Ips Employment Specialist (Connect To Work)

Blackpool Council; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

26–28 days annual leave (increasing)

Competitive pension schemes

Staff travel benefits

Job summary

Blackpool Council is recruiting an IPS Employment Specialist to support individuals with long-term health conditions or barriers to employment. The role includes travel to town centre offices and community settings, building relationships with employers, and delivering IPS with comprehensive training.

You will manage a caseload, coordinate with referral agencies, and help clients achieve sustainable paid employment.

Qualifications

• Must have Level 3 in IAG or equivalent or at least 2 years' demonstrable employment support experience.
• Ability to initiate and develop relationships with local employers regularly.
• Must have access to a vehicle for travel to town centre offices and community sites.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Individual Placement and Support (IPS) with full training provided.
• Build positive relationships with employers and referral partners.
• Travel locally to attend appointments and meet clients and employers.
• Broker reasonable adjustments and flexible working patterns for clients.
• Manage a caseload of clients with long-term health conditions or barriers to work.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Organisation

Administrative skills

Education

Level 3 in IAG or equivalent

Job description

Contract Type: Permanent

Contract Hours: 4X 37 per week

Salary: NJC Grade F SCP 19-24 £33,119 - £36,581 Closing Date: 29th September 2026 12 Noon

Connect to Work is a new DWP funded programme, available nationally, which offers around 12 months of supported employment to eligible participants to help them to find or stay in work.

Do you want to be part of a friendly and dynamic team whilst making a genuine difference in transforming people's lives? With on-the-job training, becoming an IPS Employment Specialist is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference and support those with long term health conditions and/or barriers to employment in Blackpool to get back to or stay in work.

The supported employment approach requires our IPS Employment Specialists to support people both in our town centre offices and in the wider community and therefore some travel locally will be involved and applicants need to have use of a vehicle on a daily basis. Liaising with and meeting local employers at their premises is also an essential part of the role and therefore excellent relationship building and communication skills are essential.

As an IPS Employment Specialist you will play a rewarding and vital role in helping clients find meaningful and fulfilling employment that aligns to their career aspirations. You’ll receive the specialist training and support you need to develop your skills but must have strong and persuasive communication skills, excellent time management, and exceptional organisational and administrative skills.

Working with colleagues across a range of referral agencies, sometimes within an integrated team setting, you will manage a caseload of clients who have long term health conditions, key barriers to work or who are struggling to stay in work, to support them to secure suitable paid employment in line with their preferences. Building trusting relationships with a range of health and allied professionals will be an essential part of the role to ensure we receive good quality referrals into the service and to promote recovery through employment.

You will deliver a model of employment support called Individual Placement and Support (IPS), for which full training will be given, which provides holistic person-centred support, advice and guidance.

You must have the ability to initiate and develop relationships with local employers on a regular basis, using a variety of methods including email, telephone and face to face in the community, building positive and meaningful relationships.

Where suitable you will also be brokering reasonable adjustments and working patterns to help your clients achieve or retain sustainable employment.

We are looking for individuals who hold a Level 3 in IAG or equivalent or have a minimum of 2 years demonstrable experience providing employment support, advice and guidance.

We encourage applications from candidates with lived experience.

Having access to a vehicle to attend appointments is essential for the post. From the moment you join us, you’ll receive a number of benefits, including:

• Achievable work-life balance through a range of flexible working options
• Annual leave - in addition to public holidays, you will be eligible to take 26 days of annual leave in each financial year, rising to 28 days after five years’ service and 32 days after ten years. Additional leave can be purchased via salary sacrifice
• Competitive pension schemes
• Generous special leave provisions to help employees deal with caring responsibilities, domestic emergencies and bereavement
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave above the statutory minimum
• Childcare voucher scheme
• Corporate leisure scheme
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including access to the e-learning site 'iPool'
• Regular supervision and support plus annual individual appraisals
• Occupational sick pay scheme and health support
• Outstanding service awards - this annual awards scheme recognises dedicated and outstanding employees!
• A range of travel benefits, such as train season ticket, car sharing, cycling schemes, staff parking and more.
• Free health MOT at corporate health events held throughout the year
• Free independent, face to face counselling and helpline
• Mental Health First Aid support
• A range of employee discounts to national attractions

Are you a Blackpool resident aged between 16-24? Would you benefit from some free guidance on producing a quality application for job vacancies such as this one?

This post requires access to PSN (Public Services Network) services or networks and the successful post holder will be required to undertake a Basic Disclosure check of unspent convictions through Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). This post is also subject to satisfactory references, medical clearance, evidence of any essential qualifications and proof of legal working in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.