Overview
Change Grow Live is a charity dedicated to believing we can make a difference to our Service Users' lives, offering support and respect in a safe environment. Each service user is treated as an individual and supported to find the right treatment and care options. Our core values are ‘Be open, be compassionate and be bold,’ and our team applies these daily to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.
We have an exciting opportunity for an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Senior Employment Specialist to lead a team of Employment Specialists and deliver a high‑fidelity IPS service, enabling Service Users to access and sustain paid employment as part of their recovery goals.
Employment Location: West Sussex
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Responsibilities
Service Overview: IPS is 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 one Senior Employment Specialist and two Employment Specialists, offers support within structured treatment services to individuals motivated to find paid work.
In this role:
* Effectively manage a high‑quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice.
* Monitor and manage the performance of the IPS Employment Specialists, guiding 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 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 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.
About You
* 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.
What We Offer
* 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays. An extra day for each year of service during your first five years, for a total of 30 days of leave after five years.
* Paid “Wellness” hour each week, “Wellness” hub, and Employee Assist Programme.
* Contributory pension scheme.
* Great benefits including discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc.
* A supportive team passionate about their work.
* Training, career development & progression opportunities.
* Generous Refer a Friend scheme for successful candidates.
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, we cannot support new visa applications or extensions.
Salary is subject to review in line with the 2025/26 pay award.
Salary Range (pro rata if part time)
CGL points 31 to 33 (£35,220.59 - £37,184.90)
ILW / OLW / Fringe
N/A – Outside London Weighting Area
Interview Date
4/6/2026
Closing Date
28/5/2026
This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.
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