Employment Specialist, Connect to Work, Berkshire

Employment Specialist, Connect to Work, Berkshire

Permanent contract

Could you help people with health conditions, disabilities and complex barriers unlock their potential through employment?

Deadline: 31st August 2026

• South East
• Full-time

Job overview

About Palladium - You would be joining Palladium, a global impact organisation, with 3,000 employees in over 70 countries. We are a mission-driven business, for whom the impact of our work is as important as the commercial return; the common feature of all our work, regardless of contract size, is the requirement that it contributes to positive social and economic impact. We simply call this 'Positive Impact'. For the past 50 years, we have been helping our clients to see the world as interconnected in over 90 countries- by formulating strategies, building partnerships, and implementing programs that deliver lasting positive impact. We are experienced in implementing large, complex programmes supporting skills and employment and are currently delivering 30 programmes for the UK Government.

Role

The IPS Employment Specialist plays a pivotal role in supporting individuals with health conditions (including mental health), disabilities and complex barriers to employment, to gain and sustain meaningful paid employment. The role is based on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, which is an evidence-based approach to vocational rehabilitation.

The role is deeply impactful, helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and promoting social inclusion, contributing to a fairer society by challenging stigma and discrimination in the workplace.

You will be required to build and manage a caseload of up to 25 people at any one time and will also engage with local employers to match participants with suitable roles that are both sustainable and rewarding.

Your work location(s) will mainly be based in and around the communities we support and will be caseload dependant. You will be expected to manage your time and diary effectively to maximise face to face time with each participant.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Champion our customers as valuable candidates by actively promoting them to employers and raising awareness and support available through the programme
• Creating and following through with individualised action plans ensuring appropriate and effective activity is undertaken by and with each customer.
• Have regular check-ins with customers to track their progress before starting employment and once in employment
• Advocate for the values of our programmes by working in partnership with employers to view our clients positively and inclusively during recruitment.
• Build potential employment opportunities through proactive engagement with potential employers.
• Facilitate work experiences, such as placements, trials, and shadowing opportunities with suitable employers where appropriate.
• Provide ongoing In Work Support to customers who have successfully gained employment, helping them sustain and thrive in their roles, including working in partnership with employers.
• Address customer's personal constraints to employment, providing challenge, advice, and guidance where appropriate to develop customers capability in the recruitment process ensuring they have the necessary skills and confidence to secure employment.
• Identify,structure, and recommend vacancy and training solutions, working in close consultation with the team to meet the specific needs of customers and employers.
• Maintain customer records to a required quality standard to ensure the customer journey is documented in accordance with our quality standards and contractual requirements.
• Develop an understanding of specialist signposting services in the local area/region, building knowledge in areas such as specific disabilities, housing, benefits etc
• Meet personal performance targets, Key Performance Indicators and all Quality and Compliance measures by delivering high quality employability provision to customers

Work in partnership and alongside our key delivery partners across Berkshire to offer a joined-up approach for stakeholders, employers and residents.

The person

• A passion for working with people and have a solution focused approach
• Experience working with people facing barriers to employment including health conditions and disabilities
• Experience of providing one to one support and coaching to individuals with the ability to constructively challenge where needed.
• Proven experience in developing networks and building strong partnerships to support customers goals
• A flexible approach to working hours is essential, including the ability to support occasional evening and weekend activities.
• Strong organisational skills including managing caseloads
• Knowledge of safeguarding, data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Driving licence and access to a car given the community delivery of the contract
• Track record of helping individuals progress into work
• Understanding of supported employment programmes, such as IPS
• Educated at university degree or alternatively have a demonstrated track record of performance and success in target driven sales, customer service or case-management roles
• Knowledge of the employment market in their area.
• Experience providing support and guidance on welfare and benefits, with a strong understanding of mental health and physical health challenges