Connect to Work Employment Specialist
Before applying for this role, please read the following information about this opportunity found below.
Location: Hampshire - Basingstoke, Fareham, Gosport, Havant & Hayling Island
Salary: 29,556 - £35,413 per annum depending on skills and experience
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Please note: This is a 100% community-based role. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.
About the Role:
We are looking for passionate and proactive Employment Specialists to join an expanding team - working for a fantastic organisation on the Connect to Work programme. You'll be supporting individuals with health conditions, disabilities, and complex barriers to employment to achieve sustainable paid work.
Working within the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, you will provide tailored, person-centred employment support focused on rapid job search, employer engagement, and long-term job retention.
This is a fully community-based position where you will manage your own diary, meeting participants across Hampshire and building strong relationships with local employers, support services, and healthcare professionals.
You will manage a caseload of up to 25 participants, helping people identify their strengths, overcome barriers, and move towards meaningful employment outcomes.
Key Responsibilities Person-Centred Employment Support:
* Deliver tailored one-to-one employment support in line with IPS principles.
* Support participants to identify career goals, strengths, aspirations, and barriers to work.
* Develop personalised employment action plans and vocational profiles.
* Support individuals to secure and sustain suitable paid employment.
* Provide ongoing in-work support to improve retention and progression outcomes.
Employer Engagement & Partnership Working:
* Build and maintain strong relationships with local employers across Hampshire.
* Promote inclusive recruitment practices and workplace adjustments.
* Match participants with suitable job opportunities aligned to their skills and preferences.
* Work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, support agencies, and community partners.
* Represent the service at networking events, partnership meetings, and local forums.
Performance & Quality:
* Manage a caseload of up to 25 participants while delivering high-quality outcomes-focused support.
* Achieve and exceed performance and sustainment targets.
* Maintain accurate and timely participant records and employer engagement activity.
* Ensure all delivery meets IPS fidelity standards and quality expectations.
Community-Based Delivery:
* Effectively manage a flexible diary to maximise face-to-face participant engagement.
* Travel regularly across Basingstoke, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, and Hayling Island.
* Deliver support within community settings, employer sites, and partner locations.
Essential Criteria:
* Proven experience supporting individuals with barriers to employment.
* Experience within employability, supported employment, recruitment, welfare-to-work, or related services.
* Strong understanding of person-centred support and employment-focused interventions.
* Experience building relationships with employers and external stakeholders.
* Ability to manage a caseload and achieve performance targets.
* Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills.
* Resilient, adaptable, and able to work independently in a community-based role.
* Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle insured for business use.
Desirable Criteria:
* Knowledge or experience of the IPS model.
* Experience supporting individuals with health conditions, disabilities, or complex needs.
* Understanding of welfare benefits, employment law, or vocational rehabilitation.
* Existing employer networks within Hampshire. xsngvjr
* Experience working within publicly funded employability programmes.
What's on Offer:
* Salary up to £35,413 per annum
* Flexible, autonomous community-based working
* Opportunity to make a genuine impact within local communities
* Supportive and collaborative team environment
* Ongoing training and professional development
For a confidential discussion or to apply, please contact Tiff Bennett on or email .