Senior Employment Specialist
Recovery Focus
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Waythrough is launching Connect to Work Tees Valley and seeks two Senior Employment Specialists to help establish and develop the service across Tees Valley.
You will lead a team of Employment Specialists, provide coaching, quality assurance, and build strong employer relationships while ensuring the programme adheres to SEQF and Connect to Work guidelines.
Qualifications
- Experience in employment services and meeting/exceeding outcomes.
- Experience supervising, managing or mentoring staff.
- Strong understanding of the principles of supported employment.
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues relating to employment.
Responsibilities
- Provide day-to-day oversight to Employment Specialists and subcontracted delivery partners.
- Offer leadership, supervision, coaching and quality assurance to Employment Specialists.
- Support implementation of Connect to Work Grant Guidance and SEQF standards.
- Promote and embed the principles of the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF).
- Act as a subject matter expert, advising colleagues and partners.
- Work with subcontractor managers to support workforce development and performance improvement.
- Facilitate performance, quality and case management reviews.
- Manage a small caseload of around 5–10 participants.
- Help Employment Specialists develop employer relationships and external partnerships.
- 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 colleagues' professional development.
- Support co-production and involve people who use our services in service development.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement across the service.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Salary: £29,430 will be starting salary, with full earning potential up to £37,610
Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2028
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, with one 30-minute early finish
Location: Morton Park Business Centre, Darlington
Travel: Travel throughout Tees Valley will be required
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
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.
- Providing day-to-day support and oversight to Employment Specialists employed by Waythrough and our subcontracted delivery partners.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
- Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
- Life assurance (3× annual salary)
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
- Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
- Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
- 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
- Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
- £500 Recommend a Friend bonus
- Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
- Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
- Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme — all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk
Closing Date: 2026-10-02
Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. In April 2026, Aquarius, our former subsidiary partner, merged with Waythrough. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have 260 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 130,000 people.
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