Employment Advisor

Employment Advisor

(IPS Employment Specialist)
Location: Blackburn.
Salary: £29,718
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract until 31/03/2027

About Us

At The Calico Group, our purpose is clear: to make a real difference to people's lives. Whether supporting individuals in recovery, helping communities thrive, or enabling employees to grow, we are committed to creating opportunities that transform lives.

We embrace diversity in all its forms and take pride in employing a workforce that reflects the rich and varied communities we serve. Your skills and experiences could make all the difference. Join us and be part of something extraordinary.

Calico Enterprise is a values-led company, investing in local communities where everyone can thrive through innovation, strength and collaboration. Alongside all other parts of the Group, we share a common purpose: to make a real difference to people's lives.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an Employment Advisor (IPS Employment Specialist) to support people accessing drug and alcohol recovery services to move into meaningful, sustainable paid employment. Based and operates in Blackburn with Darwen.

This role is based on the nationally recognised Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, which helps individuals overcome barriers to employment while supporting their recovery journey.

What will you be doing?

As an Employment Advisor, you'll work one-to-one with individuals to understand their aspirations, strengths and employment goals. You'll provide personalised support throughout their journey into work, including:

• Career exploration and job goal planning
• CV writing and application support
• Confidence building and interview preparation
• Job searching and vacancy matching
• Developing relationships with local employers
• Supporting individuals to sustain employment once they start work
• Working closely with treatment and support services as part of a wider recovery plan

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You'll spend time meeting participants, networking with employers and working alongside partner organisations to create employment opportunities.

Who would be successful in this role?

You do not need previous IPS experience to be considered.
We are keen to hear from people with transferable skills and experience from backgrounds such as:

• Employment Advisor or Employment Coach
• DWP Work Coach
• Careers Advisor
• Recruitment Consultant
• Housing Officer
• Support Worker
• Recovery Worker
• Youth Worker
• Welfare-to-Work Advisor
• Probation Services
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Customer-facing advice and guidance roles

The most important qualities are your ability to motivate others, build strong relationships, communicate effectively and support people to achieve positive outcomes.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to people's lives by helping them achieve independence, confidence and purpose through employment.

You'll join a supportive and experienced team, receive specialist IPS training and be part of an organisation that is committed to personal development, innovation and improving outcomes for local communities.

If you're passionate about helping people achieve their potential and want a career with real purpose, we'd love to hear from you.

For further information about the role, please visit the Role Profile.

What We're Looking For

We believe in recruiting for potential as well as experience. Our ideal candidate will have:

• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, as regular travel across Blackburn with Darwen and surrounding locations is an essential part of the role
• Strong written, verbal and organisational skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong networking and relationship-building abilities
• The ability to engage, motivate and build trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• A passion for supporting people to achieve positive outcomes
• A flexible and innovative approach to service delivery
• Experience within employment support, customer-focused services, health and social care, support work, recruitment, education or related sectors would be advantageous

If you share our values and are ready to grow through continuous learning, development and the support of a dedicated team, we want to hear from you!

Safeguarding and DBS Checks

The Calico Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. As this role involves working with vulnerable adults, successful candidates will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Employment will be subject to satisfactory clearance, alongside all other required pre-employment checks.