Community Employability Specialist (IPS & Impact)

Triage; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Annual leave by service length

Volunteering days

Discounts & wellbeing

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension and life assurance

Work Anniversary rewards

Training and development opportunities

Career progression

Job summary

Triage is seeking an Employability Specialist to deliver engaging employability support to individuals and groups across the community. You will work in community venues and outreach settings, helping participants build confidence and behaviours needed for employment, while tailoring support to individual needs within an IPS framework.

You'll collaborate with employers, referral agencies and health partners to identify opportunities, provide 1:2:1 coaching, and support job retention and

Qualifications

• Outstanding interpersonal skills (empathy, teamwork, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence) and ability to build rapport with a range of people.
• Proven experience of supporting people to overcome barriers to obtain or keep work.
• Knowledge of person-centred approaches and the importance of participant choice and informed decision making.
• Proven track record of building collaborative relationships with employers.
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding progression targets.
• High level of optimism, initiative, and effective interpersonal skills to engage with participants and partners.
• Ability to evaluate progress toward goals and adjust support strategies.
• Experience in performance and quality driven environments.
• Ability to work in a complex environment with perseverance.
• Experience of supporting individuals facing multiple barriers to employment (health, wellbeing, confidence, social challenges).
• Ability to build relationships with employers, partners and community stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and caseload management skills and ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Ability to motivate and encourage participants toward positive outcomes.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ability to travel across community locations for caseload delivery.
• Experience of working in employability or publicly funded services or similar sectors.
• Previous work with diverse populations.
• Desirable: pre-existing network of partners and/or employers; continuous improvement mindset; proactive attitude; ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting, supportive relationships with participants, referral sources and employers.
• Provide a tailored 1:2:1 service based on participant needs while adhering to IPS principles.
• Support participants to identify suitable job roles and prepare for employment.
• Deliver Supported Employment interventions including profiling, job matching and employer engagement.
• Collaborate with health, community and partner organisations to support outcomes.
• Provide in-work support and retention strategies for participants and employers.
• Educate employers on reasonable adjustments and inclusive practices.
• Negotiate job opportunities aligned with participant skills and aspirations.
• Build relationships with potential referral sources.
• Be familiar with benefits systems, employment law and workplace accommodations.
• Maintain caseload records in line with programme requirements.

Skills

Empathy

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Communication

Resilience

Problem solving

Time management

Safeguarding knowledge

Tools

IPS model knowledge

Job description

Triage is seeking an Employability Specialist to deliver engaging employability support to individuals and groups across the community. You will work in community venues and outreach settings, helping participants build confidence and behaviours needed for employment, while tailoring support to individual needs within an IPS framework.

You'll collaborate with employers, referral agencies and health partners to identify opportunities, provide 1:2:1 coaching, and support job retention and