Full Time+ jobs in Cumnock

Are you looking for an organisation where you can make a difference? Are you enthusiastic, self-motivated and have passion for helping unemployed people achieve their goals? If so, we would like to hear from you!

Routes to Work South (RTWS) is an award-winning charity committed to alleviating poverty and supporting unemployed South Lanarkshire residents to develop skills, confidence and knowledge required to progress into and sustain employment. We work collaboratively with partner agencies, employers, and stakeholders to deliver flexible, accessible, client-centred employability and skills services that respond to the needs of local communities and the labour market. Our services support individuals facing a range of barriers to employment, helping people progress through different stages of the employability pipeline towards positive and sustained outcomes.

For over 20 years, RTWS has successfully delivered a range of welfare-to-work programmes, funded through Skills Development Scotland, the Department for Work and Pensions, and other funding streams including the Big Lottery and European Structural Funds. We currently deliver services to young people and adults across South Lanarkshire through Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind (NOLB).

As an arm’s-length external organisation of South Lanarkshire Council, we play a key role in delivering services that support the council’s Employability Strategy, working closely with the Local Employability Partnership, our wider network of partners and employers to create opportunities, reduce inequalities, and support economic inclusion.

At RTWS we are commitment to delivering high-quality services, driving innovation and creating a positive impact for the individuals, employers, and communities we support.

What will the Role Involve?

The successful candidate will support a diverse range of clients, including young people, people with health and wellbeing needs, and those facing barriers to employment, through person-centred employability support across our services. Working collaboratively with clients, employers, partner organisations, training providers, and community services, you will build positive and effective relationships to understand individual needs and identify suitable training, employment, placement, volunteering, and development opportunities.

Through a tailored approach, you will support clients throughout the different stages of their journey, helping them to overcome barriers, develop their skills and confidence, and move closer to or into sustainable employment, further education or training.

The role will involve engaging and assessing clients, developing personalised action plans, providing ongoing one-to-one support, identifying appropriate interventions and opportunities, and working with a range of client groups at different stages of their employability journey. You will be responsible for supporting clients to achieve positive outcomes while maintaining strong relationships with employers and partner organisations and working towards agreed performance targets and KPIs.

The ideal candidate will be motivated, enthusiastic, and target-driven, with excellent communication and relationship-building skills. They will have the ability to engage and support individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including those facing complex barriers, and be committed to helping clients achieve their goals and make positive, lasting progress.

Main Aims

• Support a diverse range of clients, including young people, adults, people with health and wellbeing needs, and those facing barriers to employment, to progress towards and sustain employment.
• Deliver person-centred employment support that improves confidence, wellbeing, skills, employability, and progression opportunities.
• Actively manage a caseload of clients at different stages of their employability journey, providing tailored support to overcome barriers and access appropriate interventions, training, work placements, and employment opportunities.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with employers, partner organisations, training providers, and other stakeholders to identify and increase suitable opportunities for clients.
• Deliver high-quality one-to-one and group support sessions tailored to meet individual client needs, aspirations, and circumstances.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with contractual, organisational, quality, and GDPR requirements.
• Contribute to the achievement of contractual targets, KPIs, and continuous improvement across service delivery.

