Employment Support Specialist (Connect to Work - SEQF)

Employment Support Specialist (Connect to Work – SEQF)

Salary: S3 £35,570 – £37,563 per annum

Hours: 37 per week

Temporary until 31/03/2028

Location: Caernarfon

This appointment is subject to confirmation of the grant award in the first instance and its ongoing continuation. Although the post is advertised until 31 March 2028, its continuation will be subject to annual grant review, with the potential for annual extension up to 31 March 2030.

Job Purpose

• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
• Work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, helping them to secure sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. You will deliver the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) approach (for which training will be provided), offering person-centred advice and guidance to clients while building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to progress into suitable employment.
• Work closely with health, social care, employability, housing, education and third-sector organisations to ensure that individuals have access to integrated support.

Special Circumstances

• The post holder will be expected to work some evenings and weekends.
• The post holder must hold a full driving licence and have access to a private vehicle.

We encourage everyone who applies for a job with Gwynedd Council to submit job applications in Welsh or bilingually. (Applications submitted in English only or Welsh only will always be treated equally, but we ask applicants to consider carefully what the linguistic requirements of the job in question is and if it would be more appropriate to submit an application in Welsh.)

For further information about this post please contact Kelvin Roberts on [email protected] or 01286 679583.

The Council will request a Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service for the successful candidate.

Closing Date: 10:00 AM, 03/11/2026.

Personal Attributes – Essential

• Good motivational, communication and listening skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a wide range of people.
• Good organisational skills.
• A natural ability to build close, trusting and productive relationships with people.
• A natural ability to work as part of a team and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team.
• The ability to work independently and use initiative to develop and promote the service.
• Non-judgemental and reliable.
• Empathy for the needs of individuals with mental health support needs.
• Passion and a desire to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
• Highly motivated, with a genuine belief that people with a mental health condition can find and sustain paid employment.

Personal Attributes – Desirable

• Knowledge of the benefits system and all benefits relating to disability and employment.

Relevant Qualifications and Training – Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.

Relevant Qualifications and Training – Desirable

• Knowledge of the principles of Supported Employment, IPS (Individual Placement and Support), or the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), or a willingness to undertake relevant training.
• Level 3 Diploma in an Employability Services Sector Qualification.
• QCF Level 3 Qualification in Advice and Guidance.

Relevant Experience – Essential

• Experience of supporting individuals with disabilities, health conditions, or significant barriers to employment (or a similar client group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector).
• Experience of working with individuals on a one-to-one basis.
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time.
• Experience of working assertively to influence decision-makers.

Relevant Experience – Desirable

• Experience of supporting people to obtain or retain employment.
• Experience of supporting individuals with disabilities, health conditions, or significant barriers to employment.
• Personal lived experience of recovery from mental health difficulties.
• Previous experience of delivering a service using the SEQF model would be an advantage.
• Proven experience of achieving and exceeding outcomes and targets.

Specialist Skills and Knowledge – Essential

• An understanding of employment needs and the challenges faced by people experiencing health difficulties.
• An understanding of the principles of Supported Employment and person-centred approaches.
• The ability to develop knowledge of a wide range of occupations and job roles.
• Able to use IT and software packages such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Specialist Skills and Knowledge – Desirable

• Knowledge of the benefits system and all disability- and employment-related benefits.

Language Requirements – Essential

• Speaking and Listening – Advanced Level: Ability to follow conversations or discussions through the medium of Welsh and English at a professional level and discuss general day-to-day topics within the field in order to present information and express opinions. Ability to deliver a prepared presentation and respond to any comments and questions through the medium of Welsh and English.
• Reading and Understanding – Advanced Level: Ability to understand standard written Welsh and English, both formal and informal. Able to gather information from a variety of sources such as letters, reports and articles, through the medium of Welsh and English, in order to carry out the duties of the post.
• Writing – Advanced Level: Confidently present written information in the form of letters, more detailed and technical reports, and respond to written requests, conveying information, ideas and opinions through the medium of Welsh and English. (Support can be provided for language checking/proofreading.)