Employment Adviser

Job Title: Employment Adviser
Starting Salary: £34,433 progressing to £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 30
Location: Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Growth & Environment

About the team

We are seeking a motivated and compassionate Employment Adviser to join our Supported Employment team. In this rewarding role, you will support disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and those facing complex barriers to secure and sustain meaningful paid employment.

This position is part of the Connect to Work programme — a voluntary Supported Employment initiative funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model (full training provided), offering tailored advice and guidance to participants, while also building strong partnerships with local employers to create opportunities aligned with participants’ skills and aspirations.

To learn more about the Connect to Work programme, please see the following linkConnect to Work

Our Supported Employment team includes a Team Manager, two Team Leaders, and a number of Employment Advisers based across Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead, covering the whole of Hertfordshire. With over 30 years of experience delivering supported employment locally, the team brings a wealth of expertise and commitment.

The service was assessed in 2023 under the Supported Employment Quality Assurance Framework and awarded “Provider of Excellence status”. Following our annual review we have retained our Provider of Excellence status as recognition of our fidelity to the model and the impact of our work.

About the role

Employment Advisors play a vital role in empowering participants to move closer to the labour market. You will work directly with individuals to explore their skills, aspirations, and employment goals, co-creating personalised action plans that reflect their unique circumstances.

You will provide practical support with job searching, CV writing, applications, and interview preparation, alongside delivering one-to-one and group coaching sessions designed to build confidence, motivation, and resilience.

A key part of the role involves supporting participants to identify, disclose, and manage barriers to work — including mental health challenges and welfare-related issues — with sensitivity and professionalism. You will also engage with employers to identify suitable opportunities, arrange interviews, and offer ongoing support to both participants and employers to promote successful job retention.

You may also work with a small number of participants who are already in work to sustain and thrive in their employment.

About you

We’re looking for a compassionate and proactive individual with excellent interpersonal skills, a solution-focused approach, and a genuine passion for helping people overcome barriers to secure lasting employment and self-employment.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience delivering employability support, including CV writing, job search strategies, and interview/selection preparation.
• A strong understanding of the challenges faced by individuals who experience exclusion from the labour market, including those with disabilities or complex needs.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high-quality coaching and guidance that leads to positive employment outcomes.
• Skilled in building participants’ confidence, motivation, and resilience to help them progress towards work.
• Experience engaging with employers to identify suitable opportunities, arrange interviews, and gather feedback.
• Ability to identify transferable skills and match participants to appropriate roles based on their strengths and aspirations.
• Experience supporting clients into employment and providing follow-up support to help them sustain work.
• Comfortable working in a target-driven environment, with a track record of achieving KPIs while maintaining a person-centred approach.

Desirable

• Experience delivering the Individual Placement Support (IPS) model or other supported employment models.
• Knowledge of strategies to support individuals furthest from the job market.
• Experience in employer engagement and partnership working.
• Confidence in challenging misconceptions and advocating for inclusive employment practices.

This role involves regular travel throughout the county, including accompanying individuals to meetings and appointments. Therefore, a full UK driving licence and access to a reliable vehicle are essential.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Community Services, level COM9 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Community services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact emma.gladdish@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: week commencing 27th October 2025

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.