Sheffield City Council is a Delivery Area Member in South Yorkshire’s Connect to Work Programme, introduced in November 2024’s Get Britain Working white paper. The programme, running from 2025 to 2030, is externally funded through Department for Work and Pensions funding designated to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Connect to Work comprises two elements - IPS and SEQF employment support – which utilise the evidence-based ‘place, train, and maintain’ models, designed to support participants with higher-level needs.

This advert relates to the Job Coaches that will deliver on the Sheffield SEQF programme.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, flexible and forward-thinking member of staff who can help people with Learning disabilities, Neurodiversity and/or Autism to enhance their strengths, improve their job skills and support them into work. This role is a temporary position and will end on the 31^st March 2028.

The right candidate for the role will have

experience of working with individuals with Learning Disabilities and / or Autism and have
experience of supporting people into employment
ability to inspire and motivate people
to manage a complex caseload
resilience and determination
outstanding communication skills
be proficient in MS Office and using CRM information systems

The job coach will be a mentor who will be able to help people to identify their strengths and decide what job roles will be most suitable for them. They will work with employers to broker suitable job vacancies and support the individuals to gain and maintain employment, providing support within the workplaces. We meet people in community settings so the job will involve travel across the City.

This project will use the BASE 5 stages of supported employment approach.

Training in Systematic Instruction will be provided to the successful candidates.

We started Local Authority delivery and/or commissioning of SEQF provision targeted at individuals with a need for the highest level of supported employment in September 2025, as a direct replacement for the Local Supported Employment programme currently commissioned by DWP and delivered (to May 2026) by the Local Authorities in Sheffield, Barnsley and Doncaster

Sheffield City Council (SCC) has delivered the Local Supported Employment programme, providing SEQF services to higher-needs residents with Autism, LDD and/or neurodiversity, since 2022. During this period, the programme has supported 140 residents and successfully placed 50 in employment

In the Sheffield, on the SEQF programme the Job Coachesmaintain smaller caseload sizes than on traditional keyworker provision. The maximum caseload size for an SEQF advisor will be 20

Engagements are anticipated to be intensive and, in many cases, prolonged, as advisors work with participants to overcome multiple and/or complex barriers to employment, or sustained employment. Many of those targeted by Connect to Work will have no prior work experience or have a lengthy history of unemployment or economic inactivity, owing to employability barriers they face.

The closing date for applications is 14th July 2026 with interviews week commencing 17th August with an intended start date of September/October 2026

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity we encourage you to get in touch to discuss the role - Peter Slack (Development Manager) peter.slack@sheffield.gov.uk or 0114 2057441

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our Sheff news page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.