Employment Specialist | Connect to Work in Sunderland

Could you help people with health conditions, disabilities and complex barriers find meaningful employment and achieve their goals?

Join Triage as an Employment Specialist and deliver personalised IPS support across Sunderland, helping people secure sustainable work while promoting inclusion, confidence and independence.

• North East
• Full-time
• Role

The IPS Employment Specialist plays a pivotal role in supporting individuals with health conditions (including mental health), disabilities and complex barriers to employment, to gain and sustain meaningful paid employment.

The role is based on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, an evidence‑based approach to vocational rehabilitation.

You will build and manage a caseload of up to 25 people and engage with local employers to match participants with suitable roles.

Your work location(s) will mainly be in and around the communities we support, with diary management to maximise face‑to‑face time with each participant.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

• Outstanding interpersonal skills (empathy, teamwork, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence) and ability to build rapport with a range of people.
• Proven experience of supporting people to overcome barriers to obtaining or keeping work.
• An understanding of the principles and practices of supported employment.
• Proven track record of building collaborative relationships with employers.
• High level of optimism, initiative, and effective interpersonal skills to engage effectively with participants, clinical teams and employers.
• Proven experience of delivering one‑to‑one support and facilitating small group sessions.
• Demonstrated experience working within a structured delivery model, creatively adapting the approach so the service remains inclusive, engaging and beneficial to all participants.
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding progression targets.
• Experience in using assessment tools such as vocational profiling to identify support needs and inform practical job‑goal actions.
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, non‑verbal, listening) with the ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to evaluate individual progress toward goals and adjust support strategies as needed.
• Ability to positively challenge others and maintain a proactive, can‑do attitude.
• Accomplished networking skills to build professional relationships effectively.
• Organisational and time‑management skills for diary and caseload management.
• Experience working in a performance and quality‑driven environment.
• Capacity to work in a complex environment and demonstrate perseverance.
• Driver with access to a vehicle and business car insurance.
• Experience in employability, publicly funded services, or similar sectors.
• Previous work with diverse populations.
• Desirable: pre‑existing network of partners and/or employers in the local area; use of qualitative mechanisms for continuous improvement; a proactive “can‑do” attitude; a track record of driving positive change and working independently.
• Legal Statement

Triage is a Disability Confident Employer who wishes to engage and encourage people with a disability or long‑term health condition, ensuring they have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the job and make reasonable adjustments to ensure candidates are not disadvantaged in any way.

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