At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals in recovery to find and retain meaningful employment.
- Company: Join a dedicated team at Inclusion, part of MPFT, making a real difference.
- Benefits: Comprehensive wellbeing support, in-house training, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to collaborate with various local services and employers.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on people's lives while helping them achieve their employment goals.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting individuals with employment needs and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 29903 - 36549 £ per year.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn.
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist to cover the following area – Stafford & Cannock! IPS (Individual Placement and Support) is an evidence-based approach to helping people within recovery find and keep a paid job. The IPS worker will be working with people who are within the STaRS service and support them into competitive employment and then enabling them to retain that employment. As an IPS worker, you will be looking for paid employment opportunities for clients who are currently involved with drug and/or alcohol recovery. This will involve developing opportunities with local employers and supporting them as well as the client, to ensure the right person is in the right job.
You will support service users within the service as part of their team to gain, return to or retain employment. The role will involve working directly with Recovery Coordinators, care coordinators, JobCentre Plus, employers, trade unions, world of work and employment agencies to keep people in employment and secure employment opportunities. You will work closely with practitioners in Staffordshire and in partnership with specialist services and other primary and secondary care services serving Staffordshire. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the vocational outcomes of people accessing our services.
Inclusion, created in 2002, is part of the Specialist Services Care Group of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT). We provide caring and effective services across England, including West Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, West Mercia, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Thurrock, Essex. We support individuals, families and communities who are affected by addiction, crime, mental health or need treatment for their sexual health. We believe that the individuals and families who use our services should receive high quality, committed and inclusive care, realising all the benefits a modern NHS organisation can provide. We work with patients and our staff teams to achieve the best outcomes we can. We invest heavily in training and development, and the wellbeing of our people, both staff and service users is central to who we are. Here at MPFT, we are proud of the comprehensive wellbeing and lifestyle support offer available, in addition to in-house training and coaching support. Our services are robustly governed, evidence-based, inclusive, and designed and provided in conjunction with service users. We are committed to providing the best service we can, and if you share our values, we want you on our team!
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details, a summary is below:
- To manage a caseload of people who have experienced drug and alcohol health problems using STaRS and who wish to retain, return to or regain meaningful employment.
- The ES workload will be led by and focused on the aspirations of the service user as part of a package of care.
- Conduct an assessment of employment needs and consider their strengths, difficulties and employment assets in order to offer the most effective support, which must include the person’s job goals and any concerns regarding their capacity for work and previous work experience, making accurate recommendations.
- Match job tasks and the individual’s ability to do the job and any work solutions that may be required to develop the match.
- Offer the service user support agreeing a written action plan with the person detailing the steps to be taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriate support route.
- The action plan should also be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound).
- The ES will develop in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the client to broker effective interventions, including specialist schemes to help with retaining or finding employment.
IPS Employment Specialist in Stafford employer: Inclusion Services
Inclusion is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals recovering from addiction and mental health challenges. Located in Stafford & Cannock, we offer a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional development, ensuring our staff have access to comprehensive training and lifestyle support. Join us to be part of a passionate team committed to delivering high-quality care and empowering service users to achieve their employment goals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IPS Employment Specialist in Stafford
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Inclusion Services.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Inclusion Services!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Inclusion Services, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Inclusion Services or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace IPS Employment Specialist in Stafford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Inclusion Services:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Inclusion Services! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Inclusion Services
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
