Job overview

At Telford & Wrekin Council, we are an ambitious, forward-thinking unitary authority dedicated to putting our residents at the heart of everything we do. Covering a vibrant mix of historic towns, thriving modern developments, and beautiful Shropshire landscapes, we work tirelessly to make our borough a cleaner, greener, safer, and more inclusive place to live and work.
Why Choose Us?

  • A Supportive, Inclusive Culture: We believe our greatest asset is our people. You will join a collaborative team where your voice is heard and your ideas are valued.
  • Growth & Progression: Through initiatives like our local skills hubs, we invest heavily in your professional development, training, and long-term career path.
  • Work-Life Balance: We champion modern, flexible, and hybrid working practices to help you balance your professional and personal life seamlessly.
  • A Real Impact: Whether you are working in adult social care, education, planning, or environmental services, your daily efforts help deliver our Vision 2032 goals for sustainable community growth.

If you are a passionate, driven individual who shares our commitment to public service and community resilience, we want to hear from you.

Role

Are you passionate about the transformative power of employment? Do you believe that everyone, regardless of their mental health challenges or physical health challenges has the right to meaningful work?

We are recruiting Employment Specialists to join our established Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Job Box teams, working within the Connect to Work programme to provide high-quality supported employment. These roles are available for an immediate start and offer an exciting opportunity to help people achieve their employment goals through personalised support and evidence-based practice.

Due to the team growing, we are now recruiting additional Employment Specialists to join us. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of an expanding service and help shape the continued development of our IPS provision.

This role is about working with people who need additional support to engage with and access the world of work. This role is a customer facing (face to face, not remote or home working) role managing a caseload of up to 25 customers who will be at varying stages of their journey into paid work. You will use the place and train model of supported employment and its associated approaches to identify need and progress people into work.

Training will be provided, so we don’t need you to have prior experience of using the place and train model, however any experience in a similar role or area of work would be an advantage. What is essential is a commitment to equality of opportunity for everyone, and a belief that the right job can be found for each person.

This role will suit a person who is enthusiastic, resilient, patient, supportive and outcome focussed. In this varied and rewarding role, you will work directly with clients, local employers, and clinical teams to turn employment aspirations into achievable outcomes.

Engaging with employers to generate employment outcomes is a key aspect of the role. You will need to be adaptable and able to communicate at a variety of levels to promote the program and individuals to employers, tapping into hidden vacancies, supporting employers with reasonable adjustments and job carving. You may be required to challenge discrimination and advocate on behalf of the customer.

What is Connect to Work?

Connect to Work is a new government initiative designed to support adults that have disabilities, health conditions, or complex needs, to move into sustained employment. Supported employment is a key feature of this new service, which involves a customer working with an Employment Specialist (ES) who will help them to understand their current, knowledge, skills and experience alongside understanding their aims and ambitions. The ES would then work with the customers to find suitable job roles through a range of strategies including engaging directly with employers. Once suitable work is found the ES may be responsible for coaching the customer in how to undertake the duties and tasks involved, and provide other ongoing support, both to the customer and the employer.

Responsibilities

  • To support the Councils visions and priorities both internally and externally
  • To identify and address individual development needs.
  • To deliver team objectives in the most cost-effective manner, minimising waste
  • To deliver standard which achieve equality of opportunity.
  • To conduct eligibility and suitability checks with customers ensure they meet the requirements of the contract.
  • To build and maintain effective partnerships with a range of services, organisation stakeholders and partners.
  • Work creatively to enable people with disabilities and/or health conditions to plan and implement individual objectives and actions
  • To assist customers to assess and monitor their progress against their objectives, recognise when these are achieved, and move forward.
  • Comply with all requirements of the contract and record data efficiently in a timely manner
  • Support customers to seek support from other services where appropriate to enable them to achieve their employment goals.
  • To deliver a service which complies with safe systems of work in accordance with Health and Safety, safeguarding and risk management policies and procedures.
  • To develop and build relationships with local employers and have a good understanding of the local labour market.
  • Prepare individuals for the return to work by supporting customers to understand their skills, aspirations, and goals through vocational profiling.
  • Focus on rapid job search utilising local networks to overcome their barrier to employment.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification.

The person

Qualifications

  • Level 2 or higher in English and maths
  • Level 4 qualification or equivalent professional experience in a relevant area (e.g. advice and guidance, employability practitioner, education, social care)
  • Trained in the IPS and or Supported Employment approaches or willingness to work towards national recognised standards and other continuing professional development

    • Experience

  • Experience of working with vulnerable people with significant barriers to finding and sustaining meaningful employment
  • Experience of providing information, advice and guidance
  • Experience of multi-agency working practices
  • Relevant experience in supported employment/ recruitment or the welfare to work field
  • Experience of working with people with a learning disability/ neurodivergent or have experienced mental ill health
  • Proven experience of working to targets and achieving and exceeding agreed outcomes
  • Experience of managing a caseload of customers
  • Working assertively to influence decision makers

    • Knowledge

  • Knowledge of the needs of people who face employment challenges
  • Good working knowledge and understanding of the differing needs of people with disabilities and health conditions
  • Knowledge of the range of services which are available to help and support people into employment and their broader needs
  • Strong understanding of Health and Safety and risk assessment
  • Knowledge of current best practice in safeguarding (protection of vulnerable adults and children)
  • Knowledge and understanding of the challenges people with disabilities and health conditions may have when seeking employment or returning to the work place.
  • Basic understanding and knowledge of the benefit system and disability related benefits

    • Skills

  • Ability to communicate effectively with customers/ carers and health and social care professionals and wide range of partner agencies including employers in a multi-disciplinary environment.
  • Able to maintain professional detachment and boundaries with customers.
  • Good motivational and listening skills to support a positive outcome.
  • Ability to work in partnership with customers to produce and review employment support and action plans.
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Office and data management software.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to advocate on behalf of customers and challenge inequality.
  • Have a flexible approach to hours worked to meet the changing and developing needs of the team, customers and employers.
  • Ability to work independently and use initiative to develop and promote the service.
  • Good organisational ability
  • Team orientated and be able to work collaboratively.
  • Passion and drive to make a positive impact for customers accessing the support.
  • Able to maintain a full knowledge of opportunities and professional best practice, in a constantly changing landscape both locally and nationally.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification.