Senior Employment Specialist

Opportunity to set up a new IPS Services across Hertfordshire.

At Change Grow Live, we're not just a charity; we're a catalyst for genuine transformation in the lives of those who use our service. Driven by our values of being open, compassionate, and bold, we're dedicated to providing steadfast support and respect within a safe environment.

Are you enthusiastic about guiding individuals toward meaningful employment during their recovery journey?

At Change Grow Live (CGL), we are committed to empowering people through Individual Placement and Support (IPS), ensuring sustainable paid work aligned with their preferences.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to something extraordinary.

 As a Senior IPS Employment Specialist you will establish an IPS service across Hertfordshire.

CGL has successfully secured the contract to expand our IPS support, and service mobilisation began this April 2024. 

As a Senior IPS Employment Specialist, you'll lead this groundbreaking effort, developing project management, stakeholder engagement, and implementation skills. We will provide extensive training and ongoing support to ensure your success with ongoing support from our IPS National Coordinator. 

A requirement of this role would be to cover the whole of Hertfordshire, supporting and leading a team of 3 IPS employment specialists, therefore, an essential car user applies for this post.

You will be a valuable member of our broader multidisciplinary team, playing a crucial role in delivering recovery-oriented intervention services. Together, we are committed to providing optimal support, medical interventions, and specialist employment support for individuals accessing our service.

Salary: £34,700.09 - £36,635.38 dependent on experience (based on full time hours)

Allowances: £683.99 Outer Fringe Weighting, pro rata

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until March 31st 2026

Service Overview:

IPS forms a fundamental commitment in the Government’s Drug Strategy and will be implemented in all treatment services in England. This evidence-based employment support model helps service users secure preference-led paid work, proven to be more effective than any other form of employment support.

Hertfordshire Spectrum IPS team, including 1 Senior Employment Specialist and 3 Employment Specialists, offers support within structured treatment services to individuals motivated to find paid work

In this role:

• Effectively manage a high-quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice.
• Monitor and manage performance of the IPS Employment Specialists – guide them individually on best practice and achieving individual and team job outcome targets.
  
• Create a culture of continuous improvement.
  
• Identify training needs of staff and arrange appropriate training to support with continuous professional development.
  
• Support the design and delivery of in-house staff training and development (including facilitating peer learning and best practice).
  
• Involve service users in co-production of service developments where possible.
  
• Coordinate the work of Employment Specialists in relation to building relationships with employers to effectively access the hidden labour market, external agencies and delivery of job seeking groups.
  
• Produce regular monitoring reports for internal and external stakeholders, including commissioners.
  

Join us and play a pivotal role in setting up this integrated service. 

The Senior IPS Employment Specialist will play a vital role in establishing the new service, you'll collaborate closely with key stakeholders to promote and establish the service across Hertfordshire.

About You:

• Educated to degree level, or with equivalent relevant work experience.
• Strong communication skills for building effective relationships.
• Proficiency in team management and support strategies.
• Aptitude in data collection and reporting for IPS services.
• Ability to engage and manage staff effectively.
• Dedication to assisting individuals in securing paid employment.
• Experience in engaging employers and cultivating partnerships.
• Firm belief in supporting all individuals to access paid employment.
• Proven ability to connect with individuals, especially understanding challenges faced by those affected by substance misuse.

What We Offer:

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays), increasing annually for first 5 years.
• Paid ‘Wellness’ hour each week, ‘Wellness’ hub, and Employee Assist Programme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Great benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc.
• A supportive team passionate about their work
• Training, career development & progression opportunities
• Generous Refer a friend scheme for successful candidates

If you're excited about this opportunity, apply now and be part of our transformative journey at Change Grow Live.

Join us in making a positive difference in people's lives.

Please review the attached Job Description and Role Specifics for a detailed outline of responsibilities and Person Specification.

If you require sponsorship, please note that this role is not eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa. You may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route but must meet the minimum salary requirements for the role. You can find out more here Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)