Connect to Work Lead Employment Specialist in Daventry

We reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role. An IPS Team Leader in the Connect to Work programme will lead the team to provide intensive, personalised, employment-focused support to people with complex barriers, working collaboratively across health, employment, and community settings. The role is dynamic, relationship based, and highly impactful, helping clients achieve lifechanging outcomes through meaningful employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and supervise a team of IPS Employment Specialists, ensuring high performance and adherence to IPS fidelity standards, hold a caseload of clients.
• Provide regular 1:1 supervision, reflective practice sessions, and strengths-based coaching.
• Oversee referrals, flow, and allocation of participants across the team.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with health, community, and employer stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting, data integrity, and compliance with programme requirements.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of the service.
• Conduct vocational profiling, identifying skills, aspirations, and employment goals.
• Develop personalised action plans, supporting job search, CV writing, applications, interview preparation, and career planning.
• Assess clients’ support needs, including: Travel planning, Benefits and welfare advice, Disclosure support around health conditions, Budgeting and “better-off” calculations.
• Provide in-work support to help clients sustain roles, including frequent early-job check-ins and long-term follow-up.
• Support clients at risk of job loss due to ill health, helping them maintain employment.
• Source job opportunities.
• Promote the service to employers and negotiate reasonable adjustments and phased returns.
• Maintain ongoing contact with employers to support job retention and resolve employment challenges.
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusive employment practices.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including Primary Care, training providers, mental health teams, DWP, and referral partners.
• Build relationships that generate referrals and strengthen community-based employment support networks.
• Maintain accurate case notes, progress reports, and CRM-based documentation.
• Work to IPS fidelity standards and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of client outcomes.
• Collect feedback from service users to support continuous service improvement.
• Work independently, reliably, and consistently to deliver high-quality IPS practice.
• Ability to analyse team performance data and take action.
• Ability to build relationships with clinical partners and community stakeholders.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Qualifications and Specific Training

• GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics (essential).
• Level 2 IT Qualification, such as ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) (essential).
• Full UK driving licence (often required due to community‑based work) (essential).
• Willingness to undertake IPS‑specific training (e.g., IPS Grow training, Fidelity training) (essential).
• First Aid at Work Certificate (desirable).
• IOSH Health and Safety Qualification (desirable).
• Level 4 qualification or above in a relevant field (e.g., IAG, Health & Social Care, Employability, Psychology, Social Sciences) (desirable).

• Experience supervising, coaching, or leading staff in employability, health, social care, or similar people‑support settings (essential).
• Experience managing performance against targets (essential).
• Experience building relationships with external partners (e.g., clinicians, employers, community organisations) (essential).
• Experience supporting vulnerable people or individuals with complex barriers to employment (essential).
• Experience working in fast‑paced, target‑driven environments (essential).
• Experience supporting individuals to achieve goals, ideally in employment, skills, health, or social care settings (essential).
• Experience engaging with employers or supporting clients into work (essential).
• Experience delivering IPS services or working within IPS principles (desirable).
• Experience running reflective practice or strengths‑based supervision (desirable).
• Experience managing multi‑stakeholder relationships across health and employment systems (desirable).
• Experience supporting quality audits or compliance frameworks (desirable).
• Skills for Life awareness (desirable).
• Knowledge of the local labour market (desirable).
• Understanding and awareness for clients with multiple and complex difficulties (desirable).

• Understanding of IPS principles and evidence‑based practice (training provided) (essential).
• Knowledge of barriers to employment and how to support people with mental health conditions, disabilities, health inequalities, or complex needs (essential).
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, data protection, and confidentiality (essential).
• Awareness of local labour markets, employer needs, and recruitment practices (essential).
• Understanding of performance management and quality assurance processes (essential).
• Knowledge of the IPS Fidelity Scale and implementation standards (desirable).
• Understanding of primary care, social prescribers, community mental health teams, or other relevant health pathways (desirable).
• Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and inclusive recruitment practices (desirable).

• The ability to work under pressure in a highly performance driven organisation (essential).
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop staff (essential).
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation) (essential).
• Ability to analyse performance data and take appropriate action to improve outcomes (essential).
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities (essential).
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with employers, clinicians, and community partners (essential).
• Ability to resolve problems creatively and support staff through challenges (essential).
• High attention to detail with strong documentation and reporting skills (essential).
• Confident using CRM systems, digital tools, and Microsoft Office applications (essential).
• Ability to deliver training or group facilitation (desirable).
• Coaching or mentoring skills (formal or informal) (desirable).
• Conflict resolution and managing difficult conversations (desirable).

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, ethnic or social origin, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, reasonable adjustments can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Please get in contact with recruitment@acorntraining.co.uk to discuss alternative options you may require, or alternative application methods.

Job Benefits

• Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant.
• Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days.
• Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing.
• Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications.
• Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers.
• Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge.
• Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces.
• Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives.
• Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards.
• £500 Recommend a friend scheme.