1. Bridgette Matthews
Mobile: 07932 041297
MatthewsB1106@gmail.com
PERSONAL STATEMENT
An experienced Information, Advice and Guidance Adviser, who has over ten years’ experience working in
the public sector. My qualification and training has given me the tools to support and have empathy with all the
young people on my caseload of which are vulnerable client’s .A proven record of supporting many young
people into suitable employment, training and college courses. An effective communicator, who prides
themselves in having strong inter-personal relationships with both clients and professionals, I always strive to
go the extra mile to achieve my goals. My objective is to transfer my skills onto a people focussed role, in
which I can enhance the performance of an effective team using my background in advice and guidance
WORK HISTORY
Dec 15 – Present Westminster City Council NW8
Employment Coach
• Provide careers advice, guidance and vocational focus
• Use diagnostic skills to deliver individual tailored support to customers
• Focus on the employment agenda of the Family Recovery Programme
• Support clients into suitable vacancies/training/work experience/voluntary work depending on the client’s
needs, interests and skills
• CV support and conducting mock interviews
• Manage a caseload of no fewer than 25 clients working with them intensively and maintaining regular
contact
• Co-locating between council offices and the wider community to see clients at local venues throughout
each borough
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships and acting as a trouble shooter to liaise between the
Family Coaches and DWP
• Complete MI reports in a timely and duly manner
• Do Better off Calculations (BOC) with the clients
Feb 13 – Jun 15 London Borough of Waltham Forest, Walthamstow E17
Employability Adviser
Duties
• Managed a caseload of Children in Care and Care Leavers aged 16-24 year olds
• Worked closely with Foster Carer’s, Social Workers, Personal Advisers, Home Managers and Key Workers
• Worked in Social Services office one day a week
• Promote the emotional wellbeing of young people including signposting them to partner agencies for
counselling, advice on sexual health and mental health
• Liaise with other professionals on behalf of clients to advocate on behalf of the needs of this client group
• Attend Looked after Children (LAC) Reviews, Strategy meetings and NEET meetings
• Assist, advise and advocate on behalf of young people who have issues with benefit claims, education,
training and employment
• Provide a placing service and programme of support for Children in Care and Care Leavers
• Provide impartial advice and guidance to long-term unemployed, with learning difficulties or disabilities,
new arrivals, teenage parents, ex-offenders and dropped out of college or training courses
• Assisted young people to complete various application forms such as Care to Learn, jobs and colleges
• Employer’s canvasing to generate jobs
• Visit young people on work placements to monitor and evaluate their progress and to support them in
making a successful transition to employment, education or training
• Produce reports on young people on my caseload
• Accompanied young people to colleges and training provider
• Maintain clear and accurate computerised records and all interventions with young people
• Offered support to clients including CV, interview and job search skills
• Attend information days at apprenticeships, careers, college and universities events
2. Oct 04 – Feb 13 Careers Management Futures, Walthamstow E17
Employment and Training Adviser
Duties
• Provide impartial advice and guidance to children in care, long-term unemployed, young people who could
become potentially homeless, with learning difficulties or disabilities, new arrivals, teenage parents, ex-
offenders and dropped out of college or training courses
• Worked with young people aged 13-19 year olds
• Supported long-term unemployed by completing various benefit application forms, CV creation, interview
techniques and job search skills and complete various job application forms
• Act as a mentor by supporting and guiding clients who have difficulty accessing appropriate education,
training and employment
• NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) tracking clients by telephone, email and outreach work
on a regular basis
• Assist, advise and act as an advocate on behalf of clients regarding their benefit claims and liaise with the
Jobcentre Plus about follow-up queries
• Successfully placed clients into employment, apprenticeships, training and educational opportunities
• Outreach work by door knocking to market our service and opportunities to young people and their parents
and carers, to reduce the NEET target and re-engage clients to the service
• Provide clients with information and advice on vacancies, careers, labour market information and
Further education, higher education and training opportunities
• Liaise with a range of external agencies including Jobcentre Plus, Employers, Social Services, Youth
Service, Training Providers and the Housing Department
• Carry out diagnostic interviews with clients from a range of ethnic social backgrounds and identify needs
• Match clients to suitable vacancies and send out matching letter for opportunities
• Employer’s canvasing to generate jobs
• Joint working with the Jobcentre Centre, to recruit local residents to vacancies within the borough
• Maintain computerised records and statistics
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
June 2015: Registered with Jobcentre Plus and started Job Searching and applied for jobs
July 2015: Registered with Recruitment Agencies
August 2015: Attended Job interviews
Sept 2015: Went on holiday to Spain
Nov 2015: Recruitment Agency submitted my CV for a job interview with FACES Westminster Council
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
February 2016: Focus on Practice – Motivational Interviewing 2 day Training
January 2016: Better off Calculations (BOC)
March 2015: Welfare Benefits for Young People
January 2014: Framework-I Information (ISIS) Social Service Database
December 2013: Understanding the Importance of Cultural Identity Training
November 2013: Child Exploitation Workshop (Half day training)
May 2012: Safeguarding Training
October 08 – February 12: NVQ Level 4 LDSS (Learning, Development and Support Services) IAG
REFERENCES
HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT
TEL: 020 8496 4514
EMAIL: Hrer&advisoryservice@walthamforest.gov.uk
SHARON BROWN
PERSONAL ADVISER
TEL: 020 8418 4952
