Individual Placement and Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will manage 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 and alcohol treatment service, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment.

Key Responsibilities:-

Manage a caseload of around 25 clients in structured treatment for substance use who are motivated to start/return to work

Deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach for which training will be given.

Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations, and goalsthrough completing a Vocational Profile and produce an Action Plan to help themobtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques and career development.

Assess client support needs related to work which may include benefits/welfare advice,disclosure of mental health symptoms etc., and provide support & guidance.

Attend weekly clinical team meetings as an embedded IPS practitioner.

Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job search and regular contact withlocal employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities.

Provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which mayinclude negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with theemployer to ensure job retention.

Build relationships with colleagues in clinical teams to engage and generate referrals andcreate collaborative working partnerships with clinical staff (promoting employment as apositive intervention in the recovery journey).

Once employment has been secured continue to provide quality service throughconducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in-work support to clients andemployers to help sustain employment.

To build and maintain employer relationships and maintain employer engagementdatabase.

Arrange regular meetings with clients to monitor and review progress pre and postemployment.

Spend time getting to know local employers to negotiate job opportunities that meeteveryone's strengths, needs, abilities and preferences.

To challenge inequalities experienced by clients and address existing discrimination,whilst ensuring a process of learning for the organisation.

Work with employers to promote the service, identify job opportunities and ensureappropriate strategies are in place to reduce barriers in the workplace this can includeexploring job carving i.e. carving small slices of work from the duties other staff do nothave time to do.

To develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who can helpindividuals to achieve their employment goals. This may include local colleges and trainingproviders.

To adhere to administrative and data capture protocols which record the progress ofindividuals, and to keep accurate and complete records of casework.

To work independently, reliably and deliver consistently to deliver effective IPS practice.

Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are adhered to and keep abreastof changing practice within vocational rehabilitation.

To co-produce service development with service users where possible.

To collect employment recovery stories from people accessing the service.

Ensure that all relevant policies are implemented such as information governance,safeguarding etc.

Partake in continuous learning about substance use and mental health conditions, theirimpact and how they can be managed and undertake mandatory training as required.

Work flexible hours as required

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level, or with equivalent relevant work experience.

Desirable

• Trained in IPS approach Level
• 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification
• QCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3)

Experience

Essential

• Experience/understanding of working with people with substance use support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector.
• Experience working in employment services supporting people to obtain or keep work
• Experience of working with someone on a one-to-one basis
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time
• Experience of working assertively to influence decision makers
• An understanding of the employment needs, and challenges faced by people who experience labour market exclusion
• Developing a knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs
• Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Non-judgmental and trustworthy
• Empathy with the needs of those with mental health support
• needs
• Passion and drive to make a positive difference to people's lives
• Highly motivated with a genuine belief that someone affected by
• drug and/or alcohol dependence can find paid employment

Desirable

• Personal lived experience of recovery
• Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model is a bonus
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets
• Knowledge of the benefits system and all disability/ employment related benefits

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Change Grow Live

Address

Icads

210 Kilburn High Road

London

NW6 4JH

Employer's website

https://www.changegrowlive.org/ (Opens in a new tab)