IPS Employment Specialist

Harrogate and Ripon | Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust

Permanent contract

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist within Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, Gold achievers of the Investors In People award. Ready to join our organisation?

Deadline: 27th July 2025

• Yorkshire & The Humber
• Full-time

Job overview

The IPS worker will be working with people who have a mental illness 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 secondary care adult mental health services. 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.

Role

• You will support clients with job searching, completing CV’s and application forms and interview preparation. Working with our clients, you will liaise and signpost to a range of employment and training programmes within the local area, to include Job Centre Plus.
• Developing your knowledge and networks of employment related support services and inclusive employers within the local area is essential to this role. Employment opportunities would include those within TEWV itself.
• This role is part of a wider employment support service, working closely with people with moderate to severe common mental health problems and their clinicians. The post holder will support service users to gain or return to competitive (paid) employment following the Individual Placement and Support process, aiming for fidelity to this delivery model.
• The role will involve working directly with Jobcentre Plus, employers, trade unions and employment agencies to secure paid employment opportunities, including supporting them and their employers to retain these opportunities for up to one year once gained.

Responsibilities

• The successful applicants will establish ongoing monitoring and support systems for clients once employment is secured. This will include review of employment gained to ensure that this is meeting both clients and employers needs. This will include offering support to employers and clients with any problems that may arise and promoting disability awareness among employers to ensure a positive integration of our clients into the workforce.
• The successful candidate will be dynamic and highly motivated, with excellent communication skills to enable you to work/engage effectively with a wide range of agencies and employers, clients and sometimes their families. Innovation, determination and ability to influence assertively are key to the success of this role.
• You will apply consistently high standards, have knowledge of relevant legislation and be willing to attend training as required. The successful candidate needs to demonstrate a strong commitment to employment and social inclusion.
• IPS supervision and clinical support from community mental health team members will be offered on a regular basis with ongoing training and development opportunities relevant to the post.
• Please refer to the job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
• Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

The person

Qualifications
Essential

• Numeracy and Literacy level 2 (or above)
• Minimum of level 4 qualification related to IPS practice e.g. Level 4 – Certificate of higher education (CertHE), higher apprenticeship, higher national certificate (HNC), level 4 award, level 4 certificate, level 4 diploma, level 4 NVQ If level 4 award (or higher) is not a health or social care related subject will complete care certificate during first 6 months of employment.
• OR A minimum of 2 years of experience in e.g. o delivering employment support o delivering health/social care support o providing coaching/advice and guidance
• Evidence of additional qualifications relevant to role
• Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service.
• Ability to deliver employment support interventions competently
• Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
• Adherence to Trust record keeping standards.
• Ability to adapt intervention using own initiative within own scope of practice.
• Ability to plan and organise a given caseload and prioritise effectively.
• Fully compliant with statutory and mandatory training.
• Completed “Doing What Works” IPS o Ability to lead a group session. training or equivalent.
• Ability to use employment related software packages/platforms.
• Demonstrate IPS and service specific competencies.
• Ability to lead a group session
• Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service
• Ability to deliver employment support interventions competently
• Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
• Adherence to Trust record keeping standards
• Ability to adapt intervention using own initiative within own scope of practice
• Ability to plan and organise a given caseload and prioritise effectively
• Fully compliant with statutory and mandatory training
• Completed “Doing What Works” IPS training or equivalent.
• Ability to use employment related software packages/platforms
• Demonstrate IPS and service specific competencies

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