Employment Specialist - connect to Work in London

We're currently recruiting an Employment Specialist to join our dedicated Connect to Work team. This role forms part of a specialist programme designed to support individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions into sustainable paid employment. As an Employment Specialist, you'll play a vital role in helping participants achieve their employment goals. Working primarily with individuals who have health-related support needs, you'll identify suitable job opportunities and provide tailored guidance to help them secure long-term, meaningful employment. Using a person-centred approach, you'll offer bespoke advice and support to each client, while also developing strong relationships with referral partners and local employers. Your ability to engage with stakeholders and understand individual needs will be key to enabling successful employment outcomes.

To thrive in this role, you'll bring a strong understanding of the local labour market in the relevant geographical areas, along with proven experience supporting individuals with multiple and complex needs—particularly those with learning disabilities. You should have a track record of working in target-driven environments while consistently delivering services that meet contractual and quality standards. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

In return for your dedication, knowledge, and commitment, we offer a competitive salary of £33,000 p.a.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays + Birthday Day off (with the opportunity to buy additional days)
• 2 Volunteer Days
• Pension - 5% Employee 5% Employer
• Healthcare Cash Plan, incl. 3 x salary life assurance
• Annual Salary Review
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Free access to BenefitHub - an online portal with access to a wide range of retail discounts, cycle to work scheme and additional voluntary benefits

Key Responsibilities:

• Progressively manage a caseload of referred customers with a learning disability using a variety of appropriate strategies to help them overcome barriers to gaining employment.
• Learning disability awareness and self-development/knowledge to provide specialist support to customer group.
• Undertake in-depth assessments using a suite of tools to fully understand a customer's circumstances, preferences and holistic barriers to progression to employment.
• Co-produce personalised tailored Action Plans featuring SMART targeting to enable positive and timely progression.
• Use an integration framework of local specialist services to obtain support to address specific issues (e.g. substance misuse, anger management, debt advice, health and vocational training).
• Use social prescribing to develop and improve customer circumstances (e.g. healthy eating classes, smoking cessation and social groups).
• Work with multiple agencies to develop holistic approaches to support customers.
• Undertaking direct marketing to employers using digital and electronic formats e.g. email, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc.
• Identify the specific recruitment needs of each employer and undertake tailored pre-screens and group assessments.
• Co-produce effective in-work support plans with participants and employers, based on an assessment of need, providing practical support to ensure a smooth transition into work.
• Be mindful of Health & Safety within the customer's workplace and actively promote and report (if appropriate) to ensure a safe working environment for all customers.
• Develop an understanding of specialist signposting services in the local area/region, building knowledge in areas such as specific disabilities, housing, benefits etc.
• Work from local hubs and community outreach locations (sometimes alongside other services e.g. housing, health and primary care centres) to increase service accessibility.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• A good working knowledge of the local labour market in the specified geographical locations.
• Experience of working with people with multiple and complex needs in particular those with learning disabilities.
• Fully IT literate in using a range of Microsoft Office programmes to include 365 products and modern digital technologies, i.e. Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business.
• Experience of working in a target driven environment.
• Experience of delivering services to meet contractual and quality standards.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of SEQF standards.
• Level 3 Award in Employability Services Sector or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the employability industry.
• Knowledge of the recruitment industry.
• Experience of working with people in the provision of information, advice & guidance.
• Full driving licence.

PLUSS, part of the Seetec group, is an award-winning Community Interest Company that supports thousands of people each year to achieve a career and fulfil their true potential. Our employment operations help jobseekers who need the most specialist support to find work. Our enterprise operations run alongside to create direct employment opportunities in a wide range of job roles. The projects give people the opportunity to get involved in local communities, meet new people and have fun through a range of activities. Pluss is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share and uphold this commitment in conjunction with the requirements of the Prevent Duty and the positive promotion of modern British values. Dependent on the role applying to you may be required to process a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS/DS) check. Seetec support the recruitment of ex-offenders and will not discriminate in any way. Our full policy statement of Ex-Offenders can be found on our website under About us. Pluss is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Location: London

Hours: 37 hours a week. Monday to Thursday 8.30 am to 5pm, Friday 8.30 am to 4.30pm