IPS Employment Specialist: Build Futures Through Work

London boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley | South East London Mind

Permanent contract

Do you want to help people with mental health challenges