Employment Specialist (Individual Placement and Support)

Employment Specialist (Individual Placement and Support)

Hucknall, Nottinghamshire CGL

Permanent contract

Do you want to work for a Charity that empowers people?Do you want to be involved in something new that changes lives?As a part of the Change Grow Live team, you'll make a difference and help people get to where they want to be.

Deadline: 7th July 2026

• East Midlands
• Full-time

Job overview

CGL have been a leading provider of recovery focused drug and alcohol services across England and Wales for over 20 years. Our innovation and creative approach allow us to provide a broad range of safe, high-quality health and social care services.

As an IPS Employment Specialist joining our Nottinghamshire team you will be supporting people in recovery to find paid employment that is right for them, using the Individual Placement Support model of employment support.

Change Grow Live are committed to creating an inclusive work environment, which celebrates differences and allows our staff and service users to flourish. We recruit the very best people from a wide range of backgrounds, ensuring service users benefit from our diverse skills and expertise. We always work to the principles of fairness and equality of opportunity in all our recruitment processes.

Role

Where: Nottinghamshire, this vacancy will require travel throughout the areas Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe.

Hours: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent

Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.

In this role, you'll manage a caseload of 25 individuals receiving structured treatment for drug and/or alcohol use, helping them secure sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences.

You'll deliver the IPS model for our County South area, offering person-centered advice and guidance while fostering positive relationships with local employers to create employment opportunities.

Your focus will be on helping clients sustain their employment while working collaboratively with treatment service staff to identify potential referrals and provide integrated support leading to job acquisition and retention.

IPS is a fundamental commitment in the Government's Drug Strategy, revolutionising employment support in all treatment services in England. This evidence-based model ensures service users secure preference-led paid work, significantly more effective than any other support.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of approximately 25 clients receiving structured treatment for substance use who are motivated to gain or return to employment.
• Deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, supporting individuals into competitive paid employment.
• Complete Vocational Profiles and develop personalised Action Plans to help clients obtain and sustain employment.
• Provide support with job searching, CV writing, application forms, interview preparation and career development.
• Assess work-related support needs, including benefits advice, workplace disclosure and other employment barriers.
• Attend and contribute to weekly clinical team meetings as an embedded IPS practitioner.
• Source employment opportunities through employer engagement, tailored job searching and accessing hidden vacancies.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local employers to create employment opportunities for clients.
• Provide education, advice and support to employers, including workplace adjustments and return-to-work strategies.
• Work collaboratively with treatment teams to generate referrals and promote employment as a key part of recovery.
• Deliver ongoing in-work support to both clients and employers to help sustain employment outcomes.
• Maintain an employer engagement database and accurate records of employer contacts.
• Arrange and conduct regular meetings with clients to review progress before and after securing employment.
• Advocate for clients by challenging inequality, reducing barriers and addressing discrimination in the workplace.
• Promote inclusive recruitment practices, including job carving and reasonable workplace adjustments.
• Develop partnerships with external agencies, colleges and training providers to support clients' employment goals.
• Maintain accurate case notes and comply with data recording and reporting requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes in line with IPS best practice and service requirements.
• Contribute to service development and collect employment recovery stories from service users.
• Adhere to safeguarding, information governance and organisational policies and procedures.
• Undertake ongoing learning and development relating to substance use, mental health and employment support.

The person

• Educated to degree level or equivalent work experience
• Strong communication skills for effective relationship building
• Proficient in team management and support strategies
• Aptitude in data collection and reporting for IPS services
• Dedication to assisting individuals secure paid employment
• Proven ability to connect with individuals, especially those affected by substance misuse
• Able to work flexibily across a county-wide area and across community locations