Role:Employment Officer Location:Hybrid/ Head Office - Belfast Pay:£31,872 (Band 5) Hours:Full Time 35hours per week (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am -2pm) Contract:Permanent (subject to funding) How to Apply: Send your CV and Cover Letter by clicking Apply below. Disability Action is a dynamic and thriving charity committed to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities across Northern Ireland. We provide a wide range of services and support to empower people with disabilities, in employment, education, advocacy and more. Ensuring they can live independently and participate fully in society. The post holder will directly deliver engageme t and tailored support activities in a designated geographical area, to achieve a steady flow of participants, working collaboratively with local partners, CVS organisations, statutory agencies, JBOs and employers. They will be responsible for managing and maintaining their own participant caseload and will collaborate across the wider team to achieve a range of role related activities, KPIs, quality measures and targets. They will provide tailored one-to-one advice and support to participants and employers to help employees with disabilities and long-term health conditions enter, sustain and progress in employment. The Employment Officer will be responsible to and report to an Employment and Skills Manager. Key Responsibilities Key duties and responsibilities: The key duties and major responsibilities of the Employment Officer will include: Plan, develop and deliver targeted activities in a designated geographical area to achieve a steady flow of participants, working collaboratively with local partners, CVS organisations, statutory agencies, JBOs and employers, to secure participants to achieve a range of clear monthly and annual KPIs, quality standards and targets specific to the Workable NI programme. Plan and provide tailored and timely one-to-one support to Workable participants and employers, utilising the full range of supports available from within Workable and within own local team and delivery partners, and via DfC such as Condition Management Programme, AtW etc as needed to meet individual needs and employer needs. Record and report on day-to-day activities, outputs and outcomes accurately on DA standardised systems such as Outlook Calendar and Teams, processes, paperwork and shared platforms as directed by the Employment and Skills Manager and wider DA management teams. Collaborate with team members and DA Employment and Skills Managers and partners to undertake ongoing monitoring, reporting and evaluation of own and team activities and learning. Including use of peer reflection support networks, to contribute to ongoing self-evaluation and improvement planning, best practice and future services development. Actively participate in regular reviews of own activities, outcomes and performance, to identify knowledge and skills gaps and development opportunities to grow professional skills and impact. Adhere to agreed corporate quality standards and best practice. Undertake any other duties as may be required from time to time by Disability Action in line with the status of the post. For example, providing necessary support to other team members planned activities and supports during periods of absence. Essential Criteria This person specification indicates the essential and desirable qualifications, experience, skills, abilities, knowledge, values and/or attitudes that you require to carry out the duties of this post. When completing your application form it is therefore important to indicate how you meet each of the criteria listed below by providing detailed specific examples (including dates) that relate to your academic, professional, voluntary or personal life. Within its values Disability Action recognises that certain individuals with disabilities or health conditions may not have had the opportunity to achieve certain qualifications or may be unable to meet other criteria such as possession of a driving licence. If you feel that you, as a person with a disability or health condition, have experienced these barriers we would encourage you to tell us about it and to tell us how your other skills and attributes prepare you for this post. This will help us to make any necessary reasonable adjustments and / or positive action measures to this recruitment process. Essential Requirements Experience of directly supporting and assisting disabled people or people with health conditions into and to sustain employment, self-employment, further/higher education or job related or vocational skills training (OR as a person with a disability or health condition have personal experience of addressing specific related issues and barriers faced in employment, self-employment, further/higher education or skills training). The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to disabled people and people with health conditions, employers, further and higher education providers, and training providers, support organisations, statutory agencies, local councils, health professionals etc Ability to effectively plan, manage and maintain own workload and achieve KPIs and targets to meet service, funder and organisational aims and objectives. The ability to develop good working relationships and work as part of a team. IT skills and experience in the effective use of a range of IT tools, (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite, Windows OS, and Android OS), enabling effective hybrid and onsite working to achieve high quality and timely service delivery. Possession of a full driving licence and access to a car for business travel. (If the effects of a disability preclude an individual from holding a driving licence, then they should indicate how they can meet the mobility requirements of the post i.e. the ability to travel throughout Northern Ireland, during normal working hours and on some occasions at evenings and weekends.) Desirable Requirements A relevant third level qualification or a recognised accredited qualification in a relevant area such as Employability Support, Supported Employment, Teaching, Job/Sector Related Skills Training, Mentoring, Coaching, Careers Guidance or Self-Employment/Enterprise Knowledge of relevant employment legislation and experience or knowledge of the Government programmes to assist disabled people and people with health conditions into employment, further/higher education or skills training. Knowledge or experience of the social security benefits and tax credits relevant to job seekers. Knowledge of the Disability Discrimination Act and other relevant employment legislation. NB: - Criteria based selection is used as a means of ensuring that the best candidate is selected on the basis of their ability to do the job required. This method of selection requires individuals to demonstrate their knowledge, skills or competence through completion of an application form and, if shortlisted, by attendance at a structured interview. The desirable criteria reflect that which would be advantageous for the successful applicant to possess. If the eligible field of applicants remains too large after the initial eligibility shortlist, the desirable criteria may be applied to further shortlist. The aim of the application form is for you to demonstrate your ability to meet each of the criteria listed above and you must provide specific examples including dates of how you meet these criteria. (c) Competence Profile Those candidates who are selected for interview will be expected to be able to demonstrate the following competences at interview. (i) Planning & Impact Skills: The ability to: Plan and manage multiple activities, resolve conflicting priorities in a practical way and organise activities effectively. Create detailed action plans both short and long term for self and others that meet SMART objectives and impacts. Manage and maintain own performance against agreed plans, KPIs targets, objectives and standards Utilise a range of planning and time management tools. Use templates, proformas, systems and processes effectively to record and report on own performance and achievements. (ii)Collaboration & Influence: The ability to: Develop collaborative relationships with employers and employer networks and intermediaries to help to achieve KPIs and targets. Involve others in decision making, recognising the concerns and perspectives of others. Engage in robust negotiations that help influence positive decision making and achieve win-win solutions internally and externally to deliver and maintain high quality services. Build and maintain relationships with colleagues (including volunteers) to foster effective team working and achievement of agreed outcomes. (iii)Information & Communication: The ability to: Communicate effectively with individuals and groups demonstrating an ability to tailor the style and content of the message and being sensitive to the communication requirements of different audiences. Deliver and present information clearly, logically, and in various formats. Explain reasoning and rationale behind own opinions. Use information systems to store, collate and report information to meet agreed timescales and demonstrate effective performance. Share information with others and seek information /feedback from others, that contributes to ongoing quality and performance improvement actions (iv) Knowledge & Experience of Supporting People with Disabilities and Health Conditions in Employment: The ability to: Demonstrate knowledge of the employment legislation relevant to supporting people with disabilities and health conditions into to sustain and progress in work. Demonstrate knowledge of the values, principles and techniques of Employability Support and Supported Employment. Identify barriers to employment for people with disabilities and health conditions and to create solutions. Identify employer needs effectively and demonstrate knowledge of legislation relevant to employers and solutions that work. Respect the equality of opportunity and rights of people with disabilities and health conditions and support their choices and preferences. Work with us What we can offer you: Enhanced Maternity packages Hybrid Working Death in Service package Cash plan In house Counselling services Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being 27 days paid holidays per year and 11 bank holidays (Based on a full-time role) Opportunities for growth in business development, project implementation, training and development and personal development plans