Employment Specialist - Medway

Employment Specialist – Medway

Permanent26,000 – 28,000

Do you believe work can be a powerful part of recovery?

Were looking for an Employment Specialist to join a supportive, forward-thinking team in Medway, helping people in structured drug and alcohol treatment move into meaningful, sustainable employment. This is a full-time role (35 hours per week) where youll play a key part in helping individuals rebuild confidence, develop skills, and take positive steps toward long-term recovery through employment.

This isnt just about jobs, its about confidence, purpose, and long-term change.

Youll work with a caseload of around 25 clients, using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (full training provided) to help people identify strengths, set goals, and take real steps into work that suits their preferences and recovery journey.

Youll also be out in the community, building relationships with employers, unlocking hidden opportunities, and making sure clients are matched to roles where they can thrive.

What youll be doing

• Managing a caseload of clients in structured treatment, supporting them into sustainable employment
• Delivering the IPS model (training provided) in a person-centred, strengths-based way
• Supporting CVs, job searches, applications, interview prep and career planning
• Building strong relationships with local employers and negotiating tailored job opportunities
• Working closely with clinical teams as part of an embedded recovery service
• Providing in-work support to help clients sustain employment long term
• Challenging barriers, tackling stigma, and promoting recovery through work

What were looking for

Were open to experience from roles such as:

• Support Worker
• Employment Professional / Advisor
• Recovery Worker

Most importantly, youll bring:

• Strong people skills and a belief in recovery through work
• Confidence working independently and managing a caseload
• The ability to build trust with clients, employers, and clinical teams
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset
• Commitment to person-centred, strengths-based practice

Youll be part of a service that sees employment as a key step in recovery, not an afterthought. Every CV written, every interview secured, every job sustained is a real, measurable change in someones life.

If youre ready to combine employability expertise with meaningful social impact, wed love to hear from you.

Please see attached Job Description for full details

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.

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with Lived Experience of addiction, offending, or homelessness.

When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

To find out more about Forwards commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here .

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the Eligibility to Work in the UK requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.