’s employability agenda, supporting workforce planning and Anchor Institution responsibilities. You will design inclusive pathways and opportunities across our communities, collaborating with Project SEARCH, education partners and local stakeholders to drive real change.

You will also lead a small team, provide expert advice to managers, and ensure programmes are evaluated and improved to meet workforce needs, while

Qualifications

• We are looking for someone passionate about widening access to employment and developing inclusive workforce pathways.
• Experience in employability and leading development and delivery of employability, apprenticeship and work experience programmes across an organisation is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and development of employability, apprenticeship, work experience and school engagement programmes.
• Develop inclusive workforce pathways that reduce barriers and support fair access to employment opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams, education providers and external partners to design and improve programmes.
• Provide expert advice and support to managers on employability approaches and learning opportunities.
• Lead and manage the employability team, including supervision, appraisal and personal development planning.
• Use data, evaluation and feedback to monitor programme impact, inform improvement and support reporting requirements.
• Contribute to NHS Borders workforce planning, people strategy and wider organisational development priorities.

Job description

OUR VALUES IN ACTION Care and Compassion Quality and Teamwork Dignity and Respect Openness, honesty and responsibility

OUR VALUES IN ACTION Care and Compassion Quality and Teamwork Dignity and Respect Openness, honesty and responsibility

Employability Manager

Band 7

36 hours per week

Secondment/Fixed Term until end March 27 (linked to External Funding)

Location

Hybrid working a mix of home and on-site working across NHS Borders locations

About The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to lead NHS Borders’ employability agenda, supporting our strategic workforce planning aims and Anchor Institution responsibilities. You will plan, promote and deliver employability initiatives that create meaningful pre-employment, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for people across our local communities, with a particular focus on widening access for disadvantaged and diverse groups.

You will work closely with internal services, education partners, Project SEARCH, The King’s Trust, the Local Employability Partnership and other stakeholders to design inclusive pathways into NHS careers. You will also lead a small employability team, provide expert advice to managers, and ensure programmes are evaluated and continuously improved to meet workforce needs.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to local workforce sustainability, inclusive employment and career development pathways that support the future health and care workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and development of employability, apprenticeship, work experience and school engagement programmes.
• Develop inclusive workforce pathways that reduce barriers and support fair access to employment opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams, education providers and external partners to design and improve programmes.
• Provide expert advice and support to managers on employability approaches and learning opportunities.
• Lead and manage the employability team, including supervision, appraisal and personal development planning.
• Use data, evaluation and feedback to monitor programme impact, inform improvement and support reporting requirements.
• Contribute to NHS Borders workforce planning, people strategy and wider organisational development priorities.

About You

• We are looking for someone who is passionate about widening access to employment, developing inclusive workforce pathways and helping people realise their potential within health and care.
• If you have experience in employability and are motivated to lead the development and delivery of employability, apprenticeship and work experience programmes across our organisation we’d love to hear from you.

Working Arrangements

This role offers a hybrid working model, combining home working with on-site attendance. Therefore, the ability to travel to NHS Borders sites is essential.

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to take the next step into a more senior role, NHS Borders offers a supportive environment where you can grow, influence change, and make a real impact.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website.

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsoredBEFORE submitting your application form

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

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