Advanced Recovery Practitioner (Employment Specialist)

IPS Grow; Bristol; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health service in Bristol is seeking an Advanced Recovery Practitioner to join their employment support team. This role focuses on helping individuals with substance use issues prepare for, secure, and sustain employment. Candidates should have experience in employment support or related fields, with skills in relationship building and employer engagement. The position offers a permanent contract with a salary range of £29,244 – £33,880 based on experience.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering employment support or transferable skills from customer service, recruitment, or charity work.
• Ability to influence others and build relationships.
• Strong understanding of the local labour market.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of employment specialists.
• Work closely with local organisations and employers.
• Integrate IPS employment support into treatment.

Skills

Building relationships

Employer engagement

Delivering employment support

Community insight

Job description

Advanced Recovery Practitioner (Employment Specialist)

Bristol | Turning Point

Permanent contract

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our new Bristol service, Horizons, as part of a specialist employment team using the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) model

Deadline: 18th December 2025

• South West
• Full-time

Job overview

This service is a vibrant partnership delivering substance use treatment and recovery services across Bristol.

Turning Point has partnered with Bristol Drugs Project to ensure continued local expertise whilst bringing a fresh approach, alongside seven other local and national providers: The Nelson Trust, Hawkspring, One 25, Southmead Development Trust, Southmead Project, Wellspring Settlement and Release.

Our partnership draws upon long-standing experience of delivering substance use services in Bristol and nationally, with specialist knowledge of diverse local communities and the kind of community insight that only comes from working at a truly local level.

Role

As an Advanced Recovery Practitioner (IPS employment Specialist), you’ll have the chance to make a real difference to the lives of people experiencing difficulties with drug and alcohol use, working directly with them to help them prepare for, secure and sustain employment.

The salary scale for our Advanced Recovery Practitioner roles is between £29,244 – £33,880. See our full salary scale below. Starting salary will be dependant on experience with annual pay progression up to scale point 5.

Salary scale:

• £29,244
• £30,414
• £31,325
• £32,576
• £33,880

You will hold a caseload of 25 people in substance use treatment who would like help to find work.

A key part of the role is proactive employer engagement. You will approach employers, build new relationships, identify vacancies, negotiate adjustments, and create opportunities that match client strengths and preferences. You will be expected to develop a strong understanding of the local labour market and represent the service confidently with businesses of all sizes.

You will have experience of delivering employment support or transferable experience from another sector where you have had to influence others, build relationships, or sell an idea or service: for example: recruitment, sales, customer service, community roles, supported housing, probation, or charity work.

Internally, you will work closely with managers and staff across the Horizons service, and with partners in the wider Bristol substance use system, to ensure that IPS employment support is fully integrated into treatment and that appropriate referrals are received into the service.

Responsibilities

As IPS Team Leader in Horizons Bristol service, you will manage a team of employment specialists workers holding caseloads of substance using clients in treatment who would like help to find employment.

You will have experience in the delivery of specialist employment services and a passion for making a difference to the lives of the people we support. Partnership working will play an important role in your day‑to‑day work and you will have experience in building and maintaining excellent relationships with local organisations/employers to support the work of your team.

Internally you will work closely with other managers and staff from teams across the Horizons service, and the wider Bristol substance use system, to ensure the IPS service is fully integrated into the service and is receiving necessary volumes of referrals.