Health and Employment Specialist

The Health and Employment Specialist provides personalised, health-led support to participants furthest from the labour market, helping them improve wellbeing, confidence and independence while progressing at a pace that is right for them. Working within the Social Model of Disability, the postholder delivers strengths-based coaching, holistic assessments, personalised Support Plans and coordinated interventions that address health, social and practical barriers while meeting Contract Service Standards (CSSs) and contractual outputs.

Key Relationships/Interactions

• Internal: Senior Health and Employment Specialist, Service Delivery Manager, Health Team Coordinator, Inclusive Employment Advisor, Community Partnership Connector, Clinical Governance Lead, Claims Assistant, Multidisciplinary Team
• External: Participants, Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches, Healthcare Professionals, Community and Voluntary Organisations, Employers and Employer Networks, Volunteering Organisations

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver personalised, strengths-based support to participants through regular one-to-one coaching, helping them improve their health, wellbeing, confidence and progression at a pace that is right for them.
• Conduct holistic Needs Assessments and develop personalised Support Plans that reflect participants' goals, strengths and support needs.
• Apply the Social Model of Disability, helping participants identify and overcome barriers to participation, independence and sustainable employment.
• Build trusting relationships using person-centred, trauma-informed and psychologically safe approaches that encourage engagement and positive behaviour change.
• Support participants to access appropriate health services, community resources, volunteering, learning and employment opportunities through effective partnership working and signposting.
• Monitor participant progress using agreed outcome measures, including the Wellbeing Star, celebrating distance travelled and reviewing Support Plans as required.
• Maintain accurate participant records, contractual evidence and management information in line with Contract Service Standards (CSSs), organisational policies and contractual requirements.
• Identify safeguarding concerns, manage risk appropriately and work collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies to ensure participants receive safe, coordinated and effective support.

Essential/Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Essential: Degree-level qualification (Level 6 or above) in a health, wellbeing or behavioural science discipline, such as psychology, public health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, counselling, sports science or another relevant health-related subject.
• Demonstrable experience supporting individuals with physical health conditions, mental health conditions, disabilities or other complex barriers to progression.
• Experience delivering person-centred support using coaching, behaviour change or rehabilitation approaches within a non-clinical setting.
• Understanding of the Social Model of Disability and its application to supporting individuals to overcome barriers and maximise independence.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, professional boundaries and risk management.
• Strong communication, assessment and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage individuals who may be anxious, disengaged or lacking confidence.
• Experience maintaining accurate case records, outcome measures and participant documentation.

• Desirable: Postgraduate qualification or additional professional training in a health, wellbeing, coaching or behavioural science discipline.
• Experience working within employability, vocational rehabilitation, public health or DWP-funded services.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, motivational interviewing, health coaching or behaviour change methodologies.
• Experience using outcome measurement tools such as the Wellbeing Star or similar.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams and collaborating with statutory, healthcare and community organisations.

Inclusive Recruitment and Accessibility

AKG UK 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.