Employment Specialist

The Growth Company; Burnley; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

The Growth Company’s Employment team is hiring Employment Specialists to support people facing health conditions or barriers to work across East Lancashire. You’ll work in the community to help clients move into sustainable employment and achieve their goals.

Travel across Burnley and the Ribble Valley is required; a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential. The role emphasizes tailoring support, job readiness, and collaboration with local employers to create real opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in employability and supporting health-related barriers to employment.
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload.
• Willingness to travel across Burnley and the Ribble Valley.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of around 24 clients and support into sustainable work.
• Deliver CV writing, job searching, interview prep, and career planning.
• Create Vocational Profiles and Action Plans identifying strengths and goals.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to generate referrals.
• Provide in-work support to clients and employers.
• Identify job opportunities through tailored searches and employer engagement.
• Advise on benefits, health disclosures, and workplace adjustments.
• Maintain accurate records using internal systems.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Outreach

Caseload

Job description

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

For this role, we would also welcome applications from candidates with Punjabi, Urdu and/or Bengali language skills, as these would be an advantage in the role.

Please note this role requires travel across Burnley and the Ribble Valley; therefore, a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential.

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.
• An understanding of vocational profiling and personalised planning would be an advantage.

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.