Employment Specialist

Location: Sandwell

Contract type:
Part-time, fixed Term contract until 31st March 2027 (Potential for extension)

Hours:

22.5 hours per week

Open to discussing work schedule, although will need to be within service hours (Mon-Fri ).(Flexibility to occasionally work until 6pm on Tuesdays/Thursdays required)
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240.03 FTE

Location:

Hybrid (1 day per week in office
- Bedfordshire and St Neots), 2 days per week working from home. Please note, this role requires working in local job centres and community-based venues in Bedfordshire to see clients.

Base offices:
Yew Tree House, St. Neots Union Street Clinic, Bedford

Please note:

You must hold a full UK Driving Licence and have access to your own vehicle.

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 service

Bedfordshire Employment Service has been set up to provide support for people experiencing anxiety, depression, or other common mental health issues and who need support related to their employment. Our employment specialists support people to help them find their new job, return to work after having time off, or address workplace issues to help them improve their employment situation and retain their jobs.

We also support in other areas such as volunteering, and benefit entitlement.

About you While a background in employment sector is not essential, experience working with people, particularly in areas such as recruitment, education, human resources, support services, or social work, would be an advantage. Your self-motivation, understanding of mental health issues, excellent listening skills, a high level of computer literacy, and solution-focused approach would be key. The role requires high efficiency in time-management;

and ability to effectively manage your diary and workload is essential.

You must also hold a full, clean UK drivers’ licence and have access to a vehicle.

About the role

As an Employment Specialist you will be responsible for a caseload of approximately 30 people (with at least 10 new clients commencing employment support with you each month).You will work with people to understand their preferences, values, experiences and skills to identify their employment goals and develop SMART action plans. You will provide support with job search, CV writing, job applications, and interview preparation.

You will help people identify any adjustments they may require, including disclosing health conditions  will help people navigate difficult workplace situations (discrimination, bullying, harassment, capability conversations, grievance and disciplinary process). You work with people to help them create sustainable return to work plans. You will share resources, and signpost to other organisations as and when appropriate.

You must be able to: effectively manage a caseload, provide person-centred support to individuals to help them find and sustain appropriate employment; be assertive and adaptable, with a positive attitude about employment for all and excellent networking and interpersonal skills; communicate clearly and appropriately, in writing, face to face or on the telephone, with people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds;

quickly establish effective working relationships at all levels, both internally and externally; co-ordinate and prioritise your workload; work effectively unsupervised and as part of a team;…