Job Description:

Job Role: Connect to Work/IPS Employment Specialist
Location: County Durham (Community-Based)
Base Location: North County Durham - Travel throughout County Durham and surrounding communities required
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Hours: 35 hours per week
 
Role Overview
We are recruiting an enthusiastic and driven Connect to Work/IPS Employment Specialist to join an established supported employment team delivering high-quality employment support across County Durham.
As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will support individuals with health conditions, disabilities, mental health challenges and other complex barriers to secure and sustain meaningful employment through the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
Working within local communities, you will build strong relationships with participants, employers, health professionals and referral partners to create personalised pathways into sustainable employment. You will focus on individual strengths, aspirations and capabilities, helping people overcome barriers while promoting recovery, independence and social inclusion.
This is an excellent opportunity for somebody with employability, welfare-to-work, supported employment, mental health, community support or recruitment experience who is passionate about changing lives through employment.
 
Key Responsibilities
Participant Engagement & Case Management

• Manage a caseload of up to 25 participants.
• Build trusted, positive and supportive relationships with individuals.
• Complete vocational profiling to identify skills, aspirations, strengths and support needs.
• Develop personalised employment action plans tailored to individual goals.
• Deliver one-to-one support that promotes progression into sustainable employment.
• Support participants to overcome health, disability, wellbeing and employment barriers.
• Provide ongoing in-work support to promote job retention and career progression.

Employment Support & Job Outcomes

• Support participants with:
• CV development
• Job applications
• Interview preparation
• Career planning
• Job searching
• Employment goal setting
• Match participants with suitable employment opportunities aligned to their preferences and strengths.
• Support participants throughout their journey into and within employment.
• Work towards employment outcome and progression targets.

Employer Engagement & Job Development

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local employers.
• Identify suitable job opportunities within both advertised and hidden labour markets.
• Promote inclusive recruitment practices and workplace adjustments.
• Educate employers on disability inclusion and reasonable adjustments.
• Negotiate employment opportunities that align with participant needs and aspirations.
• Provide support to employers to improve sustainment and job success.

 
 
 
Partnership Working

• Work collaboratively with:
• Mental health services
• Health professionals
• Therapists and clinicians
• Community organisations
• Referral agencies
• Training providers
• Attend partnership meetings and contribute to integrated support plans.
• Build effective referral pathways and promote service awareness within local communities.

Quality, Compliance & Performance

• Maintain accurate case records and management information.
• Monitor participant progress and adapt support plans where required.
• Ensure delivery aligns with IPS principles and fidelity standards.
• Manage diary and workload effectively to maximise participant engagement.
• Contribute to quality improvement, compliance and performance targets.
• Work within safeguarding, data protection and organisational policies.

 
Essential Criteria

• Experience supporting individuals to obtain, retain or progress in employment.
• Strong understanding of supported employment principles and person-centred practice.
• Experience managing a caseload and working towards targets.
• Proven ability to build relationships with employers and community stakeholders.
• Experience delivering one-to-one support and coaching.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and diary management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Experience working within a performance and quality-driven environment.
• Resilient, adaptable and solution-focused approach.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle with business insurance.

 
Desirable Criteria

• Experience within:
• IPS (Individual Placement and Support)
• Supported Employment
• Employability Services
• Welfare-to-Work Programmes
• Mental Health Services
• Community Support Services
• Recruitment or Employer Engagement
• Understanding of mental health recovery approaches.
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
• Knowledge of benefits, basic employment law and workplace adjustments.
• Existing local employer or stakeholder network.
• Experience facilitating group sessions or workshops.

Additional Information

• Community-based role covering County Durham.
• Base location in Bishop Auckland.
• Extensive local travel required as part of service delivery.
• Enhanced DBS check required.
• Mileage and business travel expenses available in line with organisational policy.
• Flexible approach required to meet participant and employer needs.

 
How to Apply
For more information or to apply for the IPS Employment Specialist role, please contact:
Robert Rowe (phone number removed) (url removed)