Recovery Focus
Employment Specialist - Job Retention
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Employment Specialist – Job Retention
Reports to: Service Manager
Location: Hybrid (Office, Community and Remote). Office based in Leatherhead but must be willing and able to travel within Surrey and NE Hants
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240.03 per annum
Please note that the starting point for this role will be £30,093 per annum
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Waythrough
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
About You
You are passionate about helping people improve their mental health through meaningful employment and believe that good work plays an important role in recovery. You are compassionate, person-centred and motivated to empower individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their employment goals.
You have:
- Experience supporting people with mental health conditions or other barriers to employment.
- A strengths-based, recovery-focused approach.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to motivate, coach and empower individuals.
- Confidence managing a varied caseload and complex employment situations.
- Resilience, adaptability and sound judgement when working in challenging or sensitive circumstances.
- Strong organisational and IT skills, with experience maintaining accurate electronic records.
- A good understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Ideally, experience within mental health, Talking Therapies, supported employment or vocational rehabilitation services.
- Knowledge of employment legislation and workplace adjustments is desirable.
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What You'll Do
As an Employment Specialist within the Job Retention team, you will provide personalised, recovery-focused support to people experiencing mental health difficulties who are at risk of losing their jobs. Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing a varied caseload and delivering tailored one-to-one employment support.
- Supporting individuals to overcome barriers affecting their ability to remain in work.
- Completing vocational assessments and developing personalised support plans.
- Providing coaching on workplace wellbeing, confidence, stress management and work-life balance.
- Working with employers (with participant consent) to promote reasonable adjustments, inclusive workplaces and successful return-to-work plans.
- Managing complex employment situations while balancing the needs of participants, employers and healthcare professionals.
- Collaborating with therapists, clinicians and partner organisations to ensure employment remains a key part of recovery.
- Maintaining accurate records, monitoring outcomes and contributing to continuous service improvement.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate and proactive Employment Specialist who believes in the positive impact that meaningful employment can have on mental health and recovery. The ideal candidate will:
- Be committed to delivering person-centred, recovery-focused support.
- Have experience supporting people facing mental health or employment-related challenges.
- Build strong, trusting relationships with participants, employers and healthcare professionals.
- Be confident handling sensitive and complex employment situations with professionalism and empathy.
- Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and external organisations.
- Demonstrate excellent organisational, communication and record-keeping skills.
- Be able to travel across Surrey and North East Hampshire and work flexibly across office, community and remote settings.
- Be committed to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding in all aspects of their work.
Additional Information
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.
- Regular travel across the service area will be required.
- This role requires flexibility to work outside of normal core hours on occasion, for example to accommodate participants who are only available before or after the standard working day due to their employment commitments.
- Flexible working arrangements will be agreed in line with service needs with TOIL available as agreed.
- This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check which will be completed upon offer.
- To view the Job Description please click here.
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What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
- Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
- Life assurance (3× annual salary)
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
- Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
- Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
- 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
- Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
- £500 Recommend a Friend bonus
- Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
- Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
- Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Inclusion and accessibility
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.
If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk
Closing Date: 2026-08-11
Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. In April 2026, Aquarius, our former subsidiary partner, merged with Waythrough. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have 260 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 130,000 people.
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