Employment Specialist

Location: Norwich
Hours: 37 per week (subject to Four Day Week scheme after probation)
Contract: Permanent (subject to funding)
Salary: £29,970
Leave: 23 days p.a.

+ bank holidays
Application Deadline: Monday 2nd March 2026
Interview Date: Tuesday 10th March 2026
Reports to: Connect to Work Project Manager

About the Role

As an Employment Specialist within the Connect to Work project, you'll manage a caseload of Norfolk residents with barriers to finding work, supporting them to secure sustainable paid employment.

You'll deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (training provided), providing person-centred advice and guidance while building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.

This highly mobile role involves working across community venues, primary care and health settings, partner organisations, and Future Projects offices.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage an active caseload, delivering the full IPS journey: engagement, vocational profiling, employer engagement, job matching, and in-work support
• Complete vocational profiles and co-produce action plans focused on goals, strengths, and support needs
• Provide practical job-search support (CVs, applications, interview preparation) and careers guidance
• Proactively develop employer relationships, negotiate reasonable adjustments, and advocate for participants
• Meet IPS fidelity expectations for employer contact frequency and generate suitable vacancies
• Provide ongoing in-work coaching and support to participants and employers, preventing job loss
• Support progression (hours, pay, responsibilities, training) aligned to participant goals
• Embed with clinical/primary care and community teams; attend regular MDT/clinical meetings
• Coordinate warm referrals with VCSE partners, JCP/DEAs, adult learning, housing, and community services
• Meet targets for referrals, programme starts, employer engagement, job starts, and sustainments
• Maintain accurate case notes, comply with data capture protocols and CRM systems
• Follow safeguarding, health & safety, and information governance (GDPR) policies

About You

You're a tenacious and resilient practitioner with strong emotional intelligence and the ability to build relationships of trust at pace.

You understand trauma-informed practice and the needs, barriers, and strengths of people with health conditions and/or disabilities.

You have experience delivering IPS or supported employment approaches with a track record of achieving outcomes.

You're skilled at employer engagement and job brokering, and you can build and sustain strong relationships with employers, health professionals, and community partners.

You have well-developed local networks and understanding of Norfolk's communities, and you can work independently, managing your caseload proactively.

About Future Projects

We are a Norwich-based charity helping people transform their lives through education, health & wellbeing, skills, and employment services.

Our work focuses on supporting those facing social exclusion and poverty through tailored, community-based services.

We are a Real Living Wage, Disability Confident, and Four Day Week Gold Standard employer.

Our staff work the 100:80:100 model of the 4-day working week, meaning they deliver 100% of their output in 80% of their contracted hours while receiving 100% pay.

The role holder will be eligible to opt into this scheme following successful completion of probation and a six-month review.

Additional Information

• No line management responsibilities
• DBS check and right to work in the UK required
• Evening/weekend work may be required occasionally
• Induction and safeguarding training provided
• We are a Living Wage, Disability Confident, and Equal Opportunities employer
• Four Day Working Week