Connect to Work Employment Specialist
 
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.
• 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 07593692814 or email tbennett@trigonrecruitment.co.uk.