Inspire 2 Work (I2W) Worker

Inspire2 Work is a regional project working across 5 local authorities and funded through the European Social Funded (ESF).

The I2W Worker will form part of Inspire2 operations alongside the Inspire2 Achieve (I2A) delivery team based in Merthyr Tydfil. The post holder will have the responsibility for engaging with young people aged 16 – 24 who are identified as not engaging in education or employment (NEET).

The I2W worker will ensure that support is delivered in a joined up and co-ordinated way and will practice non-bias, non-judgemental empathetic support through listening to young people to enable them to overcome personal and social issues that affect their lives. The I2W Worker will offer a person centred approach to determine barriers to sustained engagement in the labour market. Support will be offered in overcoming these barriers and will encompass a range of interventions all with a clear focus on the highest priority of sustainable employment outcomes. The operation will specifically support those young people at risk of social exclusion or who have complex barriers to inclusion in education, training or employment. The person centred approach will allow individuals who are both work ready and those further from the labour market to receive appropriate support.


Short Term Objectives
To engage young people identified as NEET through the completion of an initial assessment to identify one to one and/or group tailored support to young people aged 16 – 24 to address and overcome barriers to employment.

Long Term Objectives
To support young people to increase their self-esteem, develop soft skills and gain qualifications to improve their life opportunities and enable their progression into employment.



Main Tasks performed







• To have a knowledge and understanding of the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework from Welsh Government.

• To establish strong working links with Careers Wales, Engagement & Progression Coordinator (EPC), Social Services, Children Looked After, Families First, Communities First, Banardos, Youth Offending Service and other voluntary sector projects supporting young people, to increase chance of engaging and developing positive relationships with young people identified as NEET.

• Complete an initial assessment and use a vulnerability profiling tool to establish support needs with a focus on their personal and social situation

• Provide consistent support to young people and help to coordinate support from different services in order to improve well-being, confidence, self-esteem and in respect of crisis management

• Work with young people to identify their interests and to develop these into an appropriate range of learning opportunities

• Work in partnership with Careers Wales completing referrals to enable young people to access advice, guidance, career planning and a range of employability related activities

• Complete participant action plans and conduct regular reviews on a one to one basis, ensuring participant involvement in the development of their Action Plan including goal setting for all participants to show distance travelled

• Supervising participants engaged in a range of off-site and workshop based activities

• Ability to recognise the need for specialist agency support to the participant and or potentially the family and to then make the appropriate referral and providing updates when required

• Support Year 11 pupils who have exited school as NEET to progress into appropriate Employment, Education or Training through scheduling Careers Interview, visits to/from providers, support to complete applications to secure a destination

• Complete monthly updates on participants to inform Careers Wales and the EPC at the NEET’s Operational Group Meetings

• To complete Multi Agency Referral Forms if there are concerns about a young person’s well-being or are deemed to be at risk

• Liaise with appropriate specialist agency to ensure the enhancement of participant’s personal and social development

• Support the implementation of learning strategies to enable participants to overcome barriers and increase; personal efficiency, increased motivation, self-confidence, self-esteem and build resilience

• Develop knowledge and understanding of qualifications to support in delivery and gather evidence to enable participants to achieve certification to an agreed standard as determined by the awarding body

• Ensure the maintenance of a case file of evidence documenting distance travelled and progression following an agreed format

• To work closely within the team to ensure clear communication regarding participants and network effectively with other agencies to ensure progression of participants

• To attend meetings, produce reporting information on participants, attend relevant training opportunities and promotional events

• Any other duties deemed reasonable as instructed by the Inspire2 Work Officer

Resources
Items that are personally accountable to the post-holder. i.e. cash / cheques, plant/equipment, stock/materials
buildings
ICT equipment including, Laptop and head set. Any office furniture required for Agile Working.




RESPONSIBILITY

For People No line management responsibility.
For Finance No budget management responsibility.
Communications Internal and External communication with colleagues, DWP, Careers Wales, Training Providers, Social Services and other external partners.
Decision Making Those associated with supporting young people and in relation to the role.
PERSONAL DEMANDS
Include here any unavoidable exposure to risk of mental / physical injury
Mental Demands associated with engaging vulnerable young people which is why the role requires a recognised Youth Qualification or equivalent. Mandatory training; Level2/3 Youth Work Qualification.
Physical N/A

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