Employment Specialist

Connect to Work is a voluntary Supported Employment programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and commissioned across Surrey to support people who are disabled, have long-term health conditions, or face complex barriers to employment. The programme supports both people looking for work and those already in employment who need support to retain their job.

Connect to Work is a voluntary Supported Employment programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and commissioned across Surrey to support people who are disabled, have long-term health conditions, or face complex barriers to employment. The programme supports both people looking for work and those already in employment who need support to retain their job.

Delivered through the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), Connect to Work follows a place, train and maintain model. This person-centred approach matches individuals with suitable employment opportunities, provides tailored support to help them succeed in the workplace, and offers ongoing in-work support to both participants and employers to promote sustainable, long-term employment outcomes.

Salary: £34,039 to £36,601

Location: Surrey (Staines/Guilford), community-based delivery.

Hours: 37.5 hours

Travel: This is a community-based role, so candidates must be flexible and willing to travel across Surrey to meet and support customers in a variety of locations.

Do you believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to work, regardless of the challenges they face?

We're looking for passionate, resilient, and people-focused Employment Specialists to join our Connect to Work team. This is a highly mobile role but it’s more than just a job, it's an opportunity to empower individuals to overcome barriers, build confidence and achieve sustainable employment that transforms their lives. No two days are the same. One day you could be meeting a participant in a community hub, the next supporting an employer to create an inclusive workplace or helping someone prepare for their first interview in years.

Every conversation has the potential to change a life.

• Supporting participants to identify their career ambitions and create a personalised pathway into work.
• Manage a caseload effectively to achieve contractual, organisational and service delivery targets.
• Using vocational profiling to develop tailored My Success Plans that support long-term employment outcomes.
• Helping individuals build an Employability Passport, including CV development, interview preparation, confidence building, and advice around disclosing health conditions or disabilities.
• Promoting the health, wellbeing and financial benefits of employment, including completing Better Off Calculations.
• Working closely with local employers to identify inclusive job opportunities that match participants' skills and aspirations.
• Providing practical in-work support to both employers and employees to help placements succeed.
• Working collaboratively with community mental health teams and other health professionals to support individuals with complex needs.
• Championing inclusive recruitment and helping employers make simple workplace adjustments.
• Maintaining accurate records that reflect each participant's journey and achievements.
• Working flexibly across community venues, GP surgeries, Job Centres, local hubs and from home to meet people where they are.

Above all, you'll embrace a zero-rejection approach
, believing that everyone who wants to work deserves the opportunity to do so.

We're looking for someone who is empathetic, proactive and motivated by…