Make a real difference in Tees Valley! Recovery Connections is hiring an IPS Employment Specialist to help people in drug and alcohol treatment find and keep paid work.
* The employment specialist will manage a caseload of c.25 people in drug and alcohol treatment services who wish to return to, or start, paid employment. The people you work with will be worked with for up to 9 months, plus up to 4 months of in-work support.
* The employment specialist will be required to build effective working relationships with local employers, training providers and colleges to secure employment and education opportunities for people in community treatment for substance misuse, including ensuring the service is focused on accessing the 'hidden' labour market.
* There is a requirement to provide job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualised to the interests and uniqueness of the people supported, whilst following the evidence-based principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
* Ongoing support will be required according to both the employee and employer's needs to enable people who have experienced dependency on drugs and/or alcohol retain employment once secured.
* Work experience placements and those job seeking will require to be provided with help and advice to apply for posts in open employment.
Responsibilities
* To prepare individuals for employment through assessing each person's individual employment needs through vocational profiling, and then actively support them to achieve their employment goals, in partnership with the clinical team.
* To promote the benefits of supporting clients to access employment within the clinical team and external employers, aiming to raise the profile of IPS services, and raise expectations around the ability of clients to access paid employment.
* To work with client key workers and clinical staff, including through case conferencing, to ensure that clients receive appropriate support from everyone involved in their care during the return-to-work process.
* To provide advice and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments and on‑going contact with supervisors to ensure job retention.
* To assess individual support needs related to work which might typically include help with welfare benefits, travel to work, managing health at work etc.
* To work flexibly on occasion as required by clients and employers, which may require some working out of normal office hours.
* Promote the profile of employment and working embedded within the team to raise expectations around the ability of clients to attain paid work.
Professional Development
* To participate in your own IPS and management supervision, objective setting/appraisal, and personal development plan and IPS fidelity reviews.
Policy and/or service development
* To work with the local IPS Senior Employment Specialist and service management to ensure that vocational support services offered continue to develop effectively.
* To ensure that effective referral procedures to the IPS provision from the clinical team are in place.
* To participate in effective monitoring and evaluation systems.
Research and Development
* To keep abreast of changing practice within IPS and vocational support more generally.
Eligibility
* Educated to degree level, OR with equivalent relevant work experience.
* 2 months experience of helping people facing severe labour market disadvantage to obtain or keep work.
* An understanding of the principles and practices of supported employment.
* An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience substance dependency and related barriers to employment.
* Able to assess clients' vocational functioning on ongoing basis utilising background information and work experiences. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of health status to employers.
* Able to work in a complex environment and demonstrate a high level of perseverance, being committed to seeing plans through to completion with agreed time‑scales.
* Ability to develop relationships with multiple stakeholders, including employers, partner agencies, clients and their family/carers. With the client's permission, provides education and support to family members.
* Ability to support clients and employers when a client's job is at risk.
* An ability to provide advice and support to key workers and clinicians in relation to the employment needs of their clients.
* Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs.
* Good verbal and written communication skills.
* Good marketing, presentation and negotiation skills, allied to a persuasive style.
* Familiarity with common office software
* Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently.
* A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior agreement as the needs of the job dictate.
* Ability to see solutions rather than problems.
Desirable
* Experience of working with people affected by substance misuse and/or mental health problems, or a similar client group.
* Knowledge of the welfare benefits system
* An understanding of the principles and practices of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
* An understanding of the Equality Act 2010.
* An understanding of education, training and employment services.
* Basic counselling skills.
Recovery Connections is a lived experience recovery organisation (LERO) providing a range of support and intervention for those striving for and achieving recovery. The charitable organisation operates IPS services in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Darlington.
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