Employment Specialist

Job description

Employment Specialist

Salary: £33,228 pro rata (16,664 for 18 hours)

Location: London

This role is working 10am – 4pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and will be based in the offices in SE1 and NW1 each week.

Finding meaningful work after prison is life-changing. It builds confidence, reduces reoffending, and creates stronger communities. That’s where you come in.

We’re looking for an Employment Specialist to join the London Pathways Partnership (LPP) — someone who can see potential where others may see barriers. If you’re motivated, resilient, and passionate about helping people rebuild their lives through employment, this role could be for you.

About the Role:
You’ll be working with individuals on Licence with Probation Services, many of whom have serious offending histories and are screened onto the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. Your role is to support them on their journey into sustainable paid employment, guiding them alongside their structured health treatment and ensuring they have the tools to succeed in the workplace.

This is about more than finding a job — it’s about changing futures. You’ll work with service users to build employability skills, prepare for interviews, and overcome barriers such as stigma or lack of confidence. You’ll also engage directly with employers, opening up opportunities, negotiating reasonable adjustments, and supporting both sides to make sure employment is sustained.

What You’ll Be Doing:
• Managing a caseload of participants, providing one-to-one, person-centred employment support.
• Running employability workshops, covering CVs, disclosure, and interview skills.
• Working closely with probation, clinical teams, voluntary and community organisations to provide joined-up support.
• Engaging local employers to build inclusive hiring practices and create opportunities for participants.
• Supporting both participants and employers once in work, ensuring placements are sustainable.
• Maintaining accurate case records and meeting key performance targets.

What We’re Looking For:
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build trust and motivate service users and employers alike.
• Resilience, creativity, and adaptability to respond to challenges in a proactive way.
• An understanding of the justice system, employment services, and the challenges faced by people with criminal convictions.
• Confidence in networking and building strong partnerships across sectors.
• Excellent IT, organisational, and administrative skills to manage caseloads and reporting effectively.
• Experience working with people with complex needs, including serious convictions or mental health conditions.
• Knowledge of Supported Employment principles.
• Experience in outreach, employer engagement, or reverse marketing.
• Flexibility to travel around London and work from LPP hubs.

Whilst we welcome applications from those with lived experience, this role requires an enhanced DBS check and HMPPS EL1 vetting. As we wait for the necessary background checks to be completed, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to shadow your colleagues, ask questions, and learn the ropes.

Our Justice division is dedicated to transforming lives and creating safer communities. Our mission is to reduce reoffending, build stronger communities, and help people realise their potential.

At Ingeus, we’ve spent time listening to our employees to build our benefits package;
• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to trade for additional leave.
• EAP Support programme available 24/7, including 6 free counselling sessions.
• Private medical insurance and life assurance.
• Up to 2 days of Community Giving (volunteering) each year to support a cause that matters to you.
• Eyecare vouchers to help with glasses or eye care.
• Online Shopping discounts
• Cycle to Work scheme and travel season ticket loan.
• Long service awards to celebrate your commitment.
• Salary Finance offering financial education and advice.
• The opportunity to purchase extra benefits like critical illness cover and dental insurance.

We understand that everyone’s journey is different, and we’re committed to making our recruitment process as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you require any support or adjustments—whether that’s help with the application, interview format, or anything else—we’re here to listen and work with you to find the best approach.

Our goal is to ensure you can showcase your skills and potential in a way that works for you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at careers@ingeus.co.uk to discuss how we can support you

If you think you have what it takes, don’t delay and apply today – If we receive enough applications, this role may close early.