Case Officer ( Local Area Employment Service )
Case Officer ( Local Area Employment Service )
The Role of the Case Officer
The case Worker will provide one-to-one support and guidance to the long-term unemployed and people in receipt of job seekers'
Key Responsibilities
- To provide a participative and diagnostic approach to engaging clients.
- To plan for appointments with clients to ensure effective use of time, and building a relationship with the clients.
- To engage with your caseload of clients to understand their needs using a multi-approach e.g. Initial Assessment, Assessment of Readiness to Work & Change, Interview skills and Engagement & Training.
- To identify client goals, aspirations, and barriers to employment, and support clients to overcome these, providing excellent customer service, including meeting and greeting clients professionally.
- To explain our service offering, ensuring the client understands their rights and responsibilities (e.g., complaints & and feedback process), whilst registering the client by contractual obligations and eligibility criteria.
- To ensure all initial assessments focus on getting to know the participant, and their motivation and explore their aspirations and needs.
- To identify, clarify, and manage the client’s expectations of the process including data protection and confidentiality.
- To manage your caseload efficiently and effectively in line with good governance and established company and funder’s procedures and guidelines and against defined KPIs (objectives).
- Support colleagues with caseload management in outreach offices’ covering annual leave and sickness if necessary.
- To prepare a detailed Personal Progression Plan for each client and identify the support required for each client.
- To assist the clients with CV preparation and job seeking/interview skills & liaise with employers and provide a job matching service.
- To assess and ensure clients are signposted internally/externally, with the specific objective of ensuring labour market engagement.
- To maintain a database of clients/groups in the catchment area using the Department’s IT database BOMI.
- To liaise directly with ETB, Solas, Intreo and other public and private training providers and agencies to provide a wrap-around service for clients.
- To provide oral and written reports to your line manager when required.
- To ensure the delivery of a service adhering to all quality assurance standards 17. To demonstrate a willingness to take on additional duties as and when required
- To support and adhere to the Q Mark standards.
- Taking part and joining internal working groups/teams
- To conduct mock interviews in person and via MS Teams to enhance the client's interview skills.
- This is not an exhaustive list of duties.
Core Competencies / Skills & Knowledge
Essential / Minimum
1. Knowledge of Employment / Career Guidance
- Detailed knowledge of employment, enterprise, and/or career guidance.
- Experience working with individuals furthest from the labour market.
- Clear understanding of the role of the Local Area Employment Service.
- Up-to-date knowledge of labour market trends and job skills.
- Awareness of the impact of unemployment on self-image, behaviour, and well-being, especially among the long-term unemployed.
- Understanding of the barriers faced by unemployed individuals in accessing progression opportunities.
2. Liaison Skills
- Proven ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Strong influencing and motivational skills.
- Ability to build trust and inspire confidence in others.
3. Caseload Management Skills
- Experience managing caseloads to deliver Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Ability to report on outcomes using advanced MS Office/IT skills or bespoke systems.
- Experience with the BOMI system is an advantage.
4. Interpersonal Skills
- Positive, empathetic, flexible, and self-motivated.
- Strong communication, listening, and administration skills.
- Financial awareness and a creative approach to client engagement.
5. Communication
- Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with clients and colleagues.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience engaging with employers and advising on the JobsPlus initiative.
6. Other Requirements
- Full, clean, current driving licence required.
Desirable
Minimum Experience
- At least 5 years' experience in employment, enterprise, career guidance, recruitment, or the community sector.
- Background in counselling, vocational guidance, or social work.
- Experience working with individuals facing employment barriers.
- Job coaching experience.
Minimum Qualifications
- Good standard of general education.
- Excellent computer skills; experience with BOMI system is an advantage.
- Strong calendar management and organisational skills.
- Formal qualification or studies in guidance, counselling, or related fields [Level 7 or willingness to work towards Level 7 accreditation].