Key Responsibilities/Duties

• Deliver individual KPI’s and contribute to wider team performance targets in line with the company performance management framework.
• Actively manage a caseload of clients from a range of backgrounds and with varying levels of support needs and barriers to employment.
• Develop individual Action Plans with clients, regularly reviewing progress and identifying appropriate steps to support them towards their goals and sustainable employment.
• Complete assessments and training needs analysis to identify client strengths, barriers, support needs, aspirations, and appropriate interventions.
• Provide tailored information, advice, guidance, coaching, and practical support to help clients overcome barriers and progress through their employability journey.
• Support clients to access appropriate health and wellbeing interventions, specialist support, training, learning, work placements, volunteering, and employment opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, employers, training providers, partner organisations, and other stakeholders to ensure clients receive a coordinated and holistic service.
• Proactively develop and maintain effective relationships with employers to identify suitable vacancies, work placements, and other opportunities for clients.
• Maintain a good understanding of local labour market conditions, vacancies, training opportunities, and progression routes to effectively match clients to suitable opportunities.
• Support clients with job search activity, applications, CV development, interview preparation, and other employment-related activities where appropriate.
• Provide appropriate in-work support and follow-up activity to help clients sustain employment and achieve positive long-term outcomes.
• Deliver and support the delivery of high-quality one-to-one and group sessions, workshops, presentations, and other activities tailored to meet client needs.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with clients, employers, partner organisations, and other stakeholders, providing updates on client progress where appropriate and in line with confidentiality requirements.
• Ensure auditable documentation, including evidence of client activity and job outcomes, is accurately completed, recorded, and maintained.
• Capture and record accurate information on the bespoke database in line with organisational procedures, contractual requirements, and quality standards.
• Deliver high standards of customer service at all times in line with RTWS policies, values, and Customer Service Standards.
• Be aware of the confidential nature of information received and act at all times in accordance with GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Carry out any other duties appropriate to the role and organisational requirements.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar client-facing, employability, advice, guidance, or support role.

Experience of supporting young people, adults with wellbeing needs, and individuals facing barriers to progress towards employment, education, training, or other positive outcomes.

Ability to effectively match clients to suitable vacancies, training, work placements, and other progression opportunities.

Experience of actively managing a caseload and supporting clients to achieve progression and employment outcomes.

Target and performance-driven, with the ability to achieve individual and team KPIs and contractual targets.

Ability to engage, encourage, motivate, and support individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and with varying levels of need.

Knowledge and understanding of the barriers faced by individuals entering or returning to employment, education, or training, including health, wellbeing, financial, social, and other complex barriers.

Knowledge and understanding of local support services, partner agencies, and specialist provision available to individuals furthest removed from the labour market.

Ability to provide person-centred support and adapt approaches to meet the individual needs, circumstances, and aspirations of clients.

Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with clients, employers, partners, and stakeholders.

Ability to problem solve, respond appropriately to a variety of situations, and identify practical solutions to support positive client outcomes.

Flexibility to cope with the varying demands of the role, changing client needs, and a target-driven environment.

Ability to work on own initiative and collaboratively as part of a team.

Understanding of contractual delivery, compliance, quality requirements, and GDPR within funded or customer-focused services.

Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage a caseload and competing priorities effectively.

Competent IT skills, including experience of Microsoft Office, Outlook, CRM systems, and maintaining accurate client records and data.

Full Driving License and access to own transport

Desirable Skills & Knowledge

Knowledge of local labour market intelligence, employment trends, and local recruitment opportunities.

A relevant qualification in employability, careers advice, advice and guidance, counselling, youth work, health and wellbeing, or a related discipline.

Experience of working on DWP or other government-funded employability programmes.

Experience of business development, employer engagement, or developing new employment opportunities.

Experience of delivering group sessions, workshops, employability interventions, or well-being-based activities.

This job outline reflects the main tasks and responsibilities discharged by the post holder at the present time, however, RTWS reserves the right to alter or amend the content of this job outline to reflect changes to the job or services provided, while maintaining the overall character and level of responsibility for the post.

If interested in joining RTWS, please submit your CV with a covering letter (applications without covering letter will not be considered) answering the following:

• What motivated you to apply for the role? (Max 300 words)
• What skills and experience can you bring to the role? (Max 300 words)

Applications close Friday 7th August 2026 at 5pm any applications received after this will not be considered.

Pay: Up to £33,215.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Flexitime
• Life insurance
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• 1. What motivated you to apply for the role? (Max 300 words)
• 2. What skills and experience can you bring to the role? (Max 300 words)

Work Location: In person