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- Tasks: Help individuals secure meaningful employment while managing a caseload of 25 clients.
- Company: Join Change Grow Live, a leader in empowering people through Individual Placement and Support.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, wellness hours, and great discounts on shopping and entertainment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in people's lives while developing your project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Qualifications: Degree level education or equivalent experience, strong communication, and team management skills required.
- Other info: This role is maternity cover, fixed term until May 2026, based in South London.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 £ per year.
Overview
Join Our Team and Make a Genuine Impact on Others\’ Lives.
Are you passionate about guiding individuals toward meaningful employment in their recovery journey?
At Change Grow Live (CGL), we\’re committed to empowering people through Individual Placement and Support (IPS), ensuring sustainable paid work aligned with their preferences.
This is your chance to be part of something remarkable—an opportunity to contribute to an established IPS service operating across six local authority areas in Southwest London. CGL is delivering this expanded provision in collaboration with partners across Merton, Croydon, Kingston, Sutton, Wandsworth, and Richmond and we are looking for an Employment Specialist to assistus with maternity cover.
As an IPS Access to Employment Specialist, you\’ll lead this groundbreaking effort, developing project management, stakeholder engagement, and implementation skills. Extensive training and ongoing support will be provided to ensure your success.
Where: Merton, South London
Salary: £29,529.80 – £32,002.35 pro rata dependent on experience (based on full time hours, pro rata for part time)
Allowances: £4,133.14 Inner London Weighting, pro rata
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 per week
Contract Type: Fixed Term until the 8th of May 2026
Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.
Responsibilities
Service Overview:
In this role, you\’ll manage a caseload of 25 individuals receiving structured treatment for drug and/or alcohol use, helping them secure sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences.
You\’ll deliver the IPS employment support approach, offering person-centered advice and guidance while fostering positive relationships with local employers to create employment opportunities.
Your focus will be on helping clients sustain their employment while working collaboratively with treatment service staff to identify potential referrals and provide integrated support leading to job acquisition and retention.
IPS is a fundamental commitment in the Government’s Drug Strategy, revolutionising employment support in all treatment services in England. This evidence-based model ensures service users secure preference-led paid work, significantly more effective than any other support.
Join us and play a pivotal role in setting up this integrated service.
You\’ll collaborate closely with key stakeholders to promote the service across the Merton borough, primarily based in one of our London services.
About You:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent work experience
- Strong communication skills for effective relationship building
- Proficient in team management and support strategies
- Aptitude in data collection and reporting for IPS services
- Dedication to assisting individuals secure paid employment
- Proven ability to connect with individuals, especially those affected by substance misuse
What We Offer:
- 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays. Additionally, you\’ll receive one extra day of annual leave for each year of service during your first five years, therefore you will enjoy 30 days of leave after five years with us.
- 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
- Refer a friend scheme with generous vouchers 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 profound difference in people\’s lives.
Please review the attached Job Description and Role Specifics for a detailed outline of responsibilities and Person Specification.
Direct applications only — we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy.
Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions. More information about eligible roles and occupations can be found here:Skilled Worker visa: Overview – GOV.UK
Close early
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Salary Range (pro rata if part time)
CGL points 25 to 28 (£29,529.80 – £32,002.35)
ILW / OLW /Fringe
Inner London Weighting (£4,133.14)
Closing Date
11/8/2025
If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details:
Suzanne Morgan | suzanne.morgan@cgl.org.ukThis post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Employment Specialist (Individual Placement and Support) employer: Change Grow Live
Contact Detail:
Change Grow Live Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Employment Specialist (Individual Placement and Support)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. Understanding its principles and how it effectively supports individuals in their recovery journey will help you demonstrate your passion and knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of employment support and substance misuse recovery. Attend relevant workshops or seminars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about best practices, which can give you an edge in discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the local authorities mentioned in the job description. Understanding the specific challenges and opportunities within Merton, Croydon, Kingston, Sutton, Wandsworth, and Richmond will allow you to tailor your approach and show your commitment to the community.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience in building relationships with employers. Think of examples where you've successfully created job opportunities for others, as this is a key aspect of the role and will highlight your suitability for the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Employment Specialist (Individual Placement and Support)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and requirements of the Employment Specialist position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role.
Craft a Compelling CV: Ensure your CV is up-to-date and clearly outlines your relevant experience, particularly in employment support or working with individuals facing challenges. Use bullet points for clarity and focus on achievements that demonstrate your impact.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: Your cover letter should express your passion for helping individuals secure employment and your understanding of the IPS model. Share specific examples of how you've successfully supported others in similar roles.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasise your communication, relationship-building, and data management skills in both your CV and cover letter. These are crucial for the role, so provide concrete examples of how you've applied these skills in past positions.
How to prepare for a job interview at Change Grow Live
✨Understand the IPS Model
Familiarise yourself with the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. Be prepared to discuss how this evidence-based approach can help individuals secure sustainable employment, especially those affected by substance misuse.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As an Employment Specialist, strong communication is key. Prepare examples of how you've built relationships in previous roles, particularly with stakeholders or clients, to demonstrate your ability to connect with individuals.
✨Highlight Relevant Experience
Be ready to discuss your experience managing caseloads or working in similar support roles. Share specific instances where you successfully helped someone achieve their employment goals, showcasing your dedication to assisting individuals.
✨Prepare Questions for the Interviewers
Think of insightful questions to ask about the role and the team at Change Grow Live. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you understand how you can contribute to their mission effectively.
