Job overview

We are a Council with ambition. Our caring culture and drive to work together effectively are at the heart of everything we do.

Wakefield Council is setting the standard for residential childcare. With nearly half of our children’s homes rated Outstanding and the rest Good, we’re proud to be recognised nationally for our commitment to quality, innovation, and staff wellbeing.

We don’t just support children—we support the people who care for them. From monthly wellbeing consultations to a hybrid Learning Academy and clear career progression routes, we’re building a workforce that’s skilled, supported, and inspired.

Role

This is an exciting time to join Wakefields highly successful STEP UP Team. STEP UP delivers truly Person Centred employment support with a “No Resident Left Behind” ethos.

We are currently in a period of expansion as we further develop our new Connect to Work Service. This is the perfect time to develop your specialist knowledge to help some of our most vulnerable residents.

We are currently looking for several Employment Specialists with a passion for supporting a range of residents working with other professional services such as Musculo Skeletal services and Housing Needs, using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.

Responsibilities

  • Support a caseload of up to 25 residents through the programme and into good quality, sustained employment.
  • Build excellent working relationships with local businesses to secure good quality, sustainable job opportunities
  • Work in partnership with stakeholders (e.g. Probation Service, other council departments) to ensure best possible progress into work for your customer
  • Maintain high quality records which demonstrate compliance with contract and the IPS Fidelity Framework.
  • As a community based professional Employment Specialist you will be expected to provide a high quality service to your customers, ensuring their stated job requirements can be achieved with the use of reasonable adjustments where required.
  • You will work as an integral part of a multidisciplinary team with other professionals to ensure the best transition into work for your customers.
  • You will also be expected to be an active, positive and supportive team member who contributes to the development of the programme and the team by contributing ideas which will either support an improvement in outcomes, or the overall quality of the service.
  • You will also be expected to develop high quality, lasting relationships with businesses which can be utilised across the STEP UP programme.
  • This will involve working with other council departments and a contracted third party provider to ensure businesses receive a good quality co-ordinated service which results in good jobs for Wakefield Residents.

Please see attached person specification and job description

The person

  • Positive, creative problem solving attitude to work.
  • Passionate about supporting residents into work
  • Strong desire to work with either residents with learning disabilities or those with an offending background.
  • Strong track record of supporting residents into work.
  • Excellent ability to communicate and influence at all levels, both verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to work effectively to understand a business’ needs and to fill these creatively for the benefit of STEP UP customers.
  • Strong team player
  • Ability to work to strict compliance and delivery standards

Please see attached person specification and job description