Connect to Work Employment Specialist in Daventry

Key Responsibilities

• Manage an active caseload of 25 clients who want to start or return to work
• Conduct vocational profiling, identifying skills, aspirations, and employment goals
• Develop personalised action plans, supporting job search, CV writing, applications, interview preparation, and career planning
• Assess clients’ support needs, including:
  • Travel planning
  • Benefits and welfare advice
  • Disclosure support around health conditions
  • Budgeting and “better‑off” calculations
• Provide in‑work support to help clients sustain roles, including frequent early-job check‑ins and long‑term follow‑up
• Support clients at risk of job loss due to ill health, helping them maintain employment
• Source job opportunities
• Promote the service to employers and negotiate reasonable adjustments and phased returns
• Maintain ongoing contact with employers to support job retention and resolve employment challenges
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusive employment practices
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including Primary Care, training providers, mental health teams, DWP, and referral partners
• Build relationships that generate referrals and strengthen community-based employment support networks
• Maintain accurate case notes, progress reports, and CRM‑based documentation
• Work to IPS fidelity standards and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of client outcomes
• Collect feedback from service users to support continuous service improvement
• Work independently, reliably, and consistently to deliver high‑quality IPS practice

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Full NVQ Level 2 in customer service, business administration, accounting, or IT (essential)
• GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and mathematics (essential)
• Level 2 IT Qualification, such as ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) (essential)
• Full UK driving licence (often required due to community‑based work) (essential)
• Willingness to undertake IPS‑specific training (e.g., IPS Grow training, Fidelity training) (essential)
• First Aid at Work Certificate (desirable)
• IOSH Health and Safety Qualification (desirable)
• Level 3 qualification or above in a relevant field (e.g., Health & Social Care, Employability, Psychology, Social Sciences) (desirable)

• Experience supporting individuals to achieve goals, ideally in employment, skills, health, or social care settings (essential)
• Experience engaging with employers or supporting clients into work (essential)
• Skills for Life awareness (desirable)
• Knowledge of the local labour market (desirable)
• Understanding and awareness for clients with multiple and complex difficulties (desirable)

• Barriers to learning and employment (essential)
• How to support customer and promote independence (essential)
• Support strategies for various customer specific needs (essential)
• Comfortable working in community settings and travelling within the region (knowledge of local community/work environments) (essential)
• Understanding of the IPS Fidelity Model and evidence‑based practice (training provided) (desirable)
• Knowledge of mental health, disability, health inequalities, and the Equality Act 2010 (desirable)

• The ability to work under pressure in a highly performance driven organisation (essential)
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team (essential)
• The ability to work accurately and actively programme solving (essential)
• The ability to reflect on your own performance to support quality improvement (essential)
• The ability to manage time effectively and plan your own workload (essential)
• Strong organisational and caseload‑management skills (essential)
• Excellent communication skills (in person, telephone, written) (essential)
• Ability to build effective relationships with clients, employers, and multi‑agency partners (essential)

Job Benefits

• Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant
• Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing
• Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications
• Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers
• Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge
• Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces
• Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives
• Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards
• £500 Recommend a friend scheme