Senior Employment Specialist - Team Leader

This project is an inclusive supported employment programme supporting residents across Birmingham who face barriers to entering or sustaining work. The programme helps participants overcome challenges such as long-term unemployment, disability, or health conditions by providing tailored one-to-one support, training, and meaningful employer engagement.

The programme operates through two complementary models of support:- The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model – focused on people with mental health needs, integrating employment specialists within health and community services to provide rapid job search, placement, and in-work support.- The Supported Employment model aligned to the BASE Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) – focusing on people with disabilities, health conditions, or other complex barriers, following a structured five-stage approach: engagement, vocational profiling, job finding, employer engagement, and ongoing support.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Supported Employment Specialist will deliver high-quality, person-centred employment support in line with one of the two fidelity models. This role is focused on enabling people with disabilities, learning difficulties/disabilities, neuro-diverse conditions, poor mental health or individuals from a disadvantaged background to prepare for, secure, and sustain meaningful paid employment aligned with their goals, while promoting inclusion, independence, and long‑term wellbeing.

The role combines one-to-one support, employer engagement, and collaboration with multidisciplinary mental health teams and community organisations.

Key Tasks / Responsibilities

• Deliver the appropriate SEQF or IPS models of supported employment — applying the five SEQF stages (engagement, vocational profiling, job finding, employer engagement, and ongoing support) and the eight IPS principles of rapid job search, personalised in-work support, and integrated collaboration with health and community partners to help participants achieve and sustain competitive employment.
• Work with individuals to identify aspirations, skills, and barriers to employment, developing personalised vocational profiles and action plans.
• Provide systematic job coaching, workplace training, and skills development to promote independence and job retention.
• Consistently model positive workplace behaviours and encourage individuals to meet agreed expectations.
• Negotiate reasonable adjustments and develop return-to-work or job‑carving strategies.
• Promote inclusive employment and mental health awareness.
• Build strong partnerships with employers, negotiate to create suitable work opportunities that meet both business needs and individual goals.
• Support employers to understand, adapt, and embed inclusive practices that benefit both the individual and workplace.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of jobseeker’s progress, outcomes, and employer engagement in line with the fidelity models.
• Ensure all work placements and employment opportunities meet safeguarding and Health & Safety standards.
• Travel across Birmingham and surrounding areas to provide in‑work and community‑based support.
• Contribute to Connect to Work impact measurement by collecting destination data and evidencing outcomes.
• Promote and uphold safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion always.

Person Specification – Employment Specialist

Qualifications

• GCSE Math’s & English at Grade C/4 or equivalent (Essential)
• Qualification in supported employment/job coaching (Desirable)
• Degree or equivalent qualification in employability, psychology, or health/social care (Desirable)
• Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services or IAG Level 3 (Desirable)

Experience

• Experience with learning disabilities/autism/mental health (Essential)
• Experience in employability or careers work (Essential)
• Proven record of meeting targets and achieving positive outcomes (Essential)

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of supported employment principles and employer engagement techniques (Essential)
• Excellent communication, motivational interviewing, and interpersonal skills (Essential)
• Knowledge of SEQF / IPS fidelity models (Desirable)
• Understanding of welfare benefits and employment legislation (Desirable)

Personal Attributes

• Strong communication & interpersonal skills
• Adaptable, person‑centered approach
• Ability to travel across the city and work flexibly

Core Behaviours

• Impact-Driven: Focused on outcomes that transform lives.
• Resilient: Maintains persistence and optimism in the face of challenges.
• Ethical & Inclusive: Champions equality, diversity, and respect.
• Solution‑Focused: Uses initiative to overcome barriers and adapt approaches.
• Accountable: Delivers on commitments with professionalism and integrity.
• Highly motivated and self-driven.

Job Types: Full‑time, Fixed term contract

• Company pension
• Sick pay

Experience:

• employability: 2 years (preferred)
• United Kingdom (required)

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