Participant Engagement Officer

Department: Employability

Location: Daventry

Compensation: £27,900 - £29,000 / year

The Employer and Participant Engagement Officer role delivers a joined‑up, person‑centred employment service that connects participants to meaningful, sustainable paid work while meeting the needs of local employers. The postholder actively engages participants, supports them in achieving rapid job search outcomes, and builds proactive employer relationships to ensure high‑quality job matching through an IPS model.

• Act as a primary point of contact for participants, ensuring rapid engagement following referral (ideally within 48 hours).
• Build strong, trusting relationships with participants, particularly those who may feel anxious, ambivalent, or disengaged from employment.
• Use person‑centred, strengths‑based conversations to understand employment goals, preferences, skills, and support needs.
• Sensitively explore barriers such as mental health challenges, long‑term unemployment, confidence, or life circumstances.
• Explain and apply the IPS approach, including voluntary engagement, rapid job search, and integration with health and community services.
• Maintain engagement during fluctuating motivation through tailored contact (calls, texts, emails, face‑to‑face) and agreed action plans.
• Work collaboratively with NHS teams, community partners, and internal colleagues to ensure coordinated, participant‑focused support.
• Provide pre‑employment support including CV development, application support, interview preparation, and confidence‑building.

• Proactively identify, approach, and build long‑term relationships with employers through repeat, in‑person engagement, even when no vacancies exist.
• Position employers as valued customers, demonstrating clear benefits of working with the service.
• Source suitable vacancies that genuinely align with individual participant preferences, strengths, and employment goals.
• Address employer concerns around additional support needs using IPS‑consistent, solution‑focused approaches.
• Identify hidden jobs, job‑carving opportunities, and reasonable workplace adjustments to improve outcomes.
• Develop and maintain a balanced vacancy pipeline that meets a wide range of participant needs.
• Provide professional employer follow‑up, including thank‑you messages, updates, and regular check‑ins.

• % of referrals contacted within 48 hours
• % of participants opting into the service following initial engagement
• Participant engagement rate (active cases vs disengaged cases)
• Average time from referral to job start
• % of participants entering paid employment
• Job sustainment rates at 13, 26 and 52 weeks
• Participant satisfaction / feedback scores
• Number of active employer relationships
• Number of repeat employer engagements (return employers)
• Vacancies sourced that meet participant preferences
• % of placements from employer‑led job development (non‑advertised roles)
• Employer satisfaction / feedback scores

• GCSE grade A*-C (or equivalent) in English, Maths and ICT (Essential)
• Full driving licence and car (Essential)
• L3 IAG or equivalent qualification (Desirable)

• Track record of employer, client and stakeholder engagement (Essential)
• Evidence of meeting and exceeding targets (Essential)
• Experience of providing excellent customer service and achieving targets (Essential)
• Experience of working with Employers, Jobcentre Plus, Health Services (Primary care, mental health teams, Integrated Care Boards), Social Care (community care settings, care providers), Specialist Support Groups (charities, housing associations, organizations focusing on specific barrier conditions), Criminal Justice System (Work Coaches, mentors within prisons and rehabilitation centres), Voluntary and Community Sector (local charities, faith groups), Education Providers (Desirable)

• Display an awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults (Essential)
• Knowledge and understanding of…