Senior Employment Specialist (Individual Placement and Support)

IPS forms a fundamental commitment in the Government’s Drug Strategy and will be implemented in all treatment services in England. This evidence-based employment support model helps service users secure preference-led paid work, proven to be more effective than any other form of employment support.

West Sussex IPS, including 1 Senior Employment Specialist and 2 Employment Specialists, offers support within structured treatment services to individuals motivated to find paid work

• Effectively manage a high-quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice.
• Monitor and manage performance of the IPS Employment Specialists – guide them individually on best practice and achieving individual and team job outcome targets.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identify training needs of staff and arrange appropriate training to support with continuous professional development.
• Support the design and delivery of in-house staff training and development (including facilitating peer learning and best practice).
• Involve service users in co-production of service developments where possible.
• Coordinate the work of Employment Specialists in relation to building relationships with employers to effectively access the hidden labour market, external agencies and delivery of job seeking groups.
• Produce regular monitoring reports for internal and external stakeholders, including commissioners.

The Senior IPS Employment Specialist will play a vital role in establishing the new service, you'll collaborate closely with key stakeholders to promote and establish the service across Hertfordshire.

• Educated to degree level, or with equivalent relevant work experience.
• Strong communication skills for building effective relationships.
• Proficiency in team management and support strategies.
• Aptitude in data collection and reporting for IPS services.
• Ability to engage and manage staff effectively.
• Dedication to assisting individuals in securing paid employment.
• Experience in engaging employers and cultivating partnerships.
• Firm belief in supporting all individuals to access paid employment.
• Proven ability to connect with individuals, especially understanding challenges faced by those affected by substance misuse.

Please review the attached Job Description and Role Specifics for a detailed outline of responsibilities and Person Specification.

Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions. More information about eligible roles and occupations can be found here: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Salary is subject to review in line with the 2025/26 pay award.