We are Hestia. We make a difference.
At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Senior Employment Specialist to play a pivotal role in our Employability Service in Redbridge.
Sounds great, what will I be doing?
To inspire people with complex mental health conditions to progress, and to gain and sustain paid employment. The Senior Employment Specialist will support clients directly by managing a caseload and will also support and develop the wider IPS team. The Senior Employment Specialist will work across the local NHS secondary care network alongside NHS clinicians to secure client referrals.
What do I need to bring with me?
You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.
You will bring at least one year's experience in employment services, ideally using the IPS model, alongside a strong understanding of the mental health recovery framework. You will have a proven track record of supporting individuals with barriers into employment, with strong networking and employer engagement skills. Your experience will include working in health or social care settings, supporting people with mental health conditions to find, return to, and retain employment. You will be confident presenting to stakeholders, managing a varied caseload, and working to tight deadlines in an outcome-driven environment.
You will demonstrate strong assessment, action planning, and record-keeping skills, with excellent IT proficiency across databases and Microsoft packages. With excellent communication and interpersonal skills, you will build effective relationships with clients and partners, think creatively to deliver solutions, and contribute to strong local partnership working. You will also bring experience of working within quality frameworks and a commitment to IPS fidelity and employment retention. Flexibility to travel across the borough is required, alongside a strong understanding of key policies including Health & Safety, Data Protection, Equality & Diversity, the Equality Act 2010, and employment law.
Interview Steps
We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.
- Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
- Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.
Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.
We are a disability confident employer
Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.
Safeguarding Statement
Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.
Important Information for Candidates
If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.
We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.