The closing date is 17 September 2025
Employment Specialist
Are you passionate about supporting people and empathetic to the diverse needs of those accessing mental health services? Are you motivated to grow in a challenging but rewarding role? If so, you might be the ideal candidate for our team! We are recruiting Band 5 Employment Specialists to join Dorset Work Matters, supporting clients across Dorset. This new role is made possible by expansion funding, reflecting our commitment to widening access to vital employment support services.
Dorset Work Matters is a well-established, high-performing partnership between Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset Mental Health Forum. Since 2019, the service has provided evidence-based support to individuals with mental health diagnoses, helping them secure paid employment through the nationally recognised Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
We seek a motivated, empathetic Employment Specialist to support people with mental health conditions into sustainable employment. Working closely with NHS teams, employers, and partners, you\'ll build trust and provide practical, tailored support to help clients meet their employment goals. While based within a Community Mental Health team, most work will be community-based. We welcome applications from all backgrounds to promote inclusivity.
Applications from candidates that require current Healthcare worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Main duties of the job
Work collaboratively with clients to identify employment goals, develop CVs and application forms, and prepare effectively for interviews.
Support clients in discussing their mental health condition with potential employers, should they choose to disclose.
Provide welfare benefits advice and calculations to help clients make informed employment decisions.
Engage directly with local employers to create and secure tailored job opportunities, including job carving.
Deliver ongoing in-work support to both clients and employers, ensuring sustainable employment outcomes.
Adhere to the quality standards and compliance requirements of the IPS Fidelity Model, striving to meet or exceed the service\'s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in line with Service and IPS Fidelity Model requirements.
Demonstrate strong organisational skills by managing caseloads efficiently, prioritising tasks, and meeting deadlines.
Perform a high volume of administrative duties with attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in reporting, documentation, and data entry.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we\'re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We\'re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it\'s one of the reasons the CQC rated us \'outstanding\' in 2019. It\'s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you\'re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We\'re all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We\'re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you\'ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don\'t know. And you\'ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
* Educated to degree level or equivalent training in a relevant field
* Experience or knowledge of employability or the labour market
* Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with a range of people
* Team orientated and works collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team
* Role specific experience of 2 years
* Trained in / knowledge of IPS approach
* Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification
Job specific experience
* Experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
* Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other stake holders and agencies
* Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other stake holders and agencies
* Experience of working within mental health services
* Own personal lived experience of recovery from mental health difficulties
* Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model
* Excellent Organisational skills
* Ability to manage own time effectively and independently
* Natural ability to build close trusting and productive relationships with people
* Highly motivated with a genuine belief that employment will help the recovery of someone with a mental health condition
* Lived experience / experience of recovery from a mental health condition
Additional requirements
* Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
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