At a Glance
- Tasks: Empower individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their employment goals.
- Company: Join Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, dedicated to community support and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with a commitment to diversity and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them secure sustainable employment.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting individuals facing employment barriers and strong interpersonal skills.
The predicted salary is between 33699 - 33699 £ per year.
The job requirements are detailed below. Essential qualifications, skills and experience are listed in the Job Descriptions/Person Specification which can be found under the attachments section below.
Location: Ty Elai, Dinas Isaf Industrial Estate, Tonypandy CF40 1NY (Hybrid Working)
Contract: Externally Funded Position
Salary: Grade 8 (£33,699 per annum)
Hours: 37 Hours per Week
Make a Difference Through Employment
Are you passionate about helping people overcome barriers and achieve their employment goals? Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is looking for a motivated and compassionate Connect to Work Employment Specialist to join our Work and Skills Team. This is an exciting opportunity to support people who face challenges accessing employment, including disabled people, those with health conditions and other complex barriers to securing fair, paid work.
Working within the UK Government's Connect to Work programme, you will empower participants to build confidence, identify career aspirations, secure sustainable employment, and thrive in the workplace.
About the Role
As a Connect to Work Employment Specialist, you will manage a caseload of participants and provide personalised, one-to-one employment support using Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) or Individual Placement and Support (IPS) principles. You will work closely with local employers, health services, social care teams, voluntary organisations, and community partners to create meaningful pathways into work and ensure participants receive the support they need to sustain employment.
What You'll Be Doing
- Supporting participants to identify their strengths, skills, interests, and employment goals.
- Developing vocational profiles, action plans, and tailored support programmes.
- Managing a caseload and delivering person-centred employment support.
- Providing job coaching and in-work support where required.
- Building relationships with employers to create employment opportunities.
- Working closely with health and social care partners, community organisations, and referral agencies.
- Maintaining accurate records, participant outcomes, and performance information.
- Promoting the Connect to Work programme across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
- Ensuring all safeguarding, GDPR, health and safety, and quality requirements are met.
What We're Looking For
We are seeking someone who can inspire, motivate, and support people facing barriers to employment.
Experience and Knowledge
- Experience engaging with individuals who have multiple barriers to employment.
- Experience of partnership working and inter-agency networking.
- Experience maintaining records, databases, and monitoring systems.
- Understanding of the support needs of long-term unemployed and economically inactive people.
- Knowledge of customer-focused service delivery and confidentiality requirements.
- Experience supporting disabled people into employment.
- Experience providing job coaching or in-work support.
- Knowledge of SEQF or IPS employment support frameworks.
- Understanding of welfare reform, benefits, and employment-related support services.
Why Join Rhondda Cynon Taf Council?
At Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, our vision is for a county borough where everyone can achieve their full potential. We are committed to supporting our workforce through excellent training, wellbeing initiatives, and flexible working opportunities.
- Hybrid working arrangements.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Learning and development opportunities.
- Supportive and inclusive workplace networks.
If you are passionate about supporting people into fair, sustainable employment and want to play a key role in delivering an innovative employability programme, we'd love to hear from you.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk and expects all employees to share this commitment. Enhanced DBS clearance will be required for this post. Protecting children and vulnerable adults is a core responsibility of all staff appointed to the Council.
The Council values diversity in its workforce. We are committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender, including those with non-binary identities, religion or belief or pregnancy and maternity. We offer a number of staff networks for employees including the Allies Network, a Disability and Carers Network and Perthyn our LGBTQ+ Network.
An application submitted for this post in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
As part of the Council’s longer term objectives in relation to the Welsh language and its Workforce Planning Strategy, it is committed to a guaranteed interview scheme for Welsh-speakers of Level 3 and above. If you meet the essential criteria as identified in the person specification for the job and are a Welsh-speaker of Level 3 and above, you will be invited to interview if you choose to participate in the scheme.
Employment Specialist - Connect to Work in Tonypandy employer: Cardiff Capital
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment for its staff. With a strong commitment to professional development, employees in the Disabled Children's Services benefit from ongoing training and growth opportunities, ensuring they can make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families. The council's focus on child-centred, strengths-based practice creates a rewarding atmosphere where social workers can thrive and contribute to the community.
