Employment Specialist

Trigon-Recruitment; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Company pension scheme

Health & wellbeing programme

Employee discounts

Free fitness classes

Free flu vaccinations

Company events

Job summary

Trigon-Recruitment is seeking an Employment Specialist / Work Coach to support individuals across Dorset through the Connect to Work programme. You will manage caseloads, deliver intensive, person-centred support, and guide participants from profiling to placement and sustained in-work support.

Based in Dorset communities, the role requires dedication to helping people overcome barriers to employment, with IPS or SEQF delivery models emphasised in day-to-day duties.

Qualifications

• Experience in employability, health, or community support settings.
• Proven ability to manage a caseload and prioritise workload.
• Strong communication, motivational and coaching abilities.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the local area.

Responsibilities

• 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 goals.
• Develop personalised action plans to support progression into work.
• Deliver one-to-one support tailored to individual needs.
• Support participants throughout their employment journey from referral to sustained employment.

Skills

Communication skills

Caseload management

Coaching & mentoring

IT proficiency

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Role: Employment Specialist / Work Coach (Connect to Work Programme)

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

• 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