An IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Employment Specialist helps people with drug and alcohol issues secure and retain competitive, paid employment.
Offering bespoke support on a case by case, one to one basis to help people achieve their goals and maintain their recovery.
Key responsibilities include:
1. Managing a caseload
2. Providing personalized support & career coaching
3. Conducting job development
4. Collaborating with clinical teams.
5. Engaging with local employers to develop relationships.
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.
Key Job Description Wording & Responsibilities: "Provide personalized, 1:1, strengths-based coaching to help clients identify employment goals and overcome barriers to work". "Actively build relationships with local employers to identify, negotiate, and secure suitable, competitive job opportunities". "Work as an embedded, integral member of the community mental health team, attending meetings to integrate employment with mental health recovery". "Offer ongoing, personalized support to both the employee and employer to ensure job retention for up to one year". "Conduct comprehensive vocational assessments to understand client skills, experience, and preferences". "Support clients to understand the impact of employment on welfare benefits and access specialized advice". "Adhere to the 8 core principles of the IPS approach, ensuring high-fidelity service delivery". Essential Skills & Competencies: "Exceptional communication skills, able to build rapport with clients, clinicians, and employers. Need to be people focused and able to confidently approach, engage and build relationships with people from a diverse range of backgrounds".Resilience: "Passionate about empowering individuals, challenging stigma, and fostering inclusion in what can be a challenging environment. Ability to manage own workload and act independently as well as within a team".Networking: "Ability to network effectively and represent the service to a wide range of external stakeholders".Documentation: "Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant records using electronic systems".
What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
6. 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
7. Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
8. Life assurance (3× annual salary)
9. Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
10. Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
11. Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
12. 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
13. Recognition and long service awards via our and portals
14. £500 bonus
15. Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
16. Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
17. 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:
Closing Date:
2026-04-10