Employment Support Specialist

North East Combined Authority; Blyth; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Flexible leave

26 days annual leave

Job summary

Northumberland County Council is seeking an Employment Support Specialist to work on the Connect to Work programme across Northumberland. The role uses the IPS model to help residents with health conditions, disabilities, or barriers into meaningful employment and involves outreach to community settings, employers, GP surgeries, and job centres.

You will support residents through vocational profiling and action planning, collaborating with NHS, DWP, housing providers, and voluntary sector

Qualifications

• Experience in employability, community engagement, or health/social care.

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

Community engagement

Interpersonal skills

IT skills

Autonomous working

Job description

Employment Support Specialist - Connect to Work Programme

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 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.

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?

Northumberland County Council's (NCC) vision is ‘Land of Great Opportunities', for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.

Benefits & Perks

• 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)

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Further Information

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