Senior Employment Specialist (Team Leader) - Medway and Gravesham - Medway
PermanentFrom £32,500
Are you ready to lead a passionate team and make a real difference in people’s lives?
We’re seeking a Senior Employment Specialist (Team Leader) to join our Connect to Work programme, supporting people with mental health conditions, disabilities, and long-term health challenges to find meaningful employment. This is a full-time role (35 hours per week), based in Medway and Gravesham.
Due to the nature of the role, all applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
In this pivotal role, you’ll:
* Lead, coach, and supervise a team of IPS Employment Specialists, shaping best practice and driving performance.
* Oversee a small caseload (10–15 clients) yourself, modelling high-quality support.
* Ensure the service consistently meets IPS fidelity standards and delivers person-centred outcomes.
* Build strong partnerships with local employers, NHS teams, colleges, and community organisations.
* Coordinate employer engagement, uncovering open and hidden job markets.
* Manage budgets, performance reporting, and compliance with organisational and contractual standards.
* Facilitate training, peer learning, and professional development for your team.
We’re looking for someone with:
* Recruitment, employability, or health-related experience, ideally with line management or supervisory responsibility.
* Knowledge of IPS or supported employment services (training provided if needed).
* Excellent coaching, communication, and organisational skills.
* The ability to work collaboratively with clinical teams, employers, and community partners.
Lead a motivated team, shape service delivery, and transform the employability journey for people in your community. With opportunities for professional growth and real impact, this role is perfect for someone driven to make a difference.
Apply now and help people achieve meaningful work and independence!
Please see attached Job Description for full details
About Us
We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -
* Flexible working
* Training and development opportunities
* Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
* Season Ticket Loan Scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* Crisis Loan Scheme
* Electric Car Scheme
* 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro ratad for part time employees)
* Access to Blue Light Card
* 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
* Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
* Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
* Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Diversity at Forward Trust
The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness.
When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.
To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here.
We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.
Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work
Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.
If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.