Employment Specialist IPS-Re:Work

Portsmouth City Council; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is seeking an Employment Specialist for IPS Re:Work (Drug and Alcohol) to support adults into sustainable work through the IPS model. The role involves outreach across locations including Basingstoke, with occasional attendance at the Civic Offices in Portsmouth.

You will engage employers, manage a caseload of clients, and provide person‑centred guidance while maintaining an inclusive approach. A basic DBS check and a valid driving licence are required.

Qualifications

• Experience in employment/recruitment/training roles.
• Ability to manage a caseload and review progress.
• Ability to engage with employers and build relationships with them.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of clients in structured treatment and help them gain sustainable employment.
• Deliver IPS approach with person-centred guidance and build relationships with local employers.
• Work within a community drug & alcohol treatment service to support recovery through employment.

Skills

Employer engagement

Caseload management

Communication

Education

IAG level 4/6

Coaching qualification

Tools

Driving licence / car for business travel

Job description

Employment Specialist - IPS Re:Work (Drug and Alcohol)

INNOVATIVE PROJECT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE BACK INTO WORK

Locations:Outreach Locations including:

Basingstoke but with the requirement to travel to other outreach locations.

You will be based in the area above, however you will be required to attend the Civic Offices, Portsmouth city council, Portsmouth on occasions.

DBS Disclosure at basic level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The Service

Portsmouth City Council's Employment, Learning and Skills deliver a wide range of DWP & DFE funded programmes. The programmes we work on provide support to residents within local communities; many of whom are either long term unemployed, have a disability or health condition, including mental health issues, or have other barriers as to why gaining sustained employment is proving to be a challenge. Services include relevant interventions for young people and other excluded or vulnerable groups to provide local communities with an inclusive workforce.

Your New Role

Working within Portsmouth City Council's IPS 'Individual Placement and Support' model contract, the role will include managing a caseload of clients 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 & alcohol treatment service, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment support. IPS is a 'work first' intervention designed to support people into sustained employment.

Who is the person?

You will have experience of talking to employers and helping people into work. You will conduct employer engagement to negotiate job opportunities that meet each individual's strengths, needs, abilities and preferences. You will be able to manage and support a caseload of clients and review progress, pre and post-employment. You will also have the proven ability to build rapport with people and especially understanding issues for people affected by substance misuse or similar conditions.

You will maintain an inclusive equality & diversity approach at all times.

You will have the ability to work on own initiative and within a team, flexibility to cope with the varying demands of the role and be driven to succeed and set high personal standards so that targets are met.

Special Conditions

• Driving Licence and use of a car for business travel is required - this is because you will be regularly visiting employers, work placements hosts and customers to carry out employment engagement, placement host reviews and customer in work reviews as well as on occasion to accompany clients to interviews
• Due to the diversity of our customer base, the need for regular one to one meetings and the flexibility required in delivering our contracts a basic DBS Check will be required.
• Relevant experience in an employment/recruitment/training role
• Relevant qualifications or the willingness to work towards including:

IAG level 4 or 6

Coaching or mentoring qualifications

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals.

Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Additional Information

This role is based 5 days per week in the Civic Offices/other office, please ensure you can fulfil this prior to submitting your application.

We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

Our recruitment process

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page:

Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.

If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be shortlisted.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage:

Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact

[e-mail] call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.