Employment Specialist

About the role

As an Employment Specialist, you'll work closely with people who want to find and sustain paid employment, supporting them to identify their strengths, overcome barriers and achieve their goals. You'll manage your own caseload while building strong relationships with employers, health services and community partners. Some of the people you support may be experiencing severe mental illness or other complex challenges that impact their confidence, wellbeing and employment journey. You'll need patience, resilience and the ability to build trust, while maintaining a positive, strengths-based focus on what's possible. This role combines coaching, networking, problem-solving and partnership working to help people access meaningful employment and thrive at work.

What is an Employment Specialist?

This is a diverse community-based role where you will:

• Support people to identify their strengths, ambitions and employment goals.
• Build strong relationships with employers to create opportunities and positive employment outcomes.
• Work alongside health services and partner organisations to provide joined-up support.
• Develop local networks and promote the service across communities and partner organisations.
• Support people before, during and after they move into employment, helping them sustain outcomes and thrive in work.
• Advocate for people with employers and challenge barriers to employment.
• Manage a caseload effectively, maintaining momentum and working towards agreed outcomes.

Who are we looking for?

• Good digital skills and attention to detail when recording information accurately.
• Positive, organised, and confident building relationships with a wide range of people.
• Motivated by helping people achieve their potential, while maintaining a focus on achieving positive outcomes.

You will bring...

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence engaging with employers, partners and customers from diverse backgrounds.
• A proactive and organised approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• The ability to work towards agreed outcomes and maintain momentum with customers.
• Resilience and adaptability when supporting people facing complex challenges and setbacks.
• A positive belief that people experiencing disadvantage, disability or health conditions can achieve meaningful paid employment with the right support.
• Confidence working independently, within communities and across partnership settings.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people with transferable skills gained in areas such as recruitment, sales, coaching, training, education, customer service, housing, health, community engagement or employability services. Previous Employment Specialist experience is not essential.

Pay

£27,902 per annum

Schedule

Permanent, Full Time (37 hours per week), including some weekend and evening working. Flexible working options available including Flexi Time, Condensed Hours, Part Time, and Job Share.

Benefits

• Eligible for essential car user allowance of £94.36 per month plus mileage expenses.
• Generous holiday entitlement – 27 days annual leave, statutory bank holidays plus an additional 4 SYHA days, pro rata.
• 5% pension contribution.
• SYHA Rewards - employee discount scheme, which offers cash back and shopping discounts. Plus, advice and resources on healthy eating, financial wellbeing, exercise and mastering your mental health.
• Westfield Health (employer paid).
• Counselling.
• Discounted Gym membership.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Access to a wide range of programmes to train and develop you.