The Role

As a Skills & Development Adviser, you will join our supportive and hard-working team in either Carlisle, Penrith, Barrow-in-Furness or Workington. We work with both unemployed adults as well as with young people to provide careers information, advice and guidance and personal support to those at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training).

Key responsibilities of the role may include:

• Providing personalised 1:1 careers advice and guidance
• Working with groups to enable young people to gain a better understanding of the world of work and the options available to them. This includes the planning and delivering of sessions.
• Collaborating with employers and training providers to support young people to make the transition from education into work and training.
• Proactively managing a caseload of participants
• Providing intensive support to participants, motivating and encouraging candidates to overcome any personal barriers to employment, education or training and building confidence
• Delivering dynamic personal development and career management courses to groups;
• Supporting participants to identify and develop transferable skills
• Supporting customers with the use of appropriate online resources
• Maintaining an awareness and understanding of the local labour market and building and maintaining external relationships to help support participants into suitable employment, education or training
• Completing documentation to the required standard and within required timescales
• Following up with customers to ensure advice given has made a difference.
• Achieving contractual performance targets.

These posts are permanent. The hours of work are 37 per week, however requests for part time hours will also be considered.

About You  

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate:

• An enthusiasm for working with, and supporting, young people and/or adults
• The ability to thrive in a busy and varied work environment
• Experience of working with adults or young people, on a 1:1 basis or in groups;
• Previous experience of delivering Careers Information, Advice and Guidance;
• The ability to manage a caseload of individuals;
• The ability to identify, establish and maintain effective working partnerships for the benefit of customers
• The ability to keep accurate and up to date records with a good attention to detail. This includes data entry on electronic systems
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to respond to demanding pressures and to meet deadlines
• An ability to work on own initiative and a proactive approach to problem solving

We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates who have previous experience working with unemployed adults and/or young people.  Whilst not essential for delivery of all contracts, applications would be particularly welcome from practitioners qualified to level 4 or level 6 in careers information, advice and guidance.

Our Benefits

We are passionate about people and support our employees to do what they do best through a dynamic and supportive working environment with opportunities for continued professional development to work across multiple contracts.

We also offer a great benefits package, including 26 days annual leave, rising each year to a maximum of 33 days; Enhanced sick pay; Enhanced pension contributions; Life assurance cover; Access to counselling service; Access to medical health plan and the opportunity to work flexibly across home and office locations.

Please click here to view a quick video about the 10 reasons to join the Inspira team!

Why Inspira?

Inspira is the leading Organisation delivering Personal Development and Career Management for Young People and Adults in the North West. Through our work we help local people into work, improve their skills and open new opportunities. Our aim is to support disadvantaged people, help local communities to reduce inequalities which in turn will influence healthier, safer, and more sustainable local economies.

We inspire young people and adults to find their purpose and reach their potential to Be Bold, Be Relevant and Be Resilient.

Next Steps

We understand that no candidate will meet every single desired qualification/criteria. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value to the role and share our values to BE Bold, Relevant and Resilient, we would love to hear from you!

To apply select ‘Apply Here’ or send your CV and covering letter, outlining your suitability for the role, along with a completed Applicant Equality Monitoring Questionnaire (below) outlining your suitability for the role to hr@inspira.org.uk.

We recommend applying at your earliest convenience as we reserve the right to close this advert at any time.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you require a copy of our job documents in a more accessible format or are struggling to complete the application form due to a disability, please contact us via hr@inspira.org.uk or 01931 711300.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Check.

Role Profile

Overview of Benefits Package

Applicant Equality Monitoring Questionnaire