Employment Coach

Employment Coach

Location: Darlington
Salary: Competitive
Hours: 37
Contract: Connect to Work and other employment focused projects
Reports to: CEO
Closing date: 12 October

About Tandem

Tandem is a charity committed to helping people develop their skills, overcome barriers and progress towards sustainable employment.

Through the Connect to Work project, Tandem provides tailored, person-centred support to people who may be further removed from the labour market or who require additional support to move towards, enter or remain in work.

The role

We are looking for a compassionate, motivated and highly organised Employment Coach to support people across the Tees Valley who face barriers to employment.

The successful candidate will manage a caseload of participants and provide personalised, practical support based on their individual strengths, aspirations and circumstances. This may include help with confidence, motivation, employability skills, job searching, applications, interviews, workplace preparation and progression into sustainable employment.

The role will particularly suit someone with experience of supporting people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), neurodiversity, learning difficulties, ADHD, mental-health needs or other complex barriers to employment.

You will work closely with participants, employers, partner organisations and the wider Tandem team to help people make realistic and sustainable progress. You will need to build trust, recognise individual potential and adapt your approach to meet different communication, learning and support needs.

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who believes that everyone should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Key responsibilities

Participant support

• Deliver tailored, person-centred employment support to participants on the Connect to Work project.
• Manage a caseload of participants with a range of needs, abilities and barriers to employment.
• Complete initial assessments to understand each participant’s skills, strengths, aspirations, circumstances and support requirements.
• Develop clear, achievable and regularly reviewed action plans with participants.
• Provide one-to-one coaching and practical support to help participants move closer to, enter or remain in work.
• Support participants with confidence building, motivation, communication, workplace behaviour and employability skills.
• Provide guidance with CVs, application forms, job searches, interview preparation and interview attendance.
• Help participants identify suitable employment goals, training opportunities, volunteering, work experience and other appropriate progression routes.
• Support participants to understand workplace expectations, rights, responsibilities and reasonable adjustments.
• Maintain regular contact with participants and respond appropriately to changes in their circumstances.
• Provide in-work support where appropriate to help participants sustain employment.
• Celebrate progress and encourage participants to recognise and build on their achievements.

SEND and complex barriers

• Provide accessible and appropriately paced support to people with SEND and other complex barriers to employment.
• Adapt communication, learning materials, coaching methods and appointments to meet individual needs.
• Use strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches where appropriate.
• Support participants who may have neurodiverse needs, learning difficulties, ADHD, mental-health conditions, physical disabilities or long-term health conditions.
• Help participants identify barriers that may affect their participation, job search, recruitment process or ability to sustain employment.
• Work with participants to identify reasonable adjustments and appropriate workplace support.
• Build effective relationships with families, carers, advocates and specialist services where appropriate and with the participant’s consent.
• Make appropriate referrals to partner organisations, health services, specialist support providers and community services.
• Recognise safeguarding concerns and follow Tandem’s safeguarding, risk-management and escalation procedures.
• Ensure support is inclusive, respectful, non-judgemental and responsive to individual communication needs.

Employer and partnership working

• Build positive relationships with employers, training providers, support organisations and community partners.
• Work with employers to understand their recruitment needs and identify suitable opportunities for participants.
• Help prepare participants and employers for successful job starts and workplace integration.
• Promote inclusive recruitment and encourage employers to consider reasonable adjustments.
• Maintain effective communication with employers and partner organisations while protecting participant confidentiality.
• Attend outreach locations, partner venues, employer sites and community settings as required.
• Contribute to local networks and partnership meetings that support employment outcomes.

Case management and performance

• Maintain accurate, detailed and up-to-date participant records using CRM and other relevant systems.
• Record all contact, interventions, progress, referrals, outcomes and actions in line with Tandem and contract requirements.
• Manage appointments, caseload priorities and follow-up activity effectively.
• Monitor participant progress against agreed action plans and project milestones.
• Contribute to performance monitoring, outcome reporting, audits and quality-assurance activity.
• Work towards agreed Connect to Work targets and performance measures.
• Ensure all documentation is completed accurately, securely and within required timescales.
• Maintain professional boundaries and comply with confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding and health-and-safety requirements.

