Employment Specialist

About the Programme

Connect to Work is a voluntary Supported Employment programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and commissioned across Surrey to support people who are disabled, have long-term health conditions, or face complex barriers to employment. The programme supports both people looking for work and those already in employment who need support to retain their job.

Delivered through the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), Connect to Work follows a place, train and maintain model. This person-centred approach matches individuals with suitable employment opportunities, provides tailored support to help them succeed in the workplace, and offers ongoing in-work support to both participants and employers to promote sustainable, long-term employment outcomes.

About The Role - Make a Difference. Change Lives Through Employment.

Salary: £33,048 to £35,535

Location:  Surrey (Staines/Guilford), community-based delivery.

Hours:  37.5 hours

Travel:  This is a community-based role, so candidates must be flexible and willing to travel across Surrey to meet and support customers in a variety of locations.

Do you believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to work, regardless of the challenges they face?

We're looking for passionate, resilient, and people-focused Employment Specialists to join our Connect to Work team. This is a highly mobile role but it’s more than just a job, it's an opportunity to empower individuals to overcome barriers, build confidence and achieve sustainable employment that transforms their lives. No two days are the same. One day you could be meeting a participant in a community hub, the next supporting an employer to create an inclusive workplace or helping someone prepare for their first interview in years. Every conversation has the potential to change a life.

What You'll Be doing

You'll manage your own caseload, building trusted relationships with people who may have health conditions, disabilities, or other barriers to employment. Working alongside them, you'll develop personalised plans that focus on their strengths, aspirations, and goals. Your duties will include:

• Supporting participants to identify their career ambitions and create a personalised pathway into work.

• Manage a caseload effectively to achieve contractual, organisational and service delivery targets.

• Using vocational profiling to develop tailored My Success Plans that support long-term employment outcomes.

• Helping individuals build an Employability Passport, including CV development, interview preparation, confidence building, and advice around disclosing health conditions or disabilities.

• Promoting the health, wellbeing and financial benefits of employment, including completing Better Off Calculations.

• Working closely with local employers to identify inclusive job opportunities that match participants' skills and aspirations.

• Providing practical in-work support to both employers and employees to help placements succeed.

• Working collaboratively with community mental health teams and other health professionals to support individuals with complex needs.

• Championing inclusive recruitment and helping employers make simple workplace adjustments.

• Maintaining accurate records that reflect each participant's journey and achievements.

• Working flexibly across community venues, GP surgeries, Job Centres, local hubs and from home to meet people where they are.

Above all, you'll embrace a zero-rejection approach , believing that everyone who wants to work deserves the opportunity to do so.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who is empathetic, proactive and motivated by helping others achieve their potential. You'll bring:

• Experience supporting people with health conditions, disabilities or complex needs, ideally within employability, vocational rehabilitation or welfare-to-work services (lived experience is also valued).

• Proven experience of the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) in an employment or comparable environment.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage participants, employers and stakeholders alike.

• A genuine belief in the life-changing impact of good work.

• Comfortable working in a target driven environment.

• An understanding of the barriers unemployed people can face and the confidence to help them overcome them.

• The ability to work independently in roles across the local community.

• Strong digital skills and the ability to work across face-to-face and remote environments.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.

• An authentic, supportive approach that inspires confidence while providing constructive challenge.

It would be great (but not essential) if you also have:

• A driving licence and access to a vehicle.

• Experience working with health, education or community partners.

• Knowledge of safeguarding, mental health first aid or systematic instruction.

What else we offer

We’re mission-led organisation with social value at our core. We’re a Disability Confident Leader and proud to reflect the communities we serve.

• You’ll make a real impact: Every success story you help write will be felt in homes, workplaces, and communities across the city.
• You’ll grow: With access to training, reflective practice, and a national network of likeminded colleagues.
• You’ll be supported: We believe in teamwork, check-ins, manageable caseloads.
• You’ll be part of something bigger: From mental health awareness to inclusive recruitment and sustainable employment, your work contributes to broader change.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone is treated fairly, feels they belong, and can do their best work. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and communities, and we value the different perspectives and lived experiences they bring. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

• Fedcap are Disability Confident Leader employers. We will consider reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and, where required, in the workplace. We will not exclude a candidate with a disability unless they are unable to carry out a duty that is intrinsic to the role, after reasonable adjustments have been considered.
• We are positive about employing veterans, serving personnel, and spouses/partners and family members, as part of our commitment to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant .
• As a Ban the Box employer, we assess applicants on their skills and potential. We do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and any relevant information is considered fairly and in line with the role.

If you need any adjustments to apply for this role or to take part in the recruitment process, please let us know. We’re committed to making our recruitment process fair, accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Additional benefits

• At Fedcap, we offer a comprehensive and rewarding benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and personal development. Some of our benefits include:
• 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to buy or sell additional days.
• £500 annual benefits scheme to spend at over 900 retailers.
• Cycle to Work scheme open all year round.
• Pension scheme  with up to 5%  employer match.
• Free life assurance worth 4x your salary.
• Health & wellbeing support , including access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family.
• Digital gym, mindfulness resources, virtual GP and more.

About Fedcap

In the UK, Fedcap is a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving people’s economic mobility.

We support people to find work and access better health, education and learning opportunities.

Working across our four integrated practice areas – education, workforce development, health, and economic development – we deliver research-based solutions that remove barriers and open doors to economic mobility and wellbeing for individuals and communities.

We’re part of The Fedcap Group which serves more than 332,000 people each year through a network of not-for-profit affiliates in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

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