Date: 29 Jun 2026
Location: Taunton, GB, TA1 4DY
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Company: Somerset Council
Closing date: 15 July 2026
Salary: Grade 13, £25,989 - £28,142 per annum
Contract: Fixed-term contract until 31 March 2030
Hours: We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and can consider full-time, part-time, job share, or compressed hours.
Looking for a role where you can make a real difference in your local community? This is a unique opportunity to support people facing real barriers into meaningful sustainable employment.
As part of Somerset Council’s Connect to Work programme, you’ll work with individuals facing health challenges, disabilities, or other complex circumstances, supporting them to achieve greater independence and financial wellbeing.
We are looking for a number of people who want to make a difference locally and:
Know their local communities
Want to work with people in their local area
Can build strong relationships with local employers and services
Role Summary:
As an Employment Specialist, you’ll support people facing a range of barriers to work. You may have experience supporting, or a strong interest in working with:
People with health conditions, disabilities, or mental health challenges.
Individuals facing long-term unemployment or complex life circumstances.
Young people taking their first steps into employment.
Individuals in drug and alcohol recovery; these roles would be based around either Taunton or Yeovil.
You don’t need experience in all of these areas; many of our team bring strengths in one or two, and we’ll support you to develop further. If you have a particular interest in working with any of these groups, please highlight this in your application.
What you'll do – Key Responsibilities:
Provide tailored one-to-one support to help individuals achieve their employment goals.
Support participants with job searching, CV writing, applications, and interview preparation.
Build relationships with employers and partner organisations to create employment opportunities.
Help individuals overcome barriers to work, including accessing appropriate support and workplace adjustments.
Monitor progress and provide ongoing support to help people succeed in work.
Training & Support
You don’t need previous experience in supported employment models - we’ll provide full training. This includes training in approaches such as Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), alongside ongoing support to help you succeed in the role.
What we're looking for – Knowledge, Experience, and Skills:
Experience providing advice, guidance, or support to individuals seeking employment.
Experience working with people who face barriers to employment, including health conditions, disabilities, or complex needs.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and motivate others.
A person-centred and empathetic approach, with a genuine commitment to helping people achieve their goals.
Experience working collaboratively with employers, partners, and other stakeholders.
Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied caseload and competing priorities.
A resilient, proactive, and solution-focused approach to overcoming challenges.
Understanding of employment support services and the barriers faced by disadvantaged groups.
Knowledge of safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion principles.
Confidence using Microsoft Office and digital systems to maintain accurate records and manage casework.
If you meet some of the criteria and have transferable skills or relevant experience, we encourage you to apply — we’ll support you to develop in the role.
About the Team:
The Connect to Work team sits within Somerset Council’s Economic Development, Skills and Climate Service. By joining us, you’ll be part of an organisation dedicated to inclusion, community impact, and creating opportunities for local people. We work closely with employers, health services, training providers, and community partners across the county to support residents into work that improves lives, strengthens communities, and promotes economic inclusion. Together, we are committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred support that makes a real difference.
Additional Information:
25 days' annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance.
If applying as a secondment, please seek approval from your manager in the first instance.
Interviews will be held Monday 27th July 2026.
We are recruiting a number of Employment Specialists to support participants across Somerset. As the role involves working within local communities and travelling throughout the county, we welcome applications from candidates based in different areas of Somerset.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.
For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Kate Blowfield, Connect to Work Manager, via email:
[email protected]
A full job description can be found here: Connect to Work Employment Specialist - Job Description - TR0266 - 1071AB
