Employment Specialist – Connect To Work

Groundwork NE & Cumbria; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Guaranteed interview for disabled job‑

Job summary

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is seeking an Employment Specialist – Connect To Work to support individuals with health conditions into meaningful employment using an IPS model. You will deliver person-centred information, advice and guidance to a caseload of about 25 clients, and you will cultivate strong employer relationships to source opportunities.

You will collaborate with health providers, mental health services and job centres to ensure joined-up support while maintaining safeguarding standards

Qualifications

• Strong communicator with clients, employers and partners.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities to assess needs and find employment solutions.
• Person-centred, empathetic approach to support clients.
• Highly organised with ability to manage a varied caseload and meet deadlines.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with stakeholders.
• Experience supporting people into employment through IPS/placement models.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred information, advice and guidance to a caseload of around 25 clients.
• Source suitable employment opportunities through employer engagement.
• Collaborate with partners (health providers, job centres, employment organisations) to ensure joined-up support.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Analytical thinking

Organisation

Independence

Relationship building

Caseload management

Tools

IPS model

Job description

Do you want to make a real difference by supporting people to stay in work, and overcome challenges?

Find out exactly what skills, experience, and qualifications you will need to succeed in this role before applying below.

Job Title: Employment Specialist – Connect To Work

Salary: £28,951 - £32,316 per annum

Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term (Paid) – Fixed Term initially until March 2028

Location(s): 1x Newcastle and 1x North Tyneside

About Us

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long‑established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face.

We deliver hundreds of locally‑led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About The Role

We are looking for a passionate individual who will support individuals with health conditions to move into and sustain meaningful employment through the Connect to Work programme

Job Purpose

Using the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) model, you’ll provide person‑centred information, advice and guidance to a caseload of around 25 clients, helping them access, return to, and sustain employment that is right for them.

You’ll also build strong employer relationships to source suitable opportunities and work closely with partners, including health providers, mental health services, JCP and other employment organisations, to ensure clients receive joined‑up support.

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is

• Passionate in supporting young people to overcome barriers and achieve their potential.
• A strong communicator, confident engaging with clients, employers and partners.
• Equipped with strong analytical and problem‑solving ability, able to assess needs and identify effective employment solutions.
• Person‑centred, empathetic and passionate about helping others succeed.
• Skilled at building positive, trusting relationships.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage a varied caseload and meet deadlines.
• Confident working independently and collaboratively.

Closing Date: Thursday 5th November 2026

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.