Employment Specialist

The Growth Company; Wirral; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The Growth Company’s Employment, Justice and Health team is seeking an Employment Specialist to join the Connect to Work service across Wirral. You’ll work in the community to support people with health conditions or barriers to employment to move into sustainable work.

Key responsibilities include managing a caseload of around 24 clients, delivering tailored CV, job search and interview support, and developing Vocational Profiles and Action Plans to identify strengths and aims.

Qualifications

• Proven experience supporting individuals with health conditions or disabilities.
• Empathetic and approachable, with a genuine interest in helping others.
• Able to work independently with a varied caseload.
• Experience in employability or guidance services.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and information governance.

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.
• Follow the IPS Fidelity model and work toward IPS standards.
• Complete Vocational Profiles and Action Plans to identify individual strengths, aspirations, and goals.
• Collaborate with clinical teams and community partners to generate referrals and promote employment as a health intervention.
• Provide ongoing in-work support to clients and employers to sustain employment outcomes.
• Identify suitable job opportunities through tailored searches and employer engagement.
• Offer guidance on personal circumstances such as benefits, health disclosures, and workplace adjustments.
• Maintain accurate and compliant records using internal systems.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Coaching skills

Labour market knowledge

Safeguarding awareness

Group sessions

Complex needs experience

Job description

The Growth Company’s (GC) Employment, Justice and Health team have an incredible new opportunity for an Employment Specialist to join the new Connect to Work service across Wirral.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.

As this role is delivered within the community, frequent travel across the Wirral is required. Applicants should ideally hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a car, however, other travel options may be considered.

The Connect to Work programme uses the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach to help individuals with health conditions or disabilities to move into employment, providing personalised, one‑to‑one support tailored to each person’s needs and circumstances. We focus on building confidence, developing skills, and improving readiness for work, while working closely with employers to promote inclusive recruitment and job opportunities. Through this, we aim to help people access and sustain meaningful employment.

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.
• Follow the principles of the Individual Placement and Support model and work toward the standards set out in the IPS Fidelity scale.
• Complete Vocational Profiles and Action Plans to identify individual strengths, aspirations, and goals.
• Collaborate with clinical teams and other community partners 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.
• Experienced in lone working and outreach, with a proactive and solution-focused approach.
• Skilled at developing trust and rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Able to build and develop relationships with employers to generate and tailor employment opportunities.

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.