Senior Supported Employment Practitioner - National Jobs Guarantee

Fixed term / secondment until November 2028

Part Time 0.8 FTE

INTERNAL ONLY (Devon County Council Employees Only)

National Jobs Guarantee Programme

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Supported Employment Practitioner (SEP) to help deliver the National Jobs Guarantee Programme, supporting unemployed young people to access paid employment opportunities, develop workplace skills, and progress into sustainable careers.

The National Jobs Guarantee is designed to provide young people facing barriers to employment with high-quality, six-month paid job opportunities alongside tailored support and development. As a Senior SEP, you will play a key role in ensuring participants, employers and delivery partners achieve successful outcomes.

You will lead a team of SEPs, working collaboratively with employers, community organisations, Employment and Youth Hubs, education providers and other stakeholders to create inclusive employment pathways and ensure young people receive the support they need to succeed and thrive in work.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior SEP, you will:

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of SEPs, ensuring delivery of high-quality participant-centred support.
• Support young people to identify career aspirations, overcome barriers to employment and progress towards sustainable work and training opportunities.
• Manage a small caseload of participants where required, providing tailored guidance and coaching throughout their journey.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employers to secure National Jobs Guarantee placements and promote inclusive recruitment and employment practices.
• Monitor performance, quality and outcomes, driving continuous improvement across the service.
• Work collaboratively with Employment and Youth Hubs, education and training providers, and other local partners to maximise progression opportunities beyond the six-month placement.

About You

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience of delivering employment, skills, youth engagement or employability support services.
• Experience of leading, coaching or supervising staff within a performance-focused environment.
• Strong knowledge of the barriers young people can face in entering and sustaining employment.
• A proven ability to engage employers and develop effective partnerships that create employment opportunities.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the delivery of a flagship national programme that aims to improve opportunities for young people and strengthen local communities. You will play a vital role in helping young people gain experience, develop confidence and transition into sustainable employment.

As part of your development, you will have the opportunity to undertake the Supported Employment Practitioner qualification, gaining nationally recognised knowledge and skills in supported employment practices, employer engagement and person-centred support.

For an informal discussion, please contact Debbie Stafford - debbie.stafford@devon.gov.uk / 07967 629519 or Ian Woodland - ian.woodland@devon.gov.uk / 07977574009

Closing Date: 8th November 2026

Interview dates: 16th - 18th November 2026

How to apply

Please ensure when completing your application form that you provide a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as described in the person specification of the job description. Applications may not be taken forwards if the supporting statement is not adequately completed.

Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.

Please click here to see the Job Description

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council’s use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required.For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• This role requires a DBS disclosure.