Employment Specialist - Criminal Justice & Complex Needs

Overview

Employment Specialist – Criminal Justice, Basildon

Hours – 37.5 hours per week

Working Pattern – Monday to Friday

Salary / Band – £28,000 per annum

Location – South Essex

Contract - Permanent

Closing date – 27th March 2026

INNOVATIVE PROJECT TO HELP PEOPLE WITH AN OFFENDING BACKGROUND TO GET INTO WORK

Do you take pride in what you do, and can you think creatively about how different organisations can work together to deliver a better service?

Are you happy to talk with employers and help match people into meaningful work?

Experience in this field would be an advantage but not essential if you can demonstrate the right skills and knowledge.

Open Road’s Employment Specialist team aims to increase the number of people moving into employment from a variety of community services with a focus on offending and other complex needs.

• Engage with treatment teams to coordinate referrals and provide updates on clients.
• Develop vocational profiles and match clients to suitable job opportunities, including liaising with employers.
• Support clients through the job search process, including interview coaching and follow-up.
• Conduct employer engagement activities and participate in relevant events and networking opportunities.
• Provide ongoing coaching to clients to maintain motivation and confidence.
• Assist with managing caseloads and ensuring documentation is up to date.

• You will have some knowledge of IPS or other employment services / methods.
• Experience talking to employers and helping people into work is desirable.
• Great communication skills and the ability to build relationships with everyone from frontline staff to CEO level.
• Negotiation skills and commercial acumen.
• Drive, passion and commitment; proven ability to build rapport with people and understand issues from those affected by offending or similar conditions.
• Boundless enthusiasm, excellent teamwork and the ability to work in a target-driven environment.
• Strong written, verbal and organisational skills.
• Driving licence and access to own car.

Open Road provides drug and alcohol treatment services and offender support services across Essex & Kent including a range of interventions that deliver mentoring, advice and information programmes. Accredited with Investing In Volunteers, our mission is to empower a diverse range of individuals, families and communities to lead healthy and more meaningful lives, free from addiction, offending behaviour and disadvantage, to ensure healthier, happier lifestyles.

• £28,000 per annum
• 25 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays plus your birthday off
• Royal London Pension and Death in Service benefit
• Access to our in-house Organisational Training Plan, and full training tailored to your development needs

We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working. Due to the client-facing and service delivery requirements of this role, regular on-site presence will be required. Flexible working requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with business needs.

This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check at enhanced level.