Employment Specialist

# Employment Specialist £25,877 - £34,240 yearly
* CV-Library
* CA3, Carlisle, Cumbria Permanent Charity###

Job Description IPS Employment Specialist
- Recovery Steps Cumbria

Location:

Carlisle & Penrith

Working Hours:

37 hours, Mon
- Fri 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-4:30pmContract Type:
Permanent Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240.03

Please note:

The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

About Waythrough Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

About the Role As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will support our clients to find and sustain meaningful, paid employment. Using the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, you will work directly with clients to understand their skills, interests and career goals, while actively building relationships with employers to create real job opportunities.

This role blends coaching, advocacy, and employer engagement. You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside health and support professionals, ensuring employment is integrated into each person’s recovery journey. You won’t just help someone get a job - you’ll support them into the workplace and stay with them as they settle in, helping remove barriers and celebrating their achievements along the way.

Your work will change lives by boosting confidence, independence, financial stability, and long-term recovery.

What You’ll Do  Empower people to believe in their potential and pursue meaningful employment  Support individuals through every stage, from job search and interview prep to workplace adjustment and ongoing success  Build strong, positive relationships with local employers and advocate for inclusive hiring  Work flexibly and creatively to match people with roles that align with their strengths and ambitions  Promote the idea that work is a fundamental part of recovery and wellbeing

To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need:  Experience talking with employers and supporting people into work  Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with everyone from front-line teams to CEOs  Confidence in building employer networks and promoting a positive message  Negotiation skills and commercial awareness  Passion, drive, empathy and belief in people’s potential  Ability to stay organised and manage a varied caseload  A commitment to equality, inclusion, and recovery-focused work

We don’t expect you to know everything about IPS as full training and support will be provided.

To view the full job description and person specification, .

What We Offer We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package: 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays) Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5% Life assurance (3× annual salary) Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance…