Employment Support Specialist

Northumberland Fire Group; Blyth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Flexi leave

Annual leave

Job summary

Northumberland Skills is recruiting an Employment Support Specialist to deliver the Connect to Work programme across Northumberland. Using the IPS model, you will support residents with barriers into meaningful employment, meeting them in community settings, GP surgeries, job centres, and employer sites.

You will build tailored in-work support, coordinate with NHS, DWP and housing partners, manage a small caseload, and help clients with vocational profiling and action planning.

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.

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

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

IT skills

Autonomy

Driving licence

Local services knowledge

Job description

Employment Support Specialist - Connect to Work ProgrammeNorthumberland 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 on 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 applyThis 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.

We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 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)

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.

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 andwould 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