Contract type
Permanent/ Full- time
Salary
Up to £30,000 per annum
The Growth Company’s (GC) Employment, Justice and Health team are seeking an Employment Specialist to join our Individual Placement Support (IPS) team, to increase the number of people moving into employment from specialist community health services.
The IPS Primary Care (IPS PC) service supports individuals with mild to moderate health conditions to find and sustain employment. We offer personalised, one‑to‑one support, focusing on rapid job search and matching individuals to suitable roles. We work closely with primary care and local health services to provide joined‑up support, while helping individuals build confidence and manage their health alongside work.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage a caseload of around 24 clients who are motivated to start/return to work. Working with participants to progress them on their journey towards employment by delivering the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach and overcoming their work, skills health, and personal circumstances barriers to ultimately support participants into sustainable work.
- Develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies that can help individuals to achieve their employment goals. This may include local colleges and training providers.
- Partake in continuous learning about disability and mental health conditions, their impact, and how they can be managed and undertake mandatory training as required.
- Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations, and goals by completing a Vocational Profile and producing an Action Plan to help them obtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques, and career development.
- Assess client support needs relating to work which may include benefits/welfare advice, disclosure of mental health symptoms, etc., and provide support and guidance.
- Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job searches and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities.
- Provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy, and ongoing contact with the employer to ensure job retention.
About you:
- Experience talking to employers and helping people into work.
- Great communication skills and the ability to build relationships with everyone from the frontline up to CEO level.
- Negotiation skills and commercial acumen.
- Drive, passion, and commitment.
- Proven ability to build rapport with people and especially understanding issues for people with barriers to employment.
- Strong written skills/verbal/ organisational skills.
Skills Required:
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiating skills.
- Ability to work in a target-driven environment, with a focus on the successful achievement of job outcomes and sustained outcomes.
- High-level guidance skills, with the ability to deliver one-to-one and group sessions to at least Grade 2 standard.
- Previous experience working on outreach and lone working.
- Experience in guidance, advice & counselling environments.
- An understanding of working with disabled people, or a similar client group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector is desirable.
We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.
Artificial intelligence can assist you during the application process, but every example and statement you include must be honest, accurate, and based on your own real experiences. If plagiarism is detected, meaning you present someone else’s ideas or experiences, or AI‑generated content, as your own, your application may be withdrawn, and internal applicants could face disciplinary action.
At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.
Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.
We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.
If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.
We also aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments or have any general enquiries at any stage or the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or call us on 0161 237 4447.
Examples include:
Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance.
Extra time for tasks.
Interview questions shared beforehand.
Accessibility software or equipment for assessments.
We’re proud to support the Ban the Box campaign, which helps people with convictions access job opportunities. As part of this, we’ve removed questions about convictions from the initial application stage.
GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working. Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements. If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.
All GC colleagues will work in line with the Health and Safety at work act and the GC Health and Safety Policy.
