Senior Project Officer / Job Coach

Sheffield City Council HQ; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Sheffield is seeking two Job Coaches to deliver on the Sheffield SEQF programme as part of the Connect to Work initiative. The role requires supporting individuals with Learning disabilities and/or Autism to enhance job skills and progress into work. Flexible working options are available, including part-time arrangements. Applicants should possess experience in supporting individuals into employment and demonstrate outstanding communication skills.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working options

Support for unpaid caring responsibilities

Qualifications

• Experience of working with individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism.
• Experience of supporting people into employment.
• Ability to inspire and motivate people.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the Sheffield SEQF programme as part of Connect to Work.
• Work with employers to broker suitable job vacancies.
• Engage with participants to overcome barriers to employment.

Skills

Experience working with individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism

Supporting people into employment

Ability to inspire and motivate

Managing a complex caseload

Resilience and determination

Outstanding communication skills

Proficient in MS Office

Job description

Overview

This job is for two enthusiastic, flexible and forward-thinking Job Coaches to deliver on the Sheffield SEQF programme as part of the Connect to Work initiative. The role supports people with Learning disabilities and/or Autism to enhance their strengths, improve their job skills and progress into work. The programme will run from 2025 to 2030 and is funded through Department for Work and Pensions funding designated to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We also support staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria of this job are guaranteed an interview. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year with a generous holiday entitlement, and we are open to flexible working options including reduced hours, part-time or job share.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the Sheffield SEQF programme as part of Connect to Work by supporting participants to identify strengths and suitable job roles.
• Work with employers to broker suitable job vacancies and support individuals to gain and maintain employment, providing workplace support as needed.
• Engage with participants to overcome barriers to employment, delivering intensive and, in many cases, prolonged engagements.
• Maintain smaller caseloads than traditional keyworker provision (maximum caseload size for an SEQF advisor is 20).
• Use the BASE 5 stages of supported employment approach and participate in training in Systematic Instruction.

Qualifications

• experience of working with individuals with Learning Disabilities and / or Autism and have
• experience of supporting people into employment,
• ability to inspire and motivate people,
• to manage a complex caseload
• resilience and determination
• outstanding communication skills and be proficient in MS Office.

Additional Information

Advisors will be mentors who help people identify strengths and suitable job roles. They will work with employers to broker vacancies and provide support within the workplaces. From August 2025, Local Authority delivery and/or commissioning of SEQF provision targeted at individuals requiring the highest level of supported employment will replace the Local Supported Employment programme previously delivered by the Local Authorities in Sheffield, Barnsley and Doncaster. Sheffield City Council has delivered the Local Supported Employment programme since 2022, supporting 101 residents and placing 31 in employment. The SEQF programme in Sheffield is expected to support a minimum of 310 people over the next 5 years.

Contact: Peter Slack at 07785 972990 or [e-mail]

Contact, Diversity, and Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful candidates will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. We are open to flexible working opportunities and reserve the right to adjust pay evaluations as part of our wider pay and job evaluation process. Equality of pay is important to us and all roles are under evaluation for potential changes from 2026.