Employment Specialist in Norfolk

The role will work with Norfolk residents in the Connect to Work project, managing a caseload of project participants who have barriers to finding work, supporting them to secure sustainable paid employment. You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given); providing person-centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment. The role will include managing a wide range of partner relationships, supporting referrals and resident pathways from a breadth of health, community and voluntary sector settings.

The Connect to Work project (CtW) is managed by Norfolk County Council Employment & Skills department. Connect to Work is a voluntary programme to help tackle economic inactivity by providing a specific form of support targeted at the right people at the right time, based on their individual circumstances. Participants must be both eligible and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work will deliver the evidence-based Supported Employment model, building on the existing DWP funded Supported Employment programmes; Local Supported Employment (LSE) and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) and delivering over a 5-year period 2025-2030.

Good quality work provides people with income, social interaction, and a sense of fulfilment and purpose among many other benefits. It is known that work has a positive effect on people's physical and mental health, and their wellbeing, while unemployment often has a harmful impact. Connect to Work will take a collaborative, locally led approach to tackling Hidden Unemployment across Norfolk. The aim for the project is to transform lives and make a difference for disabled people, people with health conditions and other complex barriers to employment, helping them to get into and on in work.

Key Deliverables include:

• Participant engagement & IPS journey to paid, competitive work
• Employer engagement, job development & inclusive practice
• In-work support, retention & progression
• Partnership integration, referrals & community presence
• Performance, data quality, safeguarding & governance

You will be a tenacious and resilient practitioner with strong emotional intelligence and the ability to build relationships of trust at pace. You will be able to operate independently, and will have a good understanding of the needs and strengths of people experiencing physical and/or mental health issues and disabilities. You will have experience delivering employment support programmes.

Other Essential criteria includes:

• Strong emotional intelligence, with the ability to engage and build trusting relationships at pace.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice and its application within employment support.
• Knowledge of the needs, barriers, and strengths of people with health conditions and/or disabilities.
• Experience delivering IPS or supported employment approaches, with a track record of achieving outcomes.
• Proven experience providing employment support, including employer engagement and job brokering.
• Ability to build and sustain strong relationships with employers, health professionals, and community partners.
• Well-developed local networks and understanding of Norfolk's communities, employers, and services.
• Experience of working within or alongside VCSE, health and primary care settings.
• Demonstrable resilience, persistence, and tenacity in overcoming barriers to employment.
• Ability to work independently, manage a caseload proactively, and use initiative to achieve outcomes.
• Understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and its implications for employment and workplace adjustments.
• Ability to use ICT tools such as Excel, CRM systems etc.

Strong applications will evidence the following:

• Knowledge of welfare benefits and their interaction with employment.
• Ability to influence employers to develop or adapt job opportunities specifically for participants with health needs.

This Job Description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only. It is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the postholder and according to future changes or developments in Future Projects and the charity's services.

Job environment:

This is a varied role requiring regular work across community, office, retail and warehouse environments. The postholder will work with the Future Food operational team at Fifers Lane, colleagues across Future Support and central functions, and community food hubs and partners across Norfolk. The role will involve hub and service visits, partner, supplier and funder meetings, and travel across Norfolk. Some flexibility may be required around operational issues, service development, events or funding deadlines.

Supervision:

The postholder will be managed by and report to the Support Services Manager and will be subject to regular performance reviews and support sessions.

Line Management Responsibility:

The role will initially line manage the Warehouse Supervisor and Finance and Procurement Coordinator and may manage additional staff and volunteers across Future Food and related food, essentials or community provision as services develop and resources allow. The postholder will also provide strategic leadership across wider food and essentials activity, working alongside the managers and team leads who retain day-to-day responsibility for their own services and staff.

Health and Safety/Safeguarding:

The postholder must comply with policies and procedures relating to health and safety, food safety, warehouse operations, security, confidentiality, data protection and safeguarding adults and children. They will help ensure that appropriate operational processes, risk assessments and controls are maintained within Future Food, working alongside designated organisational leads and specialist partners rather than replacing specialist advice. Future Projects is committed to safeguarding children and at-risk adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share that commitment. Our primary concern is always the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults.

Equalities:

The postholder must actively support and promote equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. In this role, that includes ensuring food and essentials services are welcoming, accessible and responsive; recognising how poverty and food insecurity affect people and communities differently; listening to diverse community voices; and protecting choice and dignity in the way support is designed and delivered. Future Projects is an equal opportunities employer, a Living Wage employer and a Disability Confident employer; and offers a 4-day working week.

Pre-employment checks:

Appointment is subject to satisfactory checks completed before start, including proof of identity and right to work in the UK, two references including the current or most recent manager, verification of stated qualifications or experience and any DBS check appropriate to the duties of the role. Employment gaps will be discussed at interview. A criminal record does not automatically bar appointment; decisions are made case by case in line with legislation.

Applicant instructions:

Complete the application form in full. Explain any gaps in employment; incomplete applications may not be shortlisted. Tailor your answers. Use the person specification and key deliverables to structure your application, using clear and outcome-focused examples where appropriate. Provide two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent line manager. We will not contact referees without your consent or before interview or outcome. Tell us if you need adjustments for the application or interview; we are happy to help. Follow the advert instructions for the deadline, submission route and file format. CVs are not accepted without a completed application form unless the advert states otherwise. We will handle your information in line with our recruitment privacy notice and data-protection requirements.