Local Area Employment Service (LAES) Part-time Caseworker (West Cork)

SECAD Partnership CLG is a local development partnership, that delivers a range of local and community development programmes including the LEADER Programme, the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Rural Social Scheme, LAES, Tús among others.

Context of Post

SECAD has developed a team of LAES Caseworkers that provide a range of supports to those referred from the Department of Social Protection to the LAES in our catchment, including CV preparation, interview skills, career direction support, technology for work skills, social welfare supports and access to other public services that could assist the persons return to employment and activation.

These LAES services are being developed in parallel with existing valuable and experienced services such as those developed as part of Local Development ‘SICAP’ employment supports. From a value added and person-centred perspective, it will be essential that these supports are offered and delivered in a logical, collaborative, and connected manner for each client.

SECAD is seeking to hire an individual on a part-time (3 days per week) basis who is currently based in or will be based in the West Cork area. This role will involve working in two or more of our western locations of Skibbereen, Bantry, Clonakilty, Carrigaline. Caseworkers are required to be flexible and move to other locations as the programme evolves reflecting changes in referral trends.

Principal Duties

• Provide a practical but empathetic approach to engaging all referred clients.
• Ensure the effective completion of referral appointments made by Department of Social Protection (DSP) through the SECAD LAES Co-Ordinator.
• Engage with referred clients using a three-tier approach encompassing: Initial assessment, Assessment of readiness to work and change; Interview and engagement.
• Identify client goals, aspirations, and barriers to employment, providing good customer service, including meeting and professionally greeting clients.
• Ensure all initial assessments focus on getting to know the participant, their motivation and exploring their aspirations and needs.
• Identify, clarify, and manage the client’s expectations of the process, including data protection, confidentiality, and ground rules of the LAES intervention and the relationships required to achieve buy-in.
• Manage a caseload efficiently and effectively in line with company and funder’s procedures and guidelines and against defined KPIs.
• Prepare and maintain a Personal Progression Plan (PPP) for clients.
• Assist clients with job preparation, including curriculum vitae preparation, job seeking and interview skills.
• Identify the individual supports required for each client.
• Responsibility for arranging and managing client appointments.
• Liaise with employers to provide a job-matching service.
• Assess and ensure clients are signposted both internally and externally, with the specific objective of ensuring labour market engagement.
• As necessary, liaise directly with the respective ETBs, SOLAS, DSP, and other public and private training providers and agencies.
• Present oral and written reports to the LAES Team Leads and others as required.

 

Person Specifications

 ESSENTIAL

• The successful candidate must have a full clean driving licence and own transport that is fully insured.
• Be motivated to provide a professional service focusing on securing positive outcomes for our clients and the wider community.
• Have strong interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrate an adaptable communication approach to suit the individual need of each client.
• Have empathy for clients, with the ability to demonstrate an unconditionally positive and respectful approach.
• Ability to build rapport and trust as well as manage conflict and support de-escalation of challenging behaviour.
• Possess good report writing skills, particularly a high degree of skill in producing quality well-presented written documents.
• Have strong ICT skills with the ability to learn ICT systems quickly and hold a strong general IT skillset in the use of MS Office suite in particular Word, Excel, SharePoint.
• Hold strong organisational, time management and administration skills (LAES Case Workers will need to manage their own administration duties including record keeping, appointment setting, etc.)
• Be able to demonstrate the ability to apply resilience, deep focus, attention to detail and a capacity to strictly adhere to procedures within the context of a busy workload.
• Possess a general understanding of the barriers facing unemployed people in accessing progression options.
• Respect for confidentiality and a willingness to strictly adhere to data protection processes.
• Possess a willingness to learn and be open to taking on new duties and projects that will support the work of our service and most importantly serve to promote the progression of our clients.
• Excellent teamwork skills developing strong working relationships with individuals and co-workers.
• Be flexible in terms of availability and work location within the SECAD LAES Catchment

DESIRABLE

• A third level qualification in a suitable subject area such as Human Resources, Coaching & Coaching Psychology, Community Development.
• Have previous relevant work experience supporting those experiencing unemployment and social exclusion or working in services to support the local community at large.
• Previous experience in information provision and signposting to services including awareness of referral pathways across education, training, and community services.
• Have a clear understanding of the effects of unemployment on the individual’s self-image, behaviour patterns and general well-being, particularly the effect on long-term unemployed people.
• Possess a knowledge of digital tools & information sources focused on education, training, career direction.
• Demonstrate an ability to support individuals to access opportunities.
• Previous experience in the use of online monitoring and reporting systems.
• Understand the principles of social inclusion / rural development.

Training Provision

Full training will be provided to the successful candidate this will include,

• Case Management System training
• Education/Training/Community referral pathways & signposting process
• Employability/ Recruitment Theory
• General coaching models, tools, and questions.

Additional training opportunities are offered to team members via third parties when available in areas that have a direct impact on caseworkers’ duties/responsibilities.

How to Submit an Application

• Please email your application (CV & Letter of Application) to: info@secad.ie
• Subject box to be marked “LAES Caseworker” by 12:00pm Monday 21^st October.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted on Tuesday 22^nd October to arrange attendance for interview.

SECAD is an equal opportunity employer and canvassing will disqualify.