About you

You will be an empathetic and resourceful employment professional who can build trust with people who may have had negative experiences of education, employment or support services.

You will be confident working with individuals who require more intensive or specialist support. You will understand that progress may look different for each participant and will be able to balance encouragement, challenge and practical assistance.

You will be:

• Passionate about helping people overcome barriers and achieve their employment goals.
• Experienced in supporting people with SEND, neurodiversity or other complex needs.
• Patient, approachable, non-judgemental and able to build rapport quickly.
• Confident adapting your communication and coaching style.
• Able to manage a complex caseload while maintaining high-quality support.
• Organised, resilient and able to prioritise competing demands.
• Comfortable working towards targets and contractual outcomes.
• A confident communicator with participants, employers, families, professionals and partner organisations.
• Able to work independently while contributing positively to a wider team.
• Committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and person-centred practice.
• Willing to travel across the Tees Valley area to meet participants and partners.

Essential requirements

• Experience of delivering employability, employment-support, coaching, advice or related services.
• Experience of managing a caseload and maintaining accurate case records.
• Experience of supporting people facing barriers to employment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop effective action plans and review progress with participants.
• Ability to adapt support for different learning, communication and accessibility needs.
• Ability to use CRM systems and maintain accurate digital records.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, equality and data protection.
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel across the Tees Valley area.
• Commitment to Tandem’s charitable aims and the objectives of the Connect to Work project.

Desirable experience

• Experience supporting people with SEND, neurodiversity, ADHD, learning difficulties or disabilities.
• Experience working with people with mental-health needs, long-term health conditions or multiple and complex barriers.
• Experience of supported employment, Individual Placement and Support, welfare-to-work or similar employability provision.
• Knowledge of reasonable adjustments and inclusive recruitment practices.
• Experience working with families, carers, advocates, health professionals or specialist support services.
• Knowledge of local employability services, training providers, community organisations and labour-market opportunities across the Tees Valley.
• Experience working to public-sector contract requirements, targets and outcome measures.
• Experience engaging with employers and supporting people in work.
• Relevant qualification in careers guidance, employability, counselling, coaching, youth work, social care or a related discipline.

Skills and attributes

• Empathetic and non-judgemental approach.
• Strong ability to build trust and rapport.
• Excellent listening and questioning skills.
• Flexible and adaptable communication style.
• Strengths-based and solution-focused approach.
• Good understanding of professional boundaries.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Accurate and thorough record-keeping.
• Ability to manage risk and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Role purpose

The purpose of this role is to empower people with SEND and other complex barriers to employment to develop their confidence, skills and readiness for work through personalised, practical and supportive coaching.

The postholder will play a key role in helping participants make sustainable progress through Connect to Work, whether that means building confidence, engaging with training, accessing work experience, securing employment or receiving the support needed to remain in work.

What Tandem offers

• The opportunity to make a direct difference to people’s employment prospects.
• A varied role combining employer engagement, business development and social impact.
• The opportunity to work with a wide range of businesses and community partners.
• A supportive and purpose-led working environment.
• The chance to help develop meaningful corporate partnerships for Tandem.
• The opportunity to contribute to the growth of Tandem Hub, where profits support employment services.
• Competitive salary, pension, annual leave and other benefits.
• Flexible-working arrangements.
• Training and professional-development opportunities.

How to apply

Please submit:

• An up-to-date CV.
• A covering letter explaining your experience.

Applications should be sent to [email protected] by 5pm on Monday 12th October, 2026.

Tandem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults who may be vulnerable. Appointment will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including references and a DBS check where applicable.

Tandem welcomes applications from all sections of the community and is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Pay: £25,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Employee mentoring programme
• Flexitime
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Transport links

Work Location: In person