NHS IPS Team Leader in Birkenhead

Are you ready to lead a team that transforms lives through employment?

Join Standguide as an NHS IPS Team Leader and support Employment Specialists to deliver high‑fidelity IPS services, drive outstanding outcomes, and help people with mental health needs secure meaningful, sustainable work across Cheshire & Wirral.

• North West
• Full‑time
• Job overview

For over three decades, Standguide have been dedicated to supporting individuals and employers across the UK.

As a nationwide market leader, we have assisted over 13,000 people in the past year alone to retrain, embark on new career paths, or establish their own businesses.

• Role
• Contract type: Permanent
• Working hours: Full Time (37.5 hrs pw)
• Location: Cheshire & Wirral CH42

The Team Leader will manage a small team of Employment Specialists providing supervision, training, caseload management, and role modelling of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach.

The Team Leader will provide a pivotal role in managing a high‑quality service that meets fidelity standards and delivers positive outcomes for clients.

The Team Leader will work with clients (manage a small caseload) when required to assist clients in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences.

The Team Leader will support their team to be a part of an integrated service with secondary Mental Health teams, Primary Care Networks (PCN) and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) services to deliver a holistic approach in aiding recovery and increase wellbeing through employment support.

Responsibilities

• Manage a small caseload of clients diagnosed with mental health support needs who are motivated to start/return to work when required.
• Deliver and embed the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach throughout the team.
• Effectively manage a high‑quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice.
• Monitor and manage performance of the IPS Employment Specialists and Senior Employment Specialists through mentoring, observations, supervisions and as part a vocational unit.
• Set individual and team access KPI’s, job outcome and retention targets in line with contractual and fidelity requirements.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement and sharing of best practice.
• Identify training needs for staff and arrange appropriate training to support with continuous professional development.
• Support the design and delivery of in‑house staff training and development (including facilitating peer learning and best practice).
• Involve clients in co‑production of service developments where possible, supported by the Line Manager.
• Build strategic relationships with clinical/medical leaders and colleagues within secondary Mental Health, PCN and VCFSE teams to create and embed a referral process.
• Support your team to create a collaborative working partnership and integration with all referral partners promoting employment as a positive intervention in the recovery journey.
• Promotion of service to ensure zero exclusion and self‑referrals.
• Coordinate the work of Employment Specialists to build relationships with employers, effectively access the hidden labour market, external agencies and deliver job‑seeking groups.
• Provide solution‑focused monthly supervisions for each Employment Specialist within the team, including caseload management.
• Lead the team to ensure Employment Specialists spend enough time within the community, complete face‑to‑face meetings with employers and clients to find the right job match.
• Guide, mentor and coach the team to deliver on employment engagements/job development strategies.
• Ensure quality assurance around client satisfaction.
• Facilitate various feedback opportunities for clients to provide feedback on the service and use this to review and develop the service.
• The person
• Level 2 English and Maths as a minimum.
• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience.
• Trained in IPS approach.
• Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification.
• QCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3).
• Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies, and legislation in relation to employment.
• Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment.
• Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs.
• Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, Power Point, and Excel.
• 3+ years’ experience of working with people with mental health support needs, or a similar group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector.
• 2+ years’ experience working in employment services.
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets.
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time.
• Experience of staff supervision, management and/or mentoring.
• Experience of managing change effectively and facilitating innovation.
• Overseas equivalent qualifications will be accepted.

We welcome applicants with lived experience and encourage applications that reflect the relevance to the post.

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