At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to help individuals secure meaningful employment and overcome barriers.
- Company: Join Waythrough, a leading mental health and social support charity in England.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive work culture, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Empower others to achieve their employment goals and transform lives in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in employability services and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 29430 - 37610 £ per year.
Location: County Durham (main base to be discussed with line manager), travel will be required throughout the region and between services.
Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (with one 30 minute early finish each week).
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £29,430 - £37,610
Please note: You will need a full driving licence and access to a vehicle, as the role involves working across County Durham and meeting with employers and partners. The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Waythrough: Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we've created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community: Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job - it's a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
About the role: Are you passionate about helping people overcome barriers to employment and supporting them to build a brighter future? Waythrough is looking for a motivated and experienced Lead Employment Specialist to join our CDDARS service across County Durham. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and develop a team of four Employment Specialists, helping people accessing drug and alcohol treatment to find and sustain meaningful, paid employment. You will play a key role in developing our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach, supporting your team to build strong relationships with local employers and create opportunities for people who may have never worked or have been out of employment for a long time. This is a rewarding role where you will have the opportunity to shape and develop the service, make the role your own and help people take positive steps towards long-term employment and recovery.
What you will do:
- Lead, supervise and develop a team of four Employment Specialists, providing coaching, mentoring, training and ongoing support.
- Support the delivery of a high-quality IPS service, ensuring best practice is followed and positive employment outcomes are achieved.
- Manage a small caseload of around 10-15 individuals, supporting them to secure sustainable paid employment that reflects their skills, strengths and preferences.
- Build and maintain relationships with local employers, identifying opportunities and helping the team access the hidden labour market.
- Support the team to develop effective employer engagement and job development strategies.
- Monitor service performance, review progress against targets and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Maintain accurate records and prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders, including commissioners.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, external agencies, training providers and other partners to help individuals achieve their employment goals.
- Gather feedback from the people we support and use this to improve service delivery.
- Support employers to understand individual needs and, where appropriate, negotiate workplace adjustments and ongoing support to help people remain in employment.
About you: We are looking for someone who can bring strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, alongside a genuine passion for helping people achieve their employment goals. You will be confident managing your own workload, supporting a team to achieve its objectives and building relationships with employers and external stakeholders. You will also be motivated by the opportunity to develop a service and help people overcome barriers to employment.
To be successful in this role, you will have:
- Experience in employability services, recruitment or a related field.
- Experience of working with external stakeholders and building effective professional relationships.
- Experience of supporting, supervising, mentoring or managing others.
- A good understanding of employment opportunities, different occupations and the barriers people can face when looking for work.
- Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Experience of working towards targets and achieving positive outcomes.
- The ability to analyse information, maintain accurate records and use management information systems.
- A collaborative approach and the ability to work independently, using your initiative to develop and improve a service.
- A commitment to Waythrough's values of Kindness, Courage and Respect.
Lead Employment Specialist employer: recoveryfocus
Waythrough is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional development of its staff. Located in Leeds, our supportive work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, offering employees opportunities for growth through training and mentorship in the vital field of recovery support. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the community while enjoying a fulfilling career in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Employment Specialist
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by recoveryfocus.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like recoveryfocus.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at recoveryfocus.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at recoveryfocus. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Employment Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of recoveryfocus. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Lead Employment Specialist, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at recoveryfocus
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of recoveryfocus. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
