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Portsmouth City Council is recruiting an Employment Specialist to run an IPS programme for people with drug and alcohol issues. Based in Portsmouth with outreach locations and travel to other sites, you will manage a caseload and deliver person-centred support aimed at securing sustainable paid employment.
You will engage employers, provide guidance, and work within a holistic recovery framework. Training in IPS will be provided, and a DBS check is required prior to offer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
IAG level 4 or 6
Employment Support qualifications
Coaching or mentoring qualifications
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 .
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.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.