At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals with disabilities to secure meaningful employment and achieve their career goals.
- Company: Join Intuitive Thinking Skills, a leader in inclusive employment support.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and annual bonuses.
- Other info: Inclusive recruitment process welcoming diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while building your career.
- Qualifications: Experience supporting individuals with complex needs and knowledge of the local job market.
The predicted salary is between 31000 - 31000 £ per year.
Role: Employment Specialist (Connect to Work)
Location: Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen (area-based role focused on community outreach)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Reports to: Team Lead / Head of Supported Employment
Closing date: 4 December 2026
Intuitive Thinking Skills are recruiting Employment Specialists for our Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Connect to Work team. This specialist programme helps people with disabilities, health conditions or other barriers to work secure sustainable paid employment. Our support also assists people who are at risk of losing their job or need work better suited to their circumstances.
You will help participants achieve their employment goals, primarily supporting people with health-related needs. You’ll identify suitable opportunities and provide tailored guidance to help them secure meaningful, lasting employment. Alongside personalised support, you’ll build strong relationships with referral partners and local employers to enable successful employment outcomes.
You will need proven experience supporting people with multiple and complex needs, working towards targets and delivering services that meet contractual and quality standards.
Main Responsibilities
- Meet personal performance targets, key performance indicators, and quality and compliance requirements, aiming to exceed them.
- Build and manage a caseload of referred participants with learning disabilities.
- Develop your knowledge of learning disabilities to provide specialist support to participants.
- Use a range of assessment tools to understand each participant’s circumstances, preferences and barriers to employment.
- Deliver the programme’s required customer service and quality standards.
- Work with participants and employers to develop tailored solutions.
- Co-produce personalised action plans with SMART targets to support timely, positive progress.
- Coordinate support through local specialist services to address needs such as substance misuse, anger management, debt, health and vocational training.
- Use social prescribing where appropriate to improve participants’ circumstances.
- Work with partner agencies to provide holistic support.
- With participant consent, hold joint case conferences to coordinate support packages.
- Use your knowledge of the local labour market to identify suitable job opportunities.
- Market directly to employers through digital channels, including email, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
- Identify employers’ recruitment needs and carry out tailored pre-screening and group assessments.
- Co-produce needs-based in-work support plans with participants and employers.
- Provide practical support for a smooth transition into work and facilitate job carving where appropriate.
- Promote health and safety in participants’ workplaces and report concerns where appropriate to support a safe working environment.
- Build knowledge of specialist signposting services across the county, including support for disabilities, housing and benefits.
- Keep digital files and participant records in line with compliance and quality standards.
- Work from local hubs and community outreach locations to improve access, sometimes alongside housing, health and primary care services.
Skills and Experience Required
Essential Requirements
- Sound knowledge of the local labour market in the areas covered by the role.
- Experience supporting people with multiple and complex needs, particularly learning disabilities.
- Confident use of Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 products, alongside digital tools such as Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business.
- Experience working towards targets.
- Experience delivering services that meet contractual and quality standards.
Desirable Requirements
- Understanding of supported employment fidelity standards.
- Level 3 Award in Employability Services Sector, or an equivalent qualification.
- Understanding of the employability sector.
- Understanding of the recruitment sector.
- A full driving licence.
INTERVIEW INFORMATION
If invited to interview, you’ll need to demonstrate a passion for supporting people with complex needs and barriers, along with a sound understanding of Connect to Work and supported employment programmes. This understanding may come from pre-interview research or direct experience. Thorough interview preparation is essential.
Intuitive Thinking Skills offers £29,000–£31,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus the following benefits:
- 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell additional days
- Company pension scheme
- Company sick pay
- Smart-casual dress code
- Annual company events
- Annual bonus and pay increases, subject to business circumstances
Further Information
You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Inclusive Recruitment and Accessibility
Intuitive Thinking Skills is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds, experiences and working styles. Candidates are encouraged to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Applicants do not need to meet every desirable criterion to apply; we are interested in relevant skills, potential and values alignment as well as direct experience.
Compliance
It is the responsibility of all staff to abide by organisational policies to ensure compliance with relevant standards e.g. ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental) as well as adhering to statutory duties in relation to safeguarding, Prevent and health and safety.
Employment Specialist - Blaenau Gwent & Torfaen employer: AKG
AKG Learning is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture. As an Engagement and Enrolment Officer, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on learners and employers in the community, supported by comprehensive training and professional development initiatives. Located in a vibrant area, AKG Learning offers a dynamic environment where your contributions are valued, and you can thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Employment Specialist - Blaenau Gwent & Torfaen
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at AKG.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from AKG!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like AKG, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at AKG or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Employment Specialist - Blaenau Gwent & Torfaen
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to AKG:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to AKG! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AKG
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
