Job overview

At Via, we believe that recovery from substance misuse is about more than treatment, it’s about rebuilding lives. That’s why our award-winning IPS Into Work team is dedicated to helping people find meaningful employment that supports their long-term wellbeing.

The Service

We’re proud to deliver IPS (Individual Placement and Support) a proven, evidence-based model that helps people with mental health and/or substance use challenges achieve their employment goals.

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what some of our clients have said:

“I had been drifting and my confidence had sunk… IPS helped change my life.”

“I got the help I was looking for… I found work after 17 years of being unemployed.”

If you want to learn more about what a career is like working in IPS, see this link – Why work in IPS? – IPS Grow

Location

Our IPS Via services work across West London, Islington and Surrey. The location will be dependent on what bank or sessional opportunities that we have available. All reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. There will be a hybrid approach to working, however high visual presence is needed in these roles.

To see the generous range of benefits we offer at Via including 30 days annual leave for all new starters, our health and wellbeing initiatives, financial perks and development opportunities – visit our Benefits Package

For an informal chat about the role please contact Harj Bansil, IPS Service Manager via harj.bansil@viaorg.uk

We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. We will inform shortlisted candidates of the next steps in the process. Please submit your application as soon as possible.

Via welcomes enquiries from everyone, and we value diversity in our workplace. Our commitment to promoting diversity and developing a workplace environment where all staff are treated with dignity and respect is central to our recruitment process.

We’re a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. We offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for our jobs, please confirm in the personal statement part of our application form that you are applying under this scheme.

Appointment to all our posts are subject to satisfactory completion of our safeguarding checks including DBS and we follow safer recruiting principles.

Please email people@viaorg.uk if you have any recruitment enquiries or if you require this documentation in an accessible format.

Role

Employment can be a powerful part of someone’s recovery journey. As an IPS Employment Specialist, you’ll be a key part of that transformation—helping people rediscover purpose, confidence, and independence through work.

Every day is different, but your impact will be consistent. You’ll:

  • Provide one-to-one, tailored employment support to people in recovery.
  • Work closely with clinical teams, support workers, and community partners to ensure a joined-up approach.
  • Build relationships with local employers to create inclusive job opportunities.
  • You don’t need to be an expert in recovery; we’ll provide full training.

Responsibilities

  • To pro-actively seek referrals for the service through a broad range of stakeholders.
  • Regularly meeting with service users to listen and help them identify their best job match, reflecting their skills and aspirations.
  • Producing a Vocational Profile and Action Plan for each service user to help them gain and sustain paid employment.
  • Supporting service users with managing their health at work, with input from the wider health team.
  • Assessing each service users’ work-related support needs, offering benefits advice, and helping them develop a personal Information plan.
  • To play a part in changing the belief culture and raising expectations as to the ability of individuals to gain and retain meaningful, paid employment.
  • To create and develop relationships with a range of employers with a focus on the hidden job market.
  • To work towards a high-quality service in line with ‘Fidelity’ quality framework.
  • Ensure accurate recording and data collection always takes place.
  • To provide support through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in-work engagement for clients and employers.
  • Supporting employers, including negotiating workplace adjustments, developing a return-to-work strategy, and ensuring ongoing job retention.

The person

We welcome people from a range of backgrounds and with all kinds of life experience, but here’s what we’d like you to have:

  • Passion for and understanding of working with substance misuse services or with other socially excluded or vulnerable groups.
  • Experience of working with people on a one-to-one basis, offering motivation and support.
  • Belief that all service users can enter and retain paid employment.
  • A strong and adaptable communication style with excellent verbal and written skills including record keeping and report writing.
  • Demonstratable experience of building effective relationships with people from differing backgrounds.
  • Great team working, and interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrating a highly cooperative approach to supporting colleagues and the whole team to deliver Service objectives, as well as in communicating with key stakeholders.
  • Demonstrable commitment to working in partnership with other professionals such as criminal justice agencies, community groups and other stakeholders to achieve good outcomes for our service users.
  • Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office programs and digital meeting platforms and systems.
  • Responsibilities for all Via staff
  • To work within the Via values of Care, Be human and Do the right thing. Support and collaborate with all colleagues and engage with the wider organisation.
  • To promote and deliver positive, inclusive and anti-discriminatory practices in line with Via policies, professional and sector requirements, and legislative frameworks.
  • To act on all Safeguarding concerns so that all statutory and organisational Safeguarding responsibilities are met and that all learning is shared.
  • To observe professional integrity and candour at all times and with all people.
  • To comply with all organisational policies and procedures including GDPR and all Health and Safety policy and guidance, taking responsibility for your own safety and contributing to that of colleagues and others as applicable.
  • To regularly participate in one-to-one / supervision sessions, objective setting and review, training, practice and learning forums.
  • A commitment to learning and to continuously improve everyone’s knowledge and skills.
  • To work flexibly to enable the delivery of effective services. This may include flexibility across sites or flexible hours and any other duties that may reasonably be required of you within your role.