Work and Health Coach

The role

We're looking for a motivated and compassionate Work and Health Coach to help local residents overcome health-related barriers to employment. Joining a new team delivering the WorkWell programme in Southwark, you'll work closely with people who are struggling to stay in work or return to work due to physical or mental health conditions. You'll provide personalised coaching, practical support and access to the right services, helping participants build confidence, improve their wellbeing and make sustainable progress towards their employment goals.

You'll manage your own caseload, working one-to-one with participants face-to-face, online and by phone to understand their circumstances, identify barriers and develop personalised action plans. This will include providing career guidance and employment advice, supporting job searches, CVs and interview preparation, helping participants access appropriate health, wellbeing, training and employment services, and identifying workplace adjustments that can help people retain employment.

You'll also build positive relationships with employers and local health, wellbeing, employment and training services to create opportunities and provide effective, joined-up support. Alongside direct work with participants, you'll maintain accurate and confidential records, monitor progress against agreed outcomes, contribute to programme performance reporting and gather feedback to help continuously improve the service. The role will involve a mix of office-based working, home working and meeting participants at appropriate locations across the local community.

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What you'll be doing:

• Coach and empower WorkWell participants through personalised one-to-one support, helping them overcome health-related barriers and achieve their employment goals.
• Create tailored action plans and provide practical careers and employment support, including job searching, CVs, interview preparation and workplace adjustments.
• Connect people to the right support, working with health, wellbeing, employment and training services to provide joined-up, holistic support.
• Build strong employer relationships to help participants secure or retain suitable employment and identify practical workplace solutions.
• Manage your own caseload while maintaining accurate, confidential records and monitoring progress against agreed outcomes and targets.
• Help shape and improve the service by contributing to programme reporting, gathering feedback and sharing learning from participants and partners.

What we're looking for:

• Experience of one-to-one support or coaching, ideally within an employment, health, wellbeing or employability programme.
• Understanding of the barriers faced by people with physical or mental health needs when accessing or remaining in employment.
• Experience of working to targets and contributing to high performance standards and positive outcomes.
• Strong communication and listening skills, with the ability to build trust and communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
• A thorough and accurate approach to managing information, record keeping and maintaining confidentiality.
• A creative and flexible approach to problem-solving, with the ability to respond effectively to individual circumstances.
• Strong partnership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with employers, services and colleagues.
• Good organisational and digital skills, including the ability to manage a caseload, prioritise work and use MS Office and web-based databases or CRM systems.

Why Southwark?

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with conservation areas, historic buildings, social enterprises and a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals, and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark 2030 and Southwark Stands Together, underpins all that we do.

We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

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Employee benefits:

You’ll join a motivated, driven, and supportive team that values each of its members and strives for excellence. You’ll also be part of a successful, high-achieving development team making a real difference to the lives of residents across the borough. In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive:

• A competitive base salary (pro rata for part time staff)
• Strong supportive senior management team
• Regular one to one supervision
• Professional development & training opportunities
• Clear career development pathways
• Agile and flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Season ticket and cycle loans
• Annual Leave starting at 27 days per year, increasing to 35 (with length of service) (pro rata for part time staff)
• Wellbeing programme
• HSF Health plan and eye care scheme
• EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support
• Social clubs and staff groups

Additional information

When completing your supporting statement, please provide clear examples that demonstrate how you meet the Essential shortlisting criteria marked ‘S’ in the person specification.

The role is offered on a fixed-term contract until 31 March 2029. Internal employees wishing to apply as a secondment opportunity are encouraged to seek agreement from their substantive line manager before submitting an application.

The role is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Full time, 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The role requires flexibility to work across multiple sites within the borough, including appropriate locations in the local community.

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Disability Confident (guaranteed interview) scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum Essential requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Recruitment timetable:

Closing date: 11 October 2026 at 23:59*

*We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, in which case we will move the key dates for the process. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Interview date: 2 November 2026

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Attachments

• Click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification