Job overview

Location: Barrow-in-Furness (with travel to Kendal)
Contract: Fixed Term (March 2026) – Full Time
Although this role is fixed term, there is potential for extension to the contract.

What can Waythrough (formerly Humankind) offer you…
🏖️ Generous annual leave entitlement (27 days, plus bank holidays, increasing to 32 after 1 years’ service)
📅 Annual leave purchase scheme
💰 Enhanced occupational sick pay
 % Enhanced employer contribution to your workplace pension
👪 Death in service benefit
✍️ Free Will writing
👓 Eyecare vouchers
🛍️ Blue light card discount
💡 Fantastic learning and development opportunities, including free training courses
🏠 Work-life balance- flexible working and family friendly policies
🏃‍♀️  Happy, Healthy You! – our wellbeing offers for our workforce
🤝 Employee Assist Programme and Waythrough Support Networks

Waythrough (formerly Humankind) is an equal opportunities employer

We value unique perspectives and experiences that everyone can bring, and fully understand the strength in diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability. If you have a genuine passion for working for us, we want to hear for you. We also welcome applications from people with lived experience with substance use. If you require support with your application, please contact the Recruitment Team at people.recruitment@waythrough.org.uk

Role

We’re looking for an Employment Specialist to deliver Individual Placement and Support (IPS) to people accessing substance use services in the Barrow and Kendal areas of South Cumbria.

You’ll help individuals—many of whom may be living with health conditions or disabilities—find and sustain paid, meaningful employment that aligns with their goals and preferences.

Responsibilities

As an Employment Specialist, you will be responsible for:

  • Supporting individuals in treatment services to find paid work using the IPS model
  • Engaging with employers to identify job opportunities and negotiate roles
  • Building partnerships with local businesses, health professionals, and support networks
  • Delivering a personalised service that values each person’s goals, preferences, and journey
  • Tracking and celebrating employment successes while offering ongoing support
  • Please note you’ll be based at our Barrow hub, with regular travel between this hub and our Kendal hub (travel fully reimbursed through expenses).

The person

We don’t expect you to know everything about IPS—we’ll support your learning.
What we do look for is passion, resilience, and commitment.

You’ll be a great fit if you:

  • Have experience supporting people into employment or talking confidently with employers
  • Possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills, at all levels
  • Bring negotiation skills and commercial awareness
  • Are creative and persistent in problem-solving
  • Want to make a real difference in people’s lives