IPS Employment Specialist

Recovery Focus; Queen Street; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension with 4.5% employer contrib

Life assurance

Enhanced sick pay

Birthday leave

Professional fee reimbursement

GP access

Employee Assistance Programme

Recommend a Friend bonus

Cycle to Work

Blue Light/Card discounts

Will writing service

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Waythrough is seeking an IPS Employment Specialist to join Better Days Bolton on a full-time basis. You will support people affected by drug and alcohol use to move into meaningful paid work through tailored, practical guidance and career coaching.

Working across Bolton in office and community settings, you will build links with local employers, run CV and interview support, and help individuals progress along their recovery journey into sustainable employment.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with employers and understanding their recruitment needs.
• Good knowledge of the local labour market and the skills and approaches needed to successfully apply for vacancies.
• Experience of managing a caseload and providing individualised support.
• The ability to build positive relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Enthusiasm, resilience and the ability to motivate and encourage others to achieve their goals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The confidence to work independently across office and community settings while also contributing effectively as part of a wider team.
• A genuine passion for helping people overcome barriers and make positive changes in their lives.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored employment support to people accessing Better Days Bolton, helping them identify goals and move towards paid employment.
• Career coaching, CV writing, job searching and interview preparation.
• Develop positive relationships with local and national employers and identify opportunities.

Skills

Employer engagement

Caseload management

Local labour market knowledge

Relationship building

Independent working

Motivation and encouragement

Communication skills

Passion for helping people

Driving licence beneficial

Job description

IPS Employment Specialist - Better days Bolton

Location: Better Days Bolton, Le Mans Crescent, Queen Street, Bolton, BL1 1SX

Working Arrangement: Hybrid – office and community-based working across Bolton

Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £25,877.80–£34,240.03 per annum

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

About Waythrough

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

About the Role

We are looking for an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist to join our team at Better Days Bolton on a full-time basis. Better Days Bolton supports people affected by drug and alcohol use, helping individuals make positive changes and progress in their recovery. As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will play an important role in supporting people accessing the service to move towards and into meaningful, sustainable employment.

Working closely alongside colleagues across Better Days Bolton, you will manage a caseload of people who would like to find paid employment as part of their recovery journey. You will provide personalised, practical support based on each individual's strengths, aspirations and employment goals.

This is a varied and rewarding community-based role, with a hybrid mix of working from our Better Days Bolton office and across the local community. You will travel to different locations across Bolton depending on the needs of the people you support and the requirements of the role. IT equipment and a mobile phone will be provided to enable you to work effectively across different settings.

What You’ll Do

As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will provide tailored employment support to people accessing Better Days Bolton, helping them identify their goals and move towards paid employment. Your work will include career coaching, CV writing, job searching and application support, interview preparation and helping individuals build the confidence and skills they need to enter the workplace. You will develop positive relationships with local and national employers, identifying suitable employment opportunities and understanding their recruitment needs.

You will also attend job fairs and other employment-focused events and work closely with colleagues and partner organisations across Bolton. Using the IPS approach, you will support individuals to move towards employment as quickly as possible, recognising the positive role that meaningful work can play in someone's wider recovery journey.

To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need

• Experience of working with employers and understanding their recruitment needs.
• Good knowledge of the local labour market and the skills and approaches needed to successfully apply for vacancies.
• Experience of managing a caseload and providing individualised support.
• The ability to build positive relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Enthusiasm, resilience and the ability to motivate and encourage others to achieve their goals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The confidence to work independently across office and community settings while also contributing effectively as part of a wider team.
• A genuine passion for helping people overcome barriers and make positive changes in their lives.
• Knowledge or experience of drug and alcohol services, the criminal justice system, welfare benefits or supporting people experiencing disadvantage would be advantageous.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle would be beneficial due to the community-based nature of the role and travel across Bolton, but this is not essential.

What We Offer

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
• Life assurance (3× annual salary)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
• 24/4 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
• Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus
• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

Inclusion and accessibility

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support.

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: [e-mail]

Closing Date

2026-10-22

About Waythrough continued

Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. In April 2026, Aquarius, our former subsidiary partner, merged with Waythrough. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have 260 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 130,000 people.