Employment Specialist Location: Durham, Centre For Change Working Hours: 37 Hours Contract Type: Fixed Term Salary: £25,110 - £32,090 Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. About Waythrough Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers. Make a real difference in your community Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. About The Role You will manage a caseload of clients of people in structured treatment for drug and/ or alcohol use to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given); providing person centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment. You will work as part of a community drug and alcohol treatment service, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment. Responsibilities: Core Responsibilities: Manage a caseload of around 25 clients in structured treatment for substance use who are motivated to start/return to work. Deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach for which training will be given. Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations and goals through completing a Vocational Profile and produce an Action Plan to help them obtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques and career development. Assess client support needs related to work which may include benefits/welfare advice, disclosure of mental health symptoms etc, and provide support & guidance. Attend weekly clinical team meetings as an embedded IPS practitioner. Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job search and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities. Provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with the employer to ensure job retention. Build relationships with colleagues in clinical teams to engage and generate referrals and create collaborative working partnerships with clinical staff (promoting employment as a positive intervention in the recovery journey). Once employment has been secured continue to provide quality service through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in-work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment. For Full Job Description Please Click Here What We Offer We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package: 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays) Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5% Life assurance (3× annual salary) Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals £500 Recommend a Friend bonus Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year Inclusion and accessibility Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk Closing Date: 2026-02-26 Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have almost 200 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 125,000 people. Bringing together two big organisations is not a small task and it’ll take a while to fully integrate our systems, processes and approaches. That’s why you will notice various brands including, ‘Richmond Fellowship’ or ‘Aquarius’ (our subsidiary charity in the Midlands). Aquarius Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough. Aquarius is a Midlands-based charity supporting individuals to overcome the harms caused by drugs, alcohol and gambling. Aquarius has always held the view that people we support could resolve their problems with support and guidance and that people have the ability to find their own solutions to their problems. Our roles across the organisation include Practitioners and Administrators as well as Team Managers. Find out more at www.aquarius.org.uk