IPS Employment Specialist: Thanet

Forward Trust; Thanet District; Remoto; GBP 24.000 - 32.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

The Forward Trust is seeking an Employment Specialist to support people with mental and physical health conditions or disabilities to move into work that matches their skills and ambitions. You'll deliver the IPS model across Medway, Gravesham, Thanet, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe with full training provided.

You’ll manage about 25 participants, help with CVs, job search, applications and interview prep, build vocational profiles and action plans, and work with local employers to promote

Competenze

• Experience in health, employability or welfare-to-work programmes.
• Strong relationship-building and coaching skills.
• Ability to work independently within the community.

Mansioni

• Manage a caseload of around 25 participants with personalised support.
• Create Vocational Profiles and tailored Action Plans.
• Assist with CV writing, job search, applications and interview prep.
• Provide one-to-one and group coaching to build employability.
• Connect participants with local labour market opportunities.
• Coordinate interviews and promote inclusive recruitment.

Conoscenze

Relationship-building

Coaching

Independent working

Driving licence

Descrizione del lavoro

Are you passionate about helping people unlock their potential through meaningful employment?

We’re looking for a motivated Employment Specialist to support people living with mental health conditions, long-term physical health conditions, or disabilities to move into work that suits their skills, strengths, and ambitions.

Working across [Medway and Gravesham/Thanet/Dover, Folkestone and Hythe] , you’ll deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model as part of the Connect to Work programme. This evidence-based approach focuses on helping people move into competitive employment quickly, with personalised support that continues once they start work. Full IPS training will be provided, so if you bring the right passion and people skills, we’ll equip you with the rest.

Due to the nature of the role,all applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll manage a caseload of around 25 participants who are motivated to start or return to work, providing personalised support from first meeting through to sustaining employment.

Your role will include:

• Identifying participants’ skills, strengths, and career aspirations
• Creating Vocational Profiles and tailored Action Plans
• Supporting with CV writing, job searching, applications, and interview preparation
• Delivering one-to-one and group coaching to build confidence and employability skills
• Helping participants overcome barriers including benefits concerns, health disclosures, or workplace adjustments

You’ll also play an important role in connecting participants with opportunities in the local labour market.

• Build strong relationships with local employers across North and East Kent
• Identify opportunities in both the advertised and hidden job market
• Match participants to suitable vacancies and coordinate interviews
• Work with employers to promote inclusive recruitment and reasonable adjustments

This role is highly collaborative and community-focused. You’ll work closely with clinical teams, community organisations, training providers, and employers to ensure participants receive holistic support.

Once someone starts work, your support doesn’t stop. You’ll continue to provide in-work coaching and guidance, helping participants settle into their role, build confidence, and sustain long-term employment.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about people and motivated by helping others achieve their goals. You may come from a background in:

• Health or wellbeing services
• Employability or welfare-to-work programmes
• Adult skills, training, or education
• Recruitment or employer engagement

You’ll also bring strong relationship-building skills, the ability to motivate and coach individuals, and confidence working independently within the community.

If you’re looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference in people’s lives through employment, we’d love to hear from you.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential for this role.

We value your time and commitment, which is why all business-related travel mileage and site parking costs can be fully claimed back. Whether you're travelling between locations or attending meetings in the local community, you'll be reimbursed for eligible expenses, helping to keep your out-of-pocket costs to a minimum while you focus on delivering great work.

For more than 25 years, The Forward Trust has helped people overcome challenges including addiction, offending and unemployment to build healthier, more stable futures.

We’re committed to creating a supportive, flexible and inclusive working environment where our people can thrive while making a genuine impact in the communities we serve.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -

• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness.
When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.
If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements. Our Commitment to Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.