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Team Leader
Location: Thanet
Salary: £27,992 per annum
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time
Closing Date: 26th September 2025
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Team Leader to oversee and line manage our Employment Advisors (EAs) working on the Restart Scheme community contract.
This role is about empowering staff to deliver high-quality information, advice and guidance (IAG), preparing clients for employment, apprenticeships, and training opportunities. You will ensure standards remain consistently high, contractual requirements are met, and that our clients are supported to achieve their career aspirations and sustainable employment.
You’ll lead by example, setting a professional standard while coaching and motivating your team to reach KPIs and deliver outstanding client outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Line manage, supervise, and support Employment Advisors to ensure effective delivery across the Restart Scheme.
- Oversee the accurate diagnosis of job seekers’ needs, strengths, challenges, and aspirations, ensuring tailored support is provided.
- Ensure EAs deliver high-quality, end-to-end IAG in line with Ofsted EIF, Matrix Standards, and contract requirements.
- Drive the development of clients’ self-confidence, resilience, and motivation to succeed in work.
- Ensure EAs complete and regularly review goal-focused action plans for all clients.
- Support with CV writing, cover letters, applications, and interview preparation where required.
- Introduce clients to a strengths-based approach to recruitment and interview success.
- Monitor job search activities, vacancy matching, and interview arrangements undertaken by EAs.
- Gather and act on feedback from clients and employers to continuously improve service delivery.
- Oversee compliance, audit EA documentation, and maintain standards in line with Matrix/Ofsted requirements.
- Support the organisation of job fairs, workshops, and employer events to promote employment opportunities.
- For prison-based contracts, liaise with commissioners and attend Quality Improvement Group meetings.
- Ensure full contractual compliance, safeguarding, and health and safety standards are upheld.
- Drive team performance through regular reporting, monthly reviews, and performance management.
- Meet KPIs and ensure targets are achieved within agreed deadlines.
About You
We are looking for a strong leader with proven experience in managing staff and achieving targets, who is passionate about supporting vulnerable people into meaningful employment.
Essential experience and skills:
- Management experience of at least 3 years, ideally in employability, training, or related services.
- Experience providing employability support including CV writing, job search, and interview coaching to job seekers (ex-offenders, NEET, unemployed, or those at risk of offending).
- Experience delivering high-quality coaching support that leads to sustainable employment or apprenticeships.
- Ability to build self-confidence, resilience, and motivation in clients to help them thrive in the workplace.
- Experience liaising with employers, arranging interviews, and obtaining constructive feedback.
- Skilled at identifying transferable skills and matching candidates to suitable opportunities.
- Proven ability to work towards KPIs, drive team performance, and uphold professional standards.
- Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to support, motivate, and provide hands-on training to staff.
About Us
We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often-interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:
- Flexible working
- Training and development opportunities
- Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Crisis Loan Scheme
- Electric Car Scheme
- 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
- Access to Blue Light Card
- 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
- Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
- Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
- Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application.
