Employment Specialist | Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; Burton Stather; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Burton Stather is looking for an empathetic Employment Specialist to support individuals with mental health conditions into sustainable employment. This role involves working closely with clients, local employers, and NHS teams, providing tailored support. The ideal candidate should have strong organizational skills and a passion for helping others. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Experience in supporting individuals with mental health conditions.
• Ability to provide practical and tailored employment support.
• Strong communication skills for engaging with clients and employers.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with clients to identify employment goals.
• Support clients in job application processes.
• Engage with local employers to secure job opportunities.
• Deliver ongoing in-work support to clients and employers.

Skills

Empathy

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about supporting people and empathetic to the diverse needs of those accessing mental health services? Are you motivated to grow in a challenging but rewarding role? If so, you might be the ideal candidate for our team! We are recruiting Band 5 Employment Specialists to join Dorset Work Matters, supporting clients across Dorset. This new role is made possible by expansion funding, reflecting our commitment to widening access to vital employment support services.

Dorset Work Matters is a well-established, high-performing partnership between Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset Mental Health Forum. Since 2019, the service has provided evidence-based support to individuals with mental health diagnoses, helping them secure paid employment through the nationally recognised Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.

We seek a motivated, empathetic Employment Specialist to support people with mental health conditions into sustainable employment. Working closely with NHS teams, employers, and partners, you’ll build trust and provide practical, tailored support to help clients meet their employment goals. While based within a Community Mental Health team, most work will be community-based. We welcome applications from all backgrounds to promote inclusivity.

Applications from candidates that require current Healthcare worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Role and responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with clients to identify employment goals, develop CVs and application forms, and prepare effectively for interviews.
• Support clients in discussing their mental health condition with potential employers, should they choose to disclose.
• Provide welfare benefits advice and calculations to help clients make informed employment decisions.
• Engage directly with local employers to create and secure tailored job opportunities, including job carving.
• Deliver ongoing in-work support to both clients and employers, ensuring sustainable employment outcomes.
• Adhere to the quality standards and compliance requirements of the IPS Fidelity Model, striving to meet or exceed the service’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in line with Service and IPS Fidelity Model requirements.
• Demonstrate strong organisational skills by managing caseloads efficiently, prioritising tasks, and meeting deadlines.
• Perform a high volume of administrative duties with attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in reporting, documentation, and data entry.

About Dorset HealthCare and our culture

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We’re all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

How to apply and selection

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [e-mail]

This advert closes on Wednesday 17 Sep 2025