IPS Employment Specialist; Connect

Blackpool, Lancashire | Blackpool Council

Permanent contract

Do you want to be part of a friendly and dynamic team whilst making a genuine difference in transforming people’s lives?

Deadline: 20th October 2026

• North West
• Full-time

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.

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.

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

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,…