Employment Support Specialist

Northumberland County Council Jobs; Blyth; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

LGPS

Flexi scheme

Job summary

Northumberland County Council is seeking an Employment Support Specialist to deliver the Connect to Work programme, using the IPS model to help residents with health conditions, disabilities or barriers into meaningful employment across Northumberland.

This outreach role meets people where they are—in community settings, employer sites, GP surgeries, job centres—and involves working with NHS, DWP, housing providers and voluntary organisations to secure suitable roles and in‑work support.

Qualifications

• Experience in employability, community engagement, or health/social care.
• Strong interpersonal, organisational, and IT skills.
• Ability to work autonomously across agencies and manage complex referrals.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Manage a small caseload, providing tailored, person-centred support aligned to the IPS Fidelity model.
• Deliver outreach services across Northumberland in community settings, employer sites, GP surgeries, and job centres.
• Engage with employers to secure suitable roles and provide in‑work support.
• Collaborate with partners including NHS, DWP, housing providers, and voluntary sector organisations.
• Support residents through vocational profiling, action planning, and integration with wider support services to move them into good work.

Skills

Experience in employability

Community engagement

Health / social care

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

IT skills

Autonomy across agencies

Manage complex referrals

Driving licence

Tools

IT familiarity

Job description

Employment Support Specialist - Connect to Work Programme

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

Northumberland Skills offers residents a variety of full and part‑time courses, apprenticeships, and employability advice and support across Northumberland. We are looking to appoint a motivated and community‑focused Employment Support Specialist as part of Northumberland County Councils Employability Service. You will work on the Connect to Work programme, part of the national Get Britain Working strategy. This role uses the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model to help residents with health conditions, disabilities, or complex barriers into meaningful employment.

Previous applicants need not apply.

This is an outreach role, so you'll meet people where they are – including community partner settings, employer sites, GP surgeries, job centres etc. helping them into meaningful, lasting jobs.

You’ll work with employers to identify suitable roles for your people on your caseload and provide tailored in‑work support that will include building confidence, guiding both the individual and employer through initial tasks, and advising on workplace adjustments during those crucial first weeks. We are looking for individuals who believe that if someone wants to work, they should be supported to do so and that with your help, it's absolutely possible.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a small caseload, providing tailored, person‑centred support aligned to the IPS Fidelity model
• Deliver outreach services across Northumberland in community settings, employer sites, GP surgeries, and job centres
• Engage with employers to secure suitable roles and provide in‑work support
• Collaborate with partners including NHS, DWP, housing providers, and voluntary sector organisations
• Support residents through vocational profiling, action planning, and integration with wider support services to move them into good work

Essential Requirements

• Experience in employability, community engagement, or health/social care
• Strong interpersonal, organisational, and IT skills
• Ability to work autonomously across agencies and manage complex referrals
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Knowledge of local services and employment challenges is desirable
• This is a unique opportunity to shape integrated employment and wellbeing support across Northumberland, making a real difference in people’s lives

While our team will have a base in Morpeth, this role will involve coverage across the county.

For an informal discussion, please contact Rachel Druce: 07768671071 E: [e-mail]

Why choose us?

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part‑time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part‑time employees)

To see all our excellent benefits and perks.

Further information

For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.

Alternative application format: British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930