Employment Specialist - Thanet, Dover & Folkestone/Hythe - Thanet in Saint Peters

Are you passionate about helping people achieve their career goals? Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of those living with mental health conditions, long-term physical health challenges, or disabilities? We are looking for a full-time Employment Specialist (35 hours/week) to join our Connect to Work team across Thanet, Dover & Folkestone/Hythe. You'll support participants to secure and sustain meaningful employment, using their skills, strengths, and aspirations as the guide.

Due to the nature of the role, all applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

Who we're looking for:

• Experience in health-related services, employability, adult skills, or recruitment.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence in coaching, mentoring, and advocacy.
• Passion for inclusion, equality, and removing barriers to employment.

What you'll do:

• Manage a caseload of motivated participants and deliver tailored support from job search to sustained employment.
• Provide one-to-one and group coaching on CVs, applications, interviews, and employability skills.
• Build strong relationships with local employers, match participants to suitable roles, and negotiate workplace adjustments.
• Offer ongoing in-work support to ensure participants thrive.
• Collaborate with community organisations, clinical teams, and training providers to remove barriers to employment.

This is your chance to make a tangible difference in people's lives every day while working in a supportive, collaborative, and recovery-focused environment. You'll receive full IPS/Connect to Work training, develop your skills, and be part of a team that empowers people to achieve their employment goals and build lasting independence.

If you're ready to help people transform their futures through work, apply now and join our mission to make employment accessible for all!

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 of the employees who work for us is also important. Joining us as 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 Forward's commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy, please let us know.

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 the 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 follows safer recruitment practices and supports a culture of openness and accountability.