Restart Employment Coach - Frontline Career Support

Acorn Training Ltd; Burton upon Trent; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Acorn Training Ltd in Burton upon Trent is seeking an Employment Coach to support Restart participants at a designated site. You will manage a caseload, deliver tailored IAG, and help participants progress into sustainable work.

The role requires strong coaching, case management, and knowledge of local labour markets; you will collaborate with Employer Services and ensure contract compliance and performance targets.

Qualifications

• Full NVQ Level 2 in customer service, business administration, accounting, or IT (essential)
• GCSE English Language and Mathematics (essential)
• Level 2 IT Qualification such as ECDL (essential)
• Level 3 Information, Advice and Guidance qualification (desirable)
• First Aid at Work Certificate (desirable)

Responsibilities

• Manage an allocated caseload of Restart participants from a designated delivery site, maintaining regular and purposeful contact
• Complete effective initial assessments and ongoing reviews to understand each participant’s skills, experience, circumstances, aspirations and barriers to employment
• Co-produce and regularly update clear SMART action plans, ensuring agreed activities are relevant, measurable and focused on progression into work
• Deliver high-quality, personalised Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) through face-to-face, telephone and remote appointments
• Use coaching techniques to build motivation, confidence, resilience, personal responsibility and positive work-related behaviours
• Provide practical employability support, including job search, applications, CV development, interview preparation and digital job-search skills
• Maintain a strong focus on job outcomes by identifying suitable vacancies and supporting participants to apply for and secure sustainable employment
• Work closely with Employer Services Consultants and colleagues to match participants to live vacancies, sector opportunities, employer events and recruitment activity
• Develop and maintain current knowledge of the local labour market, priority sectors, entry routes and employer requirements
• Identify and address barriers to employment, making timely referrals and signposting participants to appropriate internal, community and specialist services
• Support participants to access relevant training, skills provision and qualifications that improve employability and meet employer requirements
• Maintain proactive contact with participants who miss appointments or disengage, using agreed re-engagement activity and escalation processes
• Provide appropriate pre in-work support and maintain contact with the IWS Coach after a job start to help participants sustain employment and achieve outcome milestones
• Meet and exceed individual and site key performance indicators, including engagement, progression, job starts, sustained outcomes and compliance measures
• Maintain accurate, complete and timely participant records on all required systems, ensuring evidence meets DWP, contractual and organisational audit standards
• Prepare for and positively contribute to case reviews, performance discussions, quality observations, audits and continuous improvement activity
• Work collaboratively with Employment Coaches, Team Leaders, Employer Services - Consultants and support colleagues to provide a joined-up participant journey
• Support a diverse participant group, including people with complex or multiple barriers, while promoting independence and avoiding dependency
• Identify basic skills needs, including literacy, numeracy and digital capability, and arrange appropriate support or referral
• Follow safeguarding procedures for Adults at Risk and other vulnerable groups, escalating concerns promptly and appropriately
• Comply with data protection, UK GDPR, information security, equality, diversity and inclusion, and Health and Safety requirements at all times
• Undertake any additional duties that are reasonable and consistent with the frontline Employment Coach role

Skills

Caseload management

Coaching and mentoring

IAG and guidance

Relationship building

DWP/Restart knowledge

Education

Full NVQ Level 2 (customer service / IT / admin)

GCSE English & Math

Level 2 IT qualification (EC DL)

Level 3 Information, Advice & Guidance

First Aid at Work qualification

Job description

Acorn Training Ltd in Burton upon Trent is seeking an Employment Coach to support Restart participants at a designated site. You will manage a caseload, deliver tailored IAG, and help participants progress into sustainable work.

The role requires strong coaching, case management, and knowledge of local labour markets; you will collaborate with Employer Services and ensure contract compliance and performance targets.