Employment Specialist

Employment Specialist – Connect to Work

We are seeking motivated Employment Specialists to support delivery of Connect to Work
, a new countywide employment support service based on the IPS model.

The role involves providing tailored 1:1 support to adults facing barriers to employment, including vocational profiling, career planning, job matching and in‑work support, to help participants secure and sustain work.

Fixed term until July 2028

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday with local travel required

Alongside these main duties you will be expected to carry out any other duties that are reasonably requested of you:

• Work with the Head of Communities, Operational Support Officer and Senior Employment Specialist to continually develop resources and the toolkit for the team.
• Provide 1:1 employment support to adults facing significant barriers to sustainable employment.
• Deliver tailored support in line with the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) principles.
• Produce action plans with SMART targets for each participant to help them gain and sustain paid employment.
• Support participants with their job search, CV and application production, interview techniques and career development.
• Offer specialist knowledge on provision and support available to adults with significant barriers (including but not limited to physical and mental health issues, neuro‑diversity, drug and alcohol use and learning disabilities).
• Build and maintain positive employer relationships to enable participants to move into suitable employment that aligns with their aspirations and support them to remain in work.
• Identify the specific recruitment needs of employers and undertake pre‑screens and group assessments.
• Co‑produce effective in‑work support plans with participants and employers based on assessment of need, providing practical support to ensure a smooth transition into work.
• Manage and progress a caseload of people, supporting them towards sustainable paid employment.
• Manage and maintain a caseload of people who are at risk of dropping out of work due to disability, health condition or other complex barriers.
• Develop strong partnerships with referral agencies, local employers and specialist support agencies.
• Provide in‑work support and job coaching to help participants succeed and remain in employment.
• Use assessment and vocational profiling tools to help identify aspirations and plan future pathways.
• Work in partnership with health services, education providers, and community organisations to deliver tailored interventions providing support to address specific issues (e.g. debt advice, substance misuse).
• Maintain awareness of the local labour market, industries, and roles, as well as wider employment opportunities.
• Keep accurate records to evidence assessment processes, progress, and outcomes, supporting effective monitoring and evaluation.
• Update the CRM system with all activities to meet compliance requirements, record evidence for relevant fidelity scales, track performance and report against targets.
• Deliver presentations, sessions, and workshops on employment, education, and skills.
• Educate and support employers, including negotiating workplace adjustments, developing a return‑to‑work strategy and ensuring job retention with ongoing contact and support.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleges, training providers, DWP, Council departments, Work Well Coaches, community and voluntary sector partners to provide joined‑up services.
• Develop collaborative working relationships with wider clinical teams as appropriate, promoting the IPS model as a positive step in the recovery journey.
• Stay up to date with changes in legislation and government programmes relating to employment, education, and training.
• Work from local community and outreach locations and alongside other services to increase service accessibility.
• Work flexible hours as required to meet the needs of the service.

• Fair and impartial approach
• Empathy
• Confidence
• Logical thinking & Solution focused
• Committed to equal opportunities
• Shows initiative
• Committed to providing a high‑quality…