At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals with mental health and disabilities to find meaningful employment.
- Company: Join The Forward Trust, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering lives.
- Benefits: Flexible working, training opportunities, wellbeing days, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Collaborative role with community focus and excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives through employment support.
- Qualifications: Passion for helping others, strong relationship-building skills, and relevant experience.
- Employment Specialist - Medway and
- Gravesham
- Vacancy
Type: Permanent About The Role Are you passionate about helping people unlock their potential through meaningful employment?
We’re looking for a motivated Employment Specialist to support people living with mental health conditions, long-term physical health conditions, or disabilities to move into work that suits their skills, strengths, and ambitions.
Working across Medway and Gravesham, you’ll deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model as part of the Connect to Work programme.
This evidence-based approach focuses on helping people move into competitive employment quickly, with personalised support that continues once they start work.
Full IPS training will be provided, so if you bring the right passion and people skills, we’ll equip you with the rest.
Due to the nature of the role, all applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
What you’ll be doing You’ll manage a caseload of around 25 participants who are motivated to start or return to work, providing personalised support from first meeting through to sustaining employment.
Your role will include
- Identifying participants’ skills, strengths, and career aspirations
- Creating Vocational Profiles and tailored Action Plans
- Supporting with CV writing, job searching, applications, and interview preparation
- Delivering one-to-one and group coaching to build confidence and employability skills
- Helping participants overcome barriers including benefits concerns, health disclosures, or workplace adjustments You’ll also play an important role in connecting participants with opportunities in the local labour market.
- Build strong relationships with local employers across North and East Kent
- Identify opportunities in both the advertised and hidden job market
- Match participants to suitable vacancies and coordinate interviews
- Work with employers to promote inclusive recruitment and reasonable adjustments This role is highly collaborative and community-focused.
You’ll work closely with clinical teams, community organisations, training providers, and employers to ensure participants receive holistic support.
Once someone starts work, your support doesn’t stop.
You’ll continue to provide in-work coaching and guidance, helping participants settle into their role, build confidence, and sustain long-term employment.
About you We’re looking for someone who is passionate about people and motivated by helping others achieve their goals.
You may come from a background in
- Health or wellbeing services
- Employability or welfare-to-work programmes
- Adult skills, training, or education
- Recruitment or employer engagement You’ll also bring strong relationship-building skills, the ability to motivate and coach individuals, and confidence working independently within the community.
If you’re looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference in people’s lives through employment, we’d love to hear from you.
About Us We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives.
For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past.
We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change.
Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity.
Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important.
- Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -
- Flexible working
- Training and development opportunities
- Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Crisis Loan Scheme
- Electric Car Scheme
- 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
- Access to Blue Light Card
- 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
- Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
- Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
- Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria) Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
To Apply If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application
Employment Specialist - Medway and Gravesham in Strood employer: Forward Trust
Forward Trust in Margate is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a positive impact in the community by empowering job seekers, particularly those facing barriers such as ex-offenders. With a strong focus on employee growth, flexible working arrangements, and comprehensive benefits, we foster a supportive work culture that values collaboration and personal development, making it a rewarding place for those passionate about helping others succeed in their career journeys.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Employment Specialist - Medway and Gravesham in Strood
✨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 Forward Trust.
✨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 Forward Trust!
✨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 Forward Trust, 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 Forward Trust 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 - Medway and Gravesham in Strood
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 Forward Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Forward Trust! 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 Forward Trust
✨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.
