IPS Employment Specialist in London

Work can provide far more than an income. It can bring confidence, independence, routine and a renewed sense of possibility.

As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will support people experiencing mental ill health to find and sustain paid employment that reflects their individual strengths, interests and goals.

You will use the nationally recognised Individual Placement and Support model, working closely with health and wellbeing services, local employers and community partners.

This is a frontline role where you can see the impact of your work—from a first conversation about someone’s aspirations through to their first day in a new job and the support that helps them remain there.

The real job

IPS starts from the belief that people should not have to complete lengthy programmes or prove they are “job ready” before beginning their search for work.

When someone wants to work, you help them move towards that goal quickly and ethically.

You will

• Build trust and understand each person’s skills, experience and employment preferences.
• Create an individual vocational profile and employment plan.
• Begin a rapid job search based on the person’s goals.
• Identify and approach suitable local employers.
• Match people with open, paid employment.
• Support applications, interviews and workplace preparation.
• Help individuals make informed decisions about disclosing health information.
• Work with employers to explore reasonable adjustments.
• Provide personalised in-work support after someone starts employment.
• Work alongside health, clinical and wellbeing teams.
• Track job starts, sustainment and progression.
• Maintain accurate records that meet IPS fidelity and contractual standards.

The focus is not simply finding any available job. It is finding the right opportunity, at the right time, with the right support around it.

A mobile community role

This is not a desk-based or home-based position.

You will travel throughout your assigned London area to meet participants, employers and partner services.

Meetings may take place in NHS or health settings, community venues, employer premises or workplaces.

You must be comfortable planning your diary independently and travelling daily using public or other reliable transport.

A day in the role

You may start at a health or wellbeing service, joining a discussion with clinical colleagues about referrals, wellbeing and the employment goals of people receiving support.

Your first appointment could be with someone who has been out of work because of anxiety or depression.

Rather than beginning with a generic course, you explore what they want to do, their previous experience and the type of workplace in which they could thrive.

• Contact employers about suitable vacancies.
• Make proactive approaches to businesses that do not yet know Get Set UK.
• Support someone to complete an application.
• Prepare a participant for an interview.
• Speak with an employer about reasonable adjustments.
• Visit someone who has recently started work.
• Help resolve an emerging workplace concern.
• Meet a community or health partner.
• Update vocational profiles, case records and outcome evidence.

Some days will move quickly.

On others, someone’s health may fluctuate, an employer may say no or an agreed plan may need to change.

You will remain consistent, maintain contact and keep the employment goal moving forward.

Developing relationships with employers is a central part of IPS.

You will not rely only on advertised vacancies.

You will approach local employers, learn about their recruitment needs and introduce suitable candidates based on individual preferences.

You will need to be comfortable

• Initiating conversations with employers.
• Making cold calls and visiting local businesses.
• Explaining the value of inclusive recruitment.
• Promoting an individual’s strengths without compromising confidentiality.
• Handling objections and rejection professionally.
• Building relationships that create future opportunities.
• Supporting employers after a job start.

This is relationship-led work, but it is also proactive and outcome-focused.

The parts people can underestimate

You will need to be comfortable with

• Supporting people whose mental health and confidence may fluctuate.
• Starting job search quickly rather than waiting for every barrier to disappear.
• Balancing individual choice with honest guidance about the labour market.
• Managing sensitive conversations about health, disclosure and workplace support.
• Working closely with clinical teams while remaining clear about your non-clinical role.
• Responding appropriately to safeguarding, risk or wellbeing concerns.
• Travelling across London throughout the working week.
• Managing a busy caseload and working independently in the community.
• Approaching employers and hearing “no”.
• Working towards job-start and sustainment targets.
• Maintaining detailed, accurate and fidelity-compliant records.

This role will suit someone who combines empathy with action. You must be able to build trust without becoming passive, and work at pace without cutting corners.

What you need to bring

You may have experience in

• Mental health, recovery or wellbeing services.
• Social care or community support.
• Employability or supported employment.
• Recruitment or resourcing.
• Housing, advice or case-management services.
• Employer engagement, account management or sales.
• Another role involving people, targets and relationship building.

You do not need to be a clinician or have previous IPS experience. Full training in the IPS model and fidelity requirements will be provided.

We are looking for evidence of

• Building trust with people experiencing significant barriers.
• Managing a caseload or competing priorities.
• Helping people move towards practical outcomes.
• Communicating confidently with employers and professional partners.
• Working independently while contributing to a wider team.
• Maintaining clear, accurate and confidential records.
• Remaining calm, reflective and professional under pressure.
• Taking ownership and following agreed actions through.
• What success looks like

Within your first 90 days, you should understand the IPS model, your partner services and the local employment market.

You should be building trusted relationships with participants, clinical colleagues and employers while managing an active caseload and beginning rapid job searches.

Strong performance will include

• Vocational profiles that reflect individual preferences.
• Job searches beginning promptly.
• Effective in-work support and sustained job outcomes.
• Accurate, timely and fidelity-compliant case records.
• Positive working relationships with health and community teams.

You will receive structured IPS training, management support, reflective supervision and regular feedback.

What you will get

Benefits include

• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Pension contributions.
• Employee ownership share scheme.
• GP, counselling and wellbeing support.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Headspace membership.
• Gym discounts and wellbeing rewards.
• Learning and progression opportunities.
• Enhanced benefits with service.

You will develop specialist experience in evidence-based supported employment, mental health, employer engagement and integrated community delivery.

About Get Set UK

Get Set UK helps people overcome barriers, develop skills and move into sustainable employment.

We deliver employment, skills, apprenticeship, health and justice services and are part of Palladium, a global group operating across more than 90 countries.

Our values are Ambitious, Proud, Considerate, Own It and Inspire.

In this role, that means believing that employment is possible, respecting individual choice and taking responsibility for turning aspiration into action.

Before you apply

Please review your CV carefully.

Your CV should clearly demonstrate

• The people, customers or communities you have supported.
• Your experience managing cases, priorities or outcomes.
• How you built trust and maintained professional boundaries.
• Your experience working with employers or external partners.
• Targets, outcomes or measurable improvements you achieved.
• Your ability to work independently and maintain accurate records.

We will assess both the experience you offer and how clearly you present the evidence.

Our recruitment process

The process includes

• Review of your CV and the evidence you provide.
• A conversation with our recruitment team.
• An online role assessment.
• A hiring-manager interview incorporating a realistic IPS scenario.
• Eligibility and inclusion

You must have the full right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this role.

You must be able to travel daily across your assigned London area. Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, right-to-work checks and a DBS check.

This role requires full compliance with safeguarding, confidentiality, data-security and IPS fidelity requirements.

Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disabled applicants who evidence the minimum essential criteria will be offered an interview.

Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

If you believe that people experiencing mental ill health should have access to meaningful, paid employment—and you are ready to help make it happen, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Additional information

We reserve the right to close applications early, so we encourage early applications.

Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals and are committed to supporting physical and mental wellbeing at work.

Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process if required.

This role is subject to satisfactory recruitment checks and a commitment to safeguarding learners and clients.

Get Set UK does not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies.

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