IPS Employment Specialist in Leeds

Are you passionate about mental health, recovery, and the power of meaningful work? At Leeds Mind, we believe employment is a vital part of mental health recovery—and we’re looking for someone like you to help make that happen.As part of our WorkPlace Leeds team, you’ll deliver personalised, one-to-one support to people accessing secondary mental health services, helping them find and sustain employment that aligns with their goals and strengths. You’ll work collaboratively with clinical teams, employers, and community partners to challenge stigma and build inclusive workplaces across Leeds.

WorkPlace Leeds, a core part of Leeds Mind, provides specialist, community-based mental health employment support across the city, following the Individual Placement and Support
(IPS) model. We believe that employment is a vital part of mental health recovery. Our service helps individuals to find or sustain meaningful work, maintain relationships, contribute to their communities, and reduce loneliness and isolation. Support is delivered through a combination of one-to-one sessions and multi-disciplinary collaboration, ensuring a holistic and person-centred approach.
We have faith and optimism in the people who access our services and so delivery is built around their needs. We support the people of Leeds West Yorkshire to discover their own resources to ‘recover’ from periods of poor mental health, and to live life independently with their mental health difficulties. Our values of Being Open, Supportive, Brave, Connected and Resourceful are pivotal to the work we do.

Role

The purpose of the role is to provide an IPS employment support service in line with Leeds Mind values to individuals who are
accessing secondary mental health services in Leeds.
You will be required to manage a caseload of clients who have experienced mental health difficulties and who are either unemployed or seeking to return to current employment following long term absence. You will be expected to deliver the IPS approach (according to the key principles of IPS).
You will work with all relevant stakeholders, including employers, to support the client to gain and retain paid employment.
We encourage all interested candidates to watch an introductory video which describes the impact of being an IPS Employment Specialist. Follow this link to the video – Transform Lives Through
Employment – IPS – 2024 (youtube.com)

Responsibilities

• This role is ideal for a proactive, client-focused individual passionate about supporting people with mental health challenges in achieving their employment goals.
• Support individuals with moderate and enduring mental health difficulties to secure and/or retain meaningful employment, in line with their career aspirations and abilities.
• Manage a caseload of approx. 20 clients, tracking progress, providing regular feedback, and ensuring timely interventions to meet employment goals.
• Develop personalised action plans to help clients identify job goals, overcome barriers, and prepare for job search and interviews.
• Engage in regular employer outreach, including cold calling, networking, and face-to-face meetings, to create a network of supportive workplaces.
• Build and maintain employer relationships to identify job opportunities, promote the benefits of employing individuals with mental health challenges, challenge the stigma of mental health in the workplace, and provide ongoing support to both employer and employee.
• Conduct one-to-one job coaching and provide advice on CV writing, job Conduct one-to-one job coaching and provide advice on CV writing, job applications, interview techniques, safely disclosing mental health in the workplace, reasonable adjustments in the workplace, wellness action plans, and in work support to retain suitable posts.
• Work in close collaboration with clinical teams and other professionals to ensure a holistic, ‘wrap around’ approach to employment support, as well as promoting awareness of our approach to these teams. This will include regular community co-location and regular attendance to multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of client interactions, employer engagements, and employment outcomes, ensuring compliance with data protection policies and our fidelity quality guidelines.
• Deliver ongoing in-work support to help clients sustain employment, addressing any issues related to mental health or job performance.
• Monitor and evaluate client progress and adapt support plans accordingly, with a focus on achieving long-term employment sustainability.

The person

• GSCE English and Maths (or equivalent) at grade C/4 or above)
• Basic knowledge and/or awareness of the barriers faced, and support required for people experiencing mental health difficulties in the workplace.
• Basic understanding of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, Children and Young People
• Basic understanding of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model or other supported employment approaches.

Skills:

• Basic level of IT skills, inc. use of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage a caseload, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines / targets.
• Empathy and sensitivity when working with individuals experiencing mental health difficulties, maintaining a non-judgemental and supportive approach.
• Initiative to network and engage with employers (or stakeholders).
• Problem-solving skills with a solution-focused mindset, able to help clients overcome barriers to employment and empower them to gain employment that matches their aspirations and experience.
• Communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and engage effectively with clients, employers, and clinical teams.

Experience:

• Experience in a similar role supporting individuals with mental health conditions or disabilities.
• Experience of delivering support in a performance-driven environment, meeting specific outcome targets.

Behavioural:
*Lives our values every day – Being Open, Supportive, Brave, Connected, and Resourceful

• Open to change and able to work flexibly in line with the needs of the service/organisation
• Commitment to working in partnership with service users, management, and staff.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by people experiencing mental health difficulties
• Demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity in the workplace
• Commitment to safeguarding clients and others you may encounter as part of your role.

To see the desirable criteria, go to the full job description on our website