Employment Coach

Careerology; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Careerology is seeking an Employment Coach to deliver the Connect to Work service in Southwark. You’ll provide personalised, one-to-one coaching and practical support to people who are employed or self-employed but need help to stay in work or progress their careers.

This role is hybrid, with 1-2 days in Southwark and the rest remote. You’ll build relationships, set goals, and work with employers and partners to create practical solutions that enable meaningful, sustainable work.

Qualifications

• Experience coaching or advising people one-to-one, including paid work, volunteering or other relevant settings.
• Ability to manage a caseload and work toward programme targets.
• Maintaining accurate records and administration.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of approximately 20 participants (per full time equivalent), providing personalised support to help people stay, succeed and progress in work.
• Build trusting relationships, understanding each person's circumstances, strengths, aspirations and support needs.
• Identify barriers to sustaining employment or progressing at work, and work with participants to develop realistic goals and action plans.
• Provide tailored career and employment support, including exploring career options, job searching, CVs, applications, interview preparation and training opportunities.
• Help participants navigate workplace challenges, communicate their needs and explore reasonable adjustments or other support.
• Build confidence, motivation and problem-solving skills, encouraging participants to take ownership of their decisions.
• Where appropriate, involve employers or other professionals, and make referrals to additional support services.

Skills

Empathy

Coaching

Relationship-building

Communication

Organisational skills

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Careerology is a small, growing social enterprise providing career coaching and employment support. We help people build working lives that are more meaningful, sustainable and supportive of their wellbeing.

We believe that good work can make a real difference to someone's health, independence and sense of purpose. But we also know that getting someone into just any job isn't always the answer.

Our approach is human, practical and empowering. We listen to what matters, help people explore their options, work through challenges and take positive steps towards the future they want.

The role at a glance

Programme: Southwark Connect to Work In-Work Support Service

Location: Hybrid / London Borough of Southwark

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, with part time options available

Salary: £29,000 - £35,000 FTE, depending on experience (pro rata for part-time hours)

Contract: 18-month fixed term, with the possibility of extension subject to funding

Reports to: In-Work Support Service Lead

About the Role

We're looking for an Employment Coach to join our small team delivering the Connect to Work In-Work Support Service in Southwark.

You'll provide personalised, one-to-one coaching and practical support to people who are already employed or self-employed but need help to stay in work, overcome workplace challenges, progress their careers or explore new opportunities.

This is a person-centred role where you'll get to know the people you support, understand what matters to them and work alongside them to find practical ways forward.

About Connect to Work

Connect to Work is a voluntary, government-funded supported employment programme helping people with health conditions, disabilities or other complex barriers to find and stay in work.

Our Southwark service focuses specifically on people who are already working. We work in partnership with other Connect to Work teams and employment services across the Southwark Works network.

Referrals come from NHS and social care services, Jobcentre Plus, community organisations, employers and individuals themselves

Where You’ll Work

This is a hybrid role, combining home working with face-to-face support and local partnership working.

You'll spend approximately 1-2 days per week in Southwark, meeting participants, working with partner organisations and connecting with local services.

The rest of your working week will usually be spent at home.

You'll also attend regular team meetings at our Bromley office, typically 1-2 times per month.

What You’ll Be Doing

No two participants will need exactly the same support. Your role is to understand their circumstances, build on their strengths and help them find practical ways to move forward.

Supporting and Coaching Participants

• Manage a caseload of approximately 20 participants (per full time equivalent), providing personalised support to help people stay, succeed and progress in work.
• Build trusting relationships, understanding each person's circumstances, strengths, aspirations and support needs.
• Identify barriers to sustaining employment or progressing at work, and work with participants to develop realistic goals and action plans.
• Provide tailored career and employment support, including exploring career options, job searching, CVs, applications, interview preparation and training opportunities.
• Help participants navigate workplace challenges, communicate their needs and explore reasonable adjustments or other support.
• Build confidence, motivation and problem-solving skills, encouraging participants to take ownership of their decisions.
• Where appropriate, involve employers or other professionals, and make referrals to additional support services.

Working with Employers & Partners

• Build positive relationships with employers and relevant health, employment, training and community services.
• Develop your understanding of local employment, training and career development opportunities.
• Work collaboratively to find practical solutions that support participants and employers.
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality in all partnership working.

Managing Your Caseload

• Plan and prioritise your workload, taking ownership of your caseload and agreed actions.
• Work towards programme targets while maintaining a person-centred approach.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential participant records, administration and outcome reporting.
• Work in accordance with relevant programme guidance and quality standards, including IPS / SEQF.

What You’ll Bring

We know that great Employment Coaches come from different backgrounds. You don't need to have followed a particular career path to be successful in this role.

We're looking for someone who is empathetic, curious, optimistic and genuinely believes in people. You'll combine strong relationship-building and coaching skills with good organisation, personal accountability and a clear focus on outcomes.

You'll need to have experience of:

• Supporting, coaching, advising or working with people on a one to-one basis, whether through paid work, volunteering or another relevant setting.
• Helping people work towards goals, make decisions, overcome challenges or make positive changes.
• Managing your own workload independently, prioritising tasks and balancing competing demands.
• Working towards targets, objectives or measurable outcomes.
• Maintaining accurate records, completing administration and handling information about the people you support.

It would also be helpful, but not essential, to have experience of:

• Providing employment support, employability advice or career coaching.
• Supporting people with health conditions, disabilities or other barriers to employment.
• Employer engagement or working directly with employers.
• Working alongside health, wellbeing or other support services.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of disability, health conditions or complex barriers to employment.

Skills and Capabilities

Building Relationships

• Excellent listening and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with people from different backgrounds.
• Warm, approachable and non-judgemental, while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Comfortable having honest or challenging conversations with sensitivity and respect.

Coaching and Empowerment

• Able to help people identify their own goals, explore solutions and take practical steps forward.
• Encouraging and supportive, while knowing when to offer appropriate challenge.
• Able to build confidence, independence and ownership rather than creating dependency.

Organisation and Accountability

• Highly organised, with the ability to manage a caseload and competing priorities independently.
• Comfortable working towards targets and taking responsibility for actions, outcomes and deadlines.
• Confident using Microsoft 365, maintaining accurate records and learning new digital systems.

Problem-Solving and Adaptability

• Practical, resourceful and able to think creatively about individual circumstances.
• Comfortable with uncertainty and adapting your approach to different people and situations.
• Open to feedback, willing to ask for support and able to respond positively to change.

How You’ll Work

Our values shape how we work and the support we provide.

Meaning Matters

You're curious about the person behind the employment goal. You care about meaningful, sustainable work, not just getting someone into a job.

Human First

You're warm, empathetic and authentic. You build genuine relationships and see the person, not just the caseload.

Practical Empowerment

You coach rather than take over, helping people find their own solutions while knowing when to guide, challenge or step back.

You believe in people's potential, regardless of their circumstances. You look for strengths and possibilities rather than making assumptions about what they can achieve.

Hope & Possibility

You're encouraging and strengths-based, helping people recognise opportunities and celebrating progress, however small.

What We Offer

• Flexible working arrangements, including the potential for compressed hours.
• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with up to five additional wellbeing days each year (pro-rata for part-time employees).
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 GP access, counselling, physiotherapy, specialist health services, health MOTs and discounted fitness services.
• A supportive working environment, with dedicated supervision and development time.
• Regular career development conversations and access to continuing professional development (CPD).
• Support for appropriate professional memberships and qualifications.