Senior Employment Specialist

AQUARIUS ACTION PROJECTS

Tees Valley

On-site

GBP 29,000 - 38,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme 4.5% employer

Life assurance 3x salary

Enhanced sick pay

Birthday leave

Professional fee reimbursement

24/7 online GP access

Cycle to Work

Blue Light Card discounts

Free will writing service

Job summary

Waythrough is launching Connect to Work Tees Valley and seeks two Senior Employment Specialists to lead a new service across Tees Valley. You will supervise a team of Employment Specialists, guide delivery partners, and ensure SEQF compliance while developing employer links to secure sustained employment.

Role involves developing the service, coaching staff, managing a small caseload, and driving continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Experience in employment services and leading teams.
Ability to meet and exceed outcomes and targets.
Experience supervising staff and mentoring.
Understanding of supported employment principles.
Knowledge of disability and special needs issues in employment.
Broad knowledge of occupations and job types.
Ability to extract and report management information.
Ability to model recovery-focused practice and co-production.
Strong networking and relationship-building abilities.
Proactive, independent worker with initiative.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, supervision, coaching and QA to Employment Specialists.
Support implementation of Connect to Work Grant Guidance and fidelity standards.
Promote SEQF principles across the service.
Act as subject matter expert to colleagues and delivery partners.
Work with subcontractors to support workforce development and performance.
Facilitate performance, quality and case management reviews.
Manage a small caseload of ~5–10 participants.
Develop employer relationships and engage external partners.
Ensure high-quality employer engagement to secure and sustain employment.
Monitor client satisfaction and use feedback to improve the service.
Identify training needs and support staff CPD.
Support co-production and service development with user involvement.
Create a culture of continuous improvement across the service.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Coaching

Quality assurance

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Networking

Data analysis

Independent working

Education

Degree-level qualification

Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services/Advice & Guidance

Job description

Senior Employment Specialist

Senior Employment Specialist – Connect to Work Tees Valley (2 positions available)

Salary: £29,430 will be starting salary, with full earning potential up to £37,610Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2028Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, with one 30-minute early finishLocation: Morton Park Business Centre, DarlingtonTravel: Travel throughout Tees Valley will be required

About Waythrough

Make a real difference in your community

About the role

We're excited to be launching a new Connect to Work Tees Valley service, and we're looking for two experienced Senior Employment Specialists to join us at this important stage.

As a Senior Employment Specialist, you'll play a key role in helping us establish and develop the service, supporting a team of Employment Specialists to deliver high-quality supported employment to participants across the Tees Valley.

You'll provide leadership, supervision, coaching and quality assurance, helping colleagues to deliver in line with the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) and the requirements of the Connect to Work programme.

This is a varied role where no two days are likely to be the same. As this is a new contract, you'll have the opportunity to be involved in developing the service, working with colleagues and external partners, and helping us build a service that stands out for the quality of support it provides.

What you'll be doing

You'll provide day-to-day support and oversight to Employment Specialists employed by Waythrough and our subcontracted delivery partners.

Your responsibilities will include:

Providing leadership, supervision, coaching and quality assurance to Employment Specialists.
Supporting the implementation of Connect to Work Grant Guidance, contractual requirements and fidelity standards.
Promoting and embedding the principles of the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF).
Acting as a subject matter expert, providing advice and guidance to colleagues and delivery partners.
Working with subcontractor managers to support workforce development, performance improvement and consistent service delivery.
Facilitating performance, quality and case management reviews.
Managing a small caseload of approximately 5-10 participants.
Supporting Employment Specialists to develop employer relationships and engage external partners.
Ensuring high-quality employer engagement takes place to support participants to secure and sustain employment.
Monitoring client satisfaction and using feedback to help improve the service.
Identifying training and development needs and supporting colleagues with their continuous professional development.
Supporting co-production and involving people who use our services in service development where possible.
Creating a culture of continuous improvement across the service.

About you

We're looking for someone with experience of working within employment services, who can provide effective leadership and support to colleagues while also managing their own caseload.

You'll have a good understanding of supported employment, disability and special needs issues in relation to employment, and the ability to work towards and exceed outcomes and targets.

You’ll be confident building relationships with employers, partners, colleagues and other stakeholders, with strong networking and communication skills.

You’ll also need experience of supervising, managing or mentoring staff and be able to work independently, use your initiative and help develop and promote a service.

Experience of delivering supported employment in line with the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) and knowledge of Connect to Work requirements and grant guidance would be advantageous.

What you'll need

Essential:

Experience of working in employment services.
Experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets.
Experience of staff supervision, management and/or mentoring.
Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment.
Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies and legislation in relation to employment.
Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs.
Ability to extract, analyse and report on management information.
Ability to model recovery-focused practice, including co-production.
Strong networking abilities.
Ability to work independently and use initiative to develop and promote a service.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programmes, including Outlook.
A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Desirable:

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience.
Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector or Level 3 QCF in Advice & Guidance.
Experience of delivering supported employment in accordance with SEQF.
Understanding of Connect to Work programme requirements and grant guidance.
Experience of delivering training.
Personal lived experience of recovery.

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