We are recruiting…a Skills & Employment Tutor

We are looking for a Skills & Employment Tutor to join us at Stepping Stones - the job is part time - 14 hours per week and £11.77 per hour.

Stepping Stones is a small, vibrant charity for adults with learning disabilities. Our aim is to enrich our students’ lives by empowering them to develop their skills and independence. We work in a person-centered way, encouraging students to choose from 6 main subject areas – cooking, art, media, horticulture, employment and life skills. We are based on Magdalen Road in Norwich where we have free parking onsite, with our allotment and life skills centre a short walk away.

This is an exciting time to join Stepping Stones because we have secured funding to develop and implement a Skills & Employment programme for our students; we are looking for someone who can help take these projects forward with enthusiasm and drive. This post is offered on an initial 12-month contract, with the potential for this to be increased subject to funding and success of the project.

Job Purpose

·     Overseeing and developing all aspects of our employment offer to students including CV building, interview skills, job searches, work place visits and confidence building.

·     Networking and liaising with potential employers to create positive relationships and partnerships.  

·     Supporting and encouraging our students with their employment journey, whether it is finding suitable voluntary work or paid work.

·     Preparing students for job interviews and accompanying to interviews where needed.

·     Support students with Access to Work and Permitted Work forms.

·     Support students with ‘better off’ calculations if moving from benefits to paid employment.

·     Provide in work job coaching support for students when they gain employment (work experience, paid or voluntary).

·     Empowering students to engage with and be active in their local community.

·     Working with a small staff team, students and volunteers to ensure Stepping Stones remains a safe, supportive, respectful and nurturing environment.

·     Promoting the interests of adults with learning disabilities in the community.

·     Challenging prejudice, discrimination and promoting a fair and equal society.

Main responsibilities

·     To develop our employment programme for students, supporting them to gain skills and confidence to try work experience, volunteering or paid work. 

·     Working with students on a small group basis or 1:1.

·     Working alongside the Deputy Manager and Manager to integrate employability aspects into the Enterprise project.

·     To create and post, employment themed social media content and case studies for fundraising purposes.  

·     Offer continued support to students currently in paid employment and acting as a point of contact.

·     Engage with daily staff briefings and meetings throughout the year.

·     Monitoring of students’ progress, developing plans, record keeping as appropriate and report writing as required.

·     Liaising with students and others within their circles of support.

·     Attending meetings with outside agencies or forums as appropriate.

·     Representing Stepping Stones in a professional manner that promotes the ethos, culture, aims and objectives of the charity. 

·     Undertake training relevant to your post (safeguarding, first aid etc.)

·     Building and maintaining a network of contacts, developing relationships with other organisations and individuals that support the aims of Stepping Stones and further benefit it’s students.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

-          Ability to communicate well at all levels, with a diverse group of people and stakeholders

-          Ability to network effectively and build positive working relationships with people both inside and outside the organization

-          Excellent standards of numeracy, literacy and I.T.

-          Ability to plan ahead, anticipate and react to problems and unexpected events

-          A good understanding of professional boundaries

-          An approachable, empathetic, resilient and adaptable personality

-          A high level of organisation

Desirable

-          Experience of supporting people into employment opportunities

-          Knowledge or experience of using TSI training (Training in Systematic Instruction) or holding a qualification in Supported Employment/Information and guidance.

-          Experience of reporting and record keeping

-          Experience of supporting adults with disabilities e.g., in a social, care, health or educational setting

-          Experience working in the Third Sector

-          Knowledge and understanding of health and safety at work and other compliance requirements

-          Driving license or willing to use public transport

-          Good knowledge of Safeguarding.

Other responsibilities

The nature of the post means that hours worked will need to have some degree of flexibility to ensure the smooth running of the project during normal opening times, as well as the occasional out-of-hours event and meetings.  Time in lieu is granted for extra hours accrued.

Closing date: Friday 22nd September

Applications are C.V. and cover letter based, once complete please email to:

roger@steppingstonesproject.com or by post FAO: Roger/Sara, Stepping Stones, 52 Magdalen Road, Norwich NR3 4AQ.

If you are thinking of applying and would like to have an informal chat, or have any difficulties with the application process, please phone Roger Bilton-Hill our Manager on 01603 419996.

We need to collect some of your information for the purpose of recruiting for this post. Your C.V contains your personal contact information but this will be removed before being forwarded to the shortlisting panel. 

If you are shortlisted for interview you will be asked to bring proof of identification, right to work in the UK and to confirm dates of previous employment/training (accounting for any significant gaps).  We will also ask you to provide contact details for two references. One of these should be your present or most recent employer. If you accept a preliminary offer of employment with us, your references will be taken up and you will be asked to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).

We will not collect any personal data from you which we do not need. We retain personal information only for as long as necessary, and in line with our retention policy. Information in relation to recruitment will be retained as follows:

•            Applications from unsuccessful applicants will be retained for 2 years.

•            Applications from successful candidates will be transferred to their employee file, which is retained for 6 years following employment ending.

We do not share an applicant’s personal data except for where you give consent, or where we have a legal obligation to do so.