Employment Specialist Ref: 0187ZS

Occy; Torquay; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Occy is seeking an IPS Employment Specialist in Torquay to support people in treatment or recovery into employment within a community substance misuse service. The role involves delivering supported employment and working with a multidisciplinary team to secure opportunities for clients.

The position sits at Shrublands House with the Torbay Drug and Alcohol Service, offering a starting salary of £29,325 rising to £33,960 per year, including a Cornwall allowance of £1,000.

Qualifications

• Experience of recruitment processes and employability skills development.
• Experience of supporting individuals with complex needs to gain and/or maintain employment.
• Ability to develop relationships with multiple stakeholders including employers and partner agencies.
• Knowledge of best practice in addictions and employability services.
• Ability to lead, motivate and support clients and collaborate with a recovery team.
• Strong IT skills, ideally Google Workspace, and good time management.

Responsibilities

• Support the IPS model within a community substance misuse service and help people in treatment or recovery into employment.
• Deliver supported employment to people in community treatment for substance use.
• Based at Shrublands House, Torquay, working with the Torbay Drug and Alcohol Service to support a caseload into employment.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team to secure meaningful employment opportunities for clients.

Skills

Recruitment processes

Employability skills

Multi-agency partnership working

Knowledge of addiction/employment best

Leadership & motivation

IT skills (Google Workspace)

Degree-level education

Communication skills

Education

Degree level

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

As an IPS Employment Specialist, we offer a starting salary of £29,325 rising each year in line with our pay progression salary bands to £33,960 per year (This includes a Cornwall allowance of £1,000). For further details please reach out to a member of the recruitment team.

As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will support the IPS model as a specialism within a community substance misuse service and deliver support to people who are in treatment or recovery into employment. You will work directly with employers to secure

We have an exciting opportunity for an IPS Employment Specialist to join our team.

Our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) team aims to increase the number of people moving into employment from our drug and alcohol support service. This is an exciting opportunity to help make a real difference to people's lives.

The role will deliver supported employment to people in community treatment for substance use. You will be based at Shrublands House, Torquay working alongside the Torbay Drug and Alcohol Service, an established integrated community service supporting people aged 18 and over with substance misuse issues in Torbay. The team is a friendly, supportive, multidisciplinary team made up of recovery workers, nurses, social workers, doctors, peer supporters, and volunteers. You will work closely with the recovery team to support a small caseload of service users into employment opportunities.

We’re excited to receive applications from those with:

• Experience of recruitment processes and employability skills development. Experience of supporting individuals with complex needs to gain and or maintain employment.
• Have the ability to develop relationships with multiple stakeholders, including employers, partner agencies, clients and their family/carer. Have experience of multi-agency partnership working.
• Have sound knowledge of best practice in the provision of addictions and/or employability and employment services. Knowledge and understanding of issues faced by people in treatment/ recovery in the job market, and in employability and employment services.
• Be able to lead and motivate others, nurture and encourage clients. Have strong IT skills - ideally in Google Workspace. Be organised and have excellent time management skills.
• We are looking for someone with relevant work experience or who is educated to degree level.
• You will understand the importance of good employment and the role it can play in the lives of those with multiple challenges and substance misuse issues.
• You will be confident working with a range of employers and have excellent multi-agency and partnership-working skills.
• Good communication skills are key, as is a non-judgmental, empathetic approach. You will have experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds, including those facing additional challenges in gaining employment.
• Have the flexibility to work from different locations in order to deliver the services required, and the ability to work flexible and unsocial hours as required.
• Have a Full UK Driving Licence and access to a car.

Join our team as an IPS Employment Specialist in Torquay.

Do you believe you have the skills to help people return to employment, do you take pride in what you do, and can you think creatively about how different organisations can work together to deliver a better service? Are you happy to talk with employers and help match people into meaningful work? Are you a compassionate and motivated individual who wants to change people’s lives? Our team in Torquay is looking for an individual who is passionate about supporting people into work, to join them in providing high-quality recovery support to a diverse client group. If you are enthusiastic, creative and have a genuine desire to help others, we’d love to hear from you.

As a leading charity supporting people with drug, alcohol, and mental health challenges, we operate over 80 services across England and Scotland, providing free and confidential support to more than 100,000 people each year.

Closing date: Sunday 12th November 2026.