Employment Specialist

The Growth Company; Burnley; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused employment organization in Burnley is seeking an Employment Specialist to provide tailored support to individuals facing barriers to employment. The role includes managing a caseload, delivering CV writing, job searching, and collaborating with clinical teams. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in employability and a passion for helping others. This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives through personalized, community-based support.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Support for personal development

Commitment to diversity and inclusion policy

Qualifications

• Empathetic and approachable, with a genuine interest in helping others.
• Confident in managing a varied caseload independently.
• Proven experience supporting individuals with complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of 24 clients towards sustainable employment.
• Deliver tailored support including CV writing and job searching.
• Collaborate with clinical teams for referrals and promote employment.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Guidance and coaching skills

Understanding of local labor markets

Job description

The Growth Company’s (GC) Employment team have an exciting new opportunity for an Employment Specialist to to Work service across East Lancashire.

This role will be working within the community in the Burnley and Ribble Valley area, so a full UK driving licence and access to your own car are essential.

You’ll work within the community to support people with health conditions or barriers to employment to achieve their goals and move into sustainable work.

We’re particularly keen to hear from candidates with a solid background in employability, capable of delivering tailored, community-based employment support. An understanding of vocational profiling and personalised planning would be an advantage, along with the ability to help participants identify their strengths, build confidence, and connect with local employers.

This is an opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives through high-quality, person-centred employment support.

Applications will be treated as expressions of interest and are subject to the successful award of contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of around 24 clients, supporting their journey into meaningful and sustainable employment.
• Deliver tailored support including CV writing, job searching, interview preparation, and career planning.
• Complete Vocational Profiles and Action Plans to identify individual strengths, aspirations, and goals.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to generate referrals and promote employment as a positive health intervention.
• Provide ongoing in-work support to both clients and employers to help sustain employment outcomes.
• Identify suitable job opportunities through tailored searches and proactive employer engagement.
• Offer guidance on personal circumstances such as benefits, health disclosures, and workplace adjustments.
• Maintain accurate and compliant records using internal systems and documentation protocols.

About You

• Empathetic and approachable, with a genuine interest in helping others achieve their goals.
• Confident working independently and managing a varied caseload with flexibility and resilience.
• Brings a solid background in employability and understands the challenges faced by jobseekers.
• Comfortable building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including employers and clinical teams.
• Committed to promoting equality, inclusion, and challenging discrimination.
• Experienced in lone working and outreach, with a proactive and solution-focused approach.
• Skilled at developing trust and rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds.

Skills Required

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Proven experience supporting individuals with complex needs, including health conditions or disabilities.
• Ability to work in a target-driven environment focused on achieving and sustaining job outcomes.
• Strong guidance and coaching skills, with experience delivering one-to-one and group sessions.
• Good understanding of local labour markets and employment support services.
• Background in advice, guidance, or counselling environments.
• Awareness of barriers to employment and strategies to overcome them.
• Familiarity with safeguarding, information governance, and vocational rehabilitation practices.

We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.

At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.

Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.

If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.

We also aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments or have any general enquiries at any stage or the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] or call us on 0161 237 4447.

Examples of reasonable adjustments

• Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance
• Extra time for tasks
• Interview questions shared beforehand
• Accessibility software or equipment for assessments

We’re proud to support the Ban the Box campaign, which helps people with convictions access job opportunities. As part of this, we’ve removed questions about convictions from the initial application stage.

GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working. Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements. If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.

All GC colleagues will work inline with the Health & Safety at work act and the GC Health & Safety Policy.