Work Experience & Progressions Advisor

Are you looking for an organisation where you can make a difference? Are you enthusiastic, self-motivated and have passion for helping young people achieve their goals? If so, we would like to hear from you!

Routes to Work South (RTWS) is an award-winning organisation committed to alleviating poverty and supporting unemployed South Lanarkshire residents to develop skills, confidence and knowledge required to progress into and sustain employment. We work collaboratively with partner agencies, employers, and stakeholders to deliver flexible, accessible, client-centred employability and skills services that respond to the needs of local communities and the labour market. Our services support individuals facing a range of barriers to employment, helping people progress through different stages of the employability pipeline towards positive and sustained outcomes.

For over 20 years, RTWS has successfully delivered a range of welfare-to-work programmes, funded through South Lanarkshire Council, Skills Development Scotland, the Department for Work and Pensions, and other funding streams including the Big Lottery and European Structural Funds. We currently deliver services to young people and adults across South Lanarkshire through Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind (NOLB).

As an arm’s-length external organisation of South Lanarkshire Council, we play a key role in delivering services that support the council’s Employability Strategy, working closely with the Local Employability Partnership, our wider network of partners and employers to create opportunities, reduce inequalities, and support economic inclusion.

At RTWS we are committed to delivering high-quality services, driving innovation and creating a positive impact for the individuals, employers, and communities we support.

What will the Role Involve?

As Work Experience & Progressions Advisor, you will play an important role in helping our young people to gain meaningful workplace experience and develop the skills, confidence and understanding needed to progress.

You will identify and co-ordinate suitable work placements, build positive relationships with employers and work closely with RTWS colleagues and partner organisations. You will support young people throughout their placement journey, from identifying their interests and preparing for the workplace, through to regular monitoring, feedback and planning their next steps.

The role will also involve supporting the facilitation of relevant training and helping to develop routeways that connect young people with work placements, employment, further learning and other opportunities.

The ideal candidate will be, approachable and committed to helping young people gain positive workplace experiences. You will be confident building relationships with employers and young people, able to manage a varied workload and willing to work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Main Aims

• To identify and co-ordinate safe, suitable, and meaningful work placements that reflect the individual needs, interests, abilities, and aspirations of young people.
• To develop and maintain positive relationships with employers, colleagues, and partner organisations to increase the range and availability of meaningful work placements.
• To support and provide ongoing support to young people and employers to promote successful, safe, and positive placement experiences.
• Ensure placements are appropriately risk assessed with relevant checks, documentation and approvals completed before placements commence.
• Monitoring placement attendance, progress and engagement, identifying and addressing any concerns or additional support requirements.
• Maintaining accurate placement records, timesheets, and monitoring information in line with RTWS quality standards.
• To facilitate relevant training and contribute to the development of progression routeways or sector specific pathways.
• Supporting young people to develop workplace skills, confidence, and an understanding of employer expectations to help them progress towards employment.
• To contribute to positive outcomes and continuous improvement within the service.

Key Responsibilities/Duties

• Source and co-ordinate suitable work placement opportunities, matching these to the interests, skills, aspirations and support needs of individual young people.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with employers, acting as a key point of contact before, during and after placements.
• Agree placement arrangements with employers, including duties, hours, duration and expectations, and ensure all relevant information is shared.
• Assess placement suitability and complete or co-ordinate relevant risk assessments, checks, and agreements in line with RTWS procedures.
• Prepare young people for the workplace, including expectations around attendance, timekeeping, conduct, communication and health and safety.
• Identify any additional support or reasonable adjustments required and work with employers and colleagues to put these in place.
• Maintain regular contact with young people and employers to monitor attendance, engagement, wellbeing, and progress.
• Respond to concerns or issues and work with the young person, employer, and relevant colleagues to agree appropriate solutions.
• Support young people to reflect on their placement experience and identify next steps towards employment, training, or further learning.
• Support the facilitation of employability, workplace preparation, and other relevant training.
• Develop and co-ordinate routeways into work placements, employment, further learning, and other opportunities.
• Collaborate with employers, partners, and RTWS colleagues to identify opportunities that support progression.
• Maintain accurate placement records, attendance information, timesheets, reviews, and outcome information.
• Ensure records and documentation are completed in line with organisational, safeguarding, confidentiality, and data protection requirements.
• Contribute to monitoring, reporting, quality assurance, and the ongoing development of the service.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

Desirable Skills & Knowledge

A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar client-facing, employability, advice, guidance, or support role.

Knowledge of local labour market intelligence, employment trends, and local recruitment opportunities.

Experience supporting young people or individuals to develop skills and progress towards employment, training or further learning, or other positive outcomes.

A relevant qualification in employability, careers advice, advice and guidance, counselling, youth work, or related discipline.

Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with employers, young people and partner organisations.

Experience arranging or supporting work placements, work experience or supported employment.

Ability to effectively match clients to suitable vacancies, training, work placements, and other progression opportunities.

Experience facilitating training, group activities or workplace preparation sessions or developing employability routeways into work training or further learning.

Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with clients, employers, partners, and stakeholders.

Experience of business development, employer engagement, or developing new employment opportunities.

Excellent organisational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

Understanding of the barriers young people may face when moving into the workplace.

Target and performance-driven, with the ability to achieve individual and team KPIs and contractual targets.

Experience completing risk assessments, placement assessments or relevant checks and documentation.

Ability to identify individual needs, recognise barriers and support practical solutions.

Ability to support and motivate young people while encouraging independence, responsibility and confidence.

Understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety and the importance of following organisational procedures.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team, using initiative while recognising when to seek advice or escalate concerns.

A flexible and professional approach, with a commitment to equality, inclusion and person-centred support.

Competent IT skills, including experience of Microsoft Office, Outlook, CRM systems, and maintaining accurate client records and data.

Full Driving License and access to own transport

This job outline reflects the main tasks and responsibilities discharged by the post holder at the present time, however, RTWS reserves the right to alter or amend the content of this job outline to reflect changes to the job or services provided, while maintaining the overall character and level of responsibility for the post.

If interested in joining RTWS, please submit your CV with a covering letter (applications without covering letter will not be considered) answering the following to https://hr.breathehr.com/v/work-experience-progressions-49153

• What motivated you to apply for the role? (Max 300 words)
• What skills and experience can you bring to the role? (Max 300 words)

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience of working with young people and/or adults with health and wellbeing needs.

Applications close Wednesday 28th October at 5pm any applications received after this will not be considered.

For those being invited to interview, they will take place on Wednesday 11th November.

Please note RTWS are a Disability Confident Committed Employer, if you require amendments to the recruitment process, please contact us.

Pay: Up to £33,215.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Flexitime
• Free parking
• Life insurance
• Referral programme

Application question(s):

• What motivated you to apply for the role? (Max 300 words)
• Do you have 3 or more years experience in a similar role?

Work Location: In person