DDN Magazine April 2023 DDN April_2023 | Page 8

INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE

CAREERS

A Cornish employment scheme promises a brighter 2023 for scores of people recovering from drug and alcohol issues , as they carve out new careers , says Vicki Eslick

ON THE CAREER PATH

Getting a job or starting a career is , to most people , a rite of passage after school or university . However , for many people struggling with overcoming alcohol or drug dependency it can feel like an impossible achievement .

Individuals who have had periods of their lives where they have been reliant on drugs or alcohol or are in recovery will often have large gaps in their CVs . Others will have had issues with attendance or even being able to carry out their role as they tried to hide their drug or alcohol use , and may well have left a job without notice or been asked to leave . This can also result in them having difficulties getting a reference from their employer .
These CV gaps can be compounded by struggles with other issues that may have caused them to self-medicate in the first place – PTSD , trauma , and abusive relationships can all mean holding down a steady job becomes impossible .
In Cornwall , however , more than 100 people are now on a career path , with a third in employment , thanks to WithYou ’ s dedicated individual placement support ( IPS ) team . This aims to support more than 200 people in 2023 with at least 30 per cent of service users moving into suitable employment opportunities . The key to achieving this target is engaging employers from all industries in the county and opening up even more job opportunities .
Employment support is a vital part in the recovery process for many people , and the role it plays shouldn ’ t be underestimated . WithYou introduced IPS in Cornwall in April 2022 to help people who wanted to get back into employment and fulfil their personal aspirations . With support from local organisations , our team has successfully placed 30 people in employment already , with many more at different stages of the programme .
Navigating the job market can be especially challenging for individuals after recovery ,
as stigma can create additional barriers and make it harder to approach potential employers . But we work closely with them to get started . We empower all of our service users to follow their passions , give them confidence , and bring out their skills . We don ’ t just ask them to go for the first job that comes along , but we are keen to ensure that whatever role they take on is satisfying , rewarding , and gives them a sense of purpose . But we recognise that we can only support people on this mission thanks to the progressive organisations that have signed up . The organisations that we work with are not only opening up opportunities for our service users , but benefitting from a wide pool of talent and cognitive diversity that enriches their organisations . There ’ s also a dedicated IPS support person on hand to help ensure the process runs smoothly .
If your organisation is interested in finding out if the IPS programme is right for your business , or you would like more information , please visit : https ://
Navigating the job market can be especially challenging for individuals after recovery , as stigma can create additional barriers and make it harder to approach potential employers .
ipsgrow . org . uk / or contact Michelle Woodward who would be happy to answer any questions you may have : michelle . woodward @ wearewithyou . org . uk
Vicki Eslick is an employment specialist at WithYou

INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE

Cornish businesses and organisations like Cornwall Council , who came on board immediately , are vital to the success of the IPS programme . Mark , who is a lived experience support worker at Cornwall Council , found his new part-time job with the help of WithYou ’ s IPS scheme . Mark has struggled with a long-term reliance on painkillers , which exacerbated issues with his relationship and contributed to him being homeless for a while . Through support from WithYou , he got his life back on track and found a full-time job , but retired in 2021 after struggling with COVID . He missed work and feeling valued , however , so his WithYou support worker referred him to IPS .
‘ As one of the largest employers in the county it ’ s vital that we not only recognise talent that is available , but also lead the way in providing routes back into work for all ,’ says complex needs strategy manager at Cornwall Council , Mary Greener . ‘ Mark brings a lot of warmth to his role – he ’ s a genuinely caring and inclusive person and is very popular in the team . He is also very creative and a really talented musician and artist . We are supporting him in setting up music and art workshops to support people leaving drug rehab . He also helps us deliver workshops to staff and visits the homeless “ pods ” every week to support residents . Mark is a valued and valuable member of the team , and his lived experiences make him the ideal person to carry out his job . Our team is all the better for having Mark in it .’
‘ I remember meeting Vicki , WithYou ’ s employment specialist ,’ says Mark . ‘ She has been brilliant , really supportive . She has made me feel that something is actually happening , that I ’ m not just sitting here being dormant . She helped me to update my CV and look at other options that I wouldn ' t normally consider , simply because I didn ' t think I would be any good at them . I feel that she has had more faith in me than I have , she has definitely placed more value on me than I ever have done . It ' s like she ’ s helped to fill the gap that was in me .’
8 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • APRIL 2023 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM