Location: Sherborne, Blandford Forum, Bridport and Lyme Regis
(Covering North and West Dorset with regular community-based outreach)
Salary: £27,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Role Overview:
We are recruiting passionate and motivated Employment Specialists / Work Coaches to join the new Connect to Work programme across Dorset.
This exciting national initiative, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, supports individuals facing significant barriers to employment, including people with disabilities, autism, learning disabilities and long-term health conditions.
As an Employment Specialist / Work Coach, you will provide intensive, person-centred support to help individuals move towards, secure and sustain meaningful employment. Working within either the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model or the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), you will guide participants through every stage of their employment journey, from vocational profiling and action planning through to job placement and sustained in-work support.
This is a highly rewarding community-based role, ideal for someone who is passionate about changing lives through employment and helping people achieve their full potential.
Key Responsibilities:
Case Management & Participant Support
Manage an active caseload of approximately 20-25 participants
Build trusted relationships with individuals motivated to move into employment
Complete vocational profiles to identify skills, aspirations and employment goals
Develop personalised action plans to support progression into work
Deliver one-to-one support tailored to individual needs and circumstances
Support participants throughout their employment journey, from referral through to sustained employment Employment & Job Search Support:
Provide practical employability support including:
CV development
Job searching
Application support
Interview preparation
Career planning
Identify and address employment barriers, including health conditions, confidence, skills gaps and workplace challenges
Support participants with disclosure decisions, workplace adjustments and benefits-related discussions
Promote sustainable employment outcomes and long-term career progression Employer Engagement:
Build and maintain strong relationships with local employers
Proactively identify suitable employment opportunities aligned to participant goals
Undertake reverse marketing and job matching activities
Conduct job analysis and support employers with recruitment solutions
Complete a minimum of meaningful employer engagement activities each month
Support employers to implement workplace adjustments and inclusive employment practices Community & Partnership Working:
Spend the majority of working time in community settings, supporting participants where they are most comfortable
Develop strong relationships with:
Health and wellbeing services
Local authorities
Community organisations
Education and training providers
Employers
Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to maximise outcomes
Promote Connect to Work services throughout the local community Performance, Compliance & Quality
Achieve targets relating to:
Programme starts
Job entries
Job sustainment
Employer engagement
Fidelity measures
Maintain accurate records and case notes using internal systems
Ensure compliance with programme requirements and quality standards
Contribute to service development and continuous improvement activities
Adhere to safeguarding, data protection and organisational policies
Essential Criteria:
Experience working in a target-driven support, employability, health, social care or community setting
Experience building relationships and supporting individuals on a one-to-one basis
Proven ability to manage a caseload and prioritise workload effectively
Strong communication, motivational and coaching skills
Ability to engage individuals facing multiple barriers to employment
Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement abilities
Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office applications
Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team
Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Willingness to travel extensively throughout the local area Desirable Criteria:
Experience supporting disabled, neurodivergent or vulnerable individuals
Experience within:
IPS
Supported Employment
Employability Services
Welfare-to-Work
Community Support
Social Care
Mental Health Services
Level 3 Advice & Guidance qualification
Level 3 Employability qualification
Knowledge of employment-related benefits and support services
Understanding of the Supported Employment model
Experience supporting individuals into or within employment
Benefits:
25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
Company pension scheme
Health and wellbeing programme
Employee discounts
Free fitness classes
Free flu vaccinations
Company events and social activities
Referral bonus scheme
Sick pay
Ongoing training and professional development
Opportunity to gain specialist IPS and Supported Employment qualifications
Additional Information:
Community-based role covering North and West Dorset
Approximately 65% of time spent in community locations supporting participants and employers
Daily travel required across the contract area
Occasional overnight stays may be required for training and meetings
Enhanced DBS check required
Full training provided in IPS and SEQF delivery models
How to Apply:
For more information or to apply for the Employment Specialist / Work Coach role, please contact:
Robert Rowe
(phone number removed)
(url removed)
Salary description
£27000.00 - £27000.00 per year