Location
Liverpool City Region, Merseyside, Knowsley
Contract type
Permanent/ Full- time
Salary
Up to £29,500 per annum
The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) team, in collaboration with The Growth Company (GC), is recruiting an Employment Specialist to support participants in drug and alcohol treatment through the Recovery Works programme. The role focuses on using a multi‑channel, multi‑agency approach to help individuals enter, sustain, and progress in employment.
The substance misuse programme is an evidence-based employment intervention designed to help people with drug and alcohol dependencies secure and maintain paid work. Fully integrated within treatment services, IPS Employment Specialists provide tailored job‑seeking support, career guidance, and ongoing in‑work assistance for both participants and employers.
Key responsibilities:
- Manage a caseload of 24 clients motivated to start/return to work using the IPS approach.
- Create Vocational Profiles and Action Plans to help clients achieve sustainable employment.
- Assist with job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques, and career development.
- Build relationships with clinical teams to generate referrals and promote employment.
- Attend weekly team meetings and provide ongoing support after employment is secured.
- Ensure accurate documentation and assess client needs related to work, including benefits/welfare advice.
- Source job opportunities through tailored searches and employer contacts.
- Educate and support employers to ensure job retention.
About you:
- A warm, approachable style to delivery is required in order to build relationships and rapport.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiating skills.
- Ability to work in a target-driven environment, with a focus on the successful achievement of job outcomes and sustained outcomes.
- Developing knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs.
Skills required:
- Deliver one-to-one and group sessions to at least Grade 2 standard.
- Understand issues affecting individuals with multiple barriers to employment.
- Expertise in support agencies for complex needs (e.g., debt, substance misuse, housing).
- Place customers into suitable and sustained employment.
- Knowledge in guidance, advice, and counselling environments.
- Experience with disabled people or similar client groups in substance use treatment, health, social services, or the voluntary sector.
- High-level guidance skills for one-to-one and group sessions.
- Experience with people with multiple and complex needs, including health conditions and disabilities.
We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.
Artificial intelligence can assist you during the application process, but every example and statement you include must be honest, accurate, and based on your own real experiences. If plagiarism is detected, meaning you present someone else’s ideas or experiences, or AI‑generated content, as your own, your application may be withdrawn, and internal applicants could face disciplinary action.
At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.
Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.
We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.
If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.
We also aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments or have any general enquiries at any stage or the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or call us on 0161 237 4447.
Examples include:
Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance.
Extra time for tasks.
Interview questions shared beforehand.
Accessibility software or equipment for assessments.
We’re proud to support the Ban the Box campaign, which helps people with convictions access job opportunities. As part of this, we’ve removed questions about convictions from the initial application stage.
GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working. Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements. If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.
All GC colleagues will work in line with the Health and Safety at work act and the GC Health and Safety Policy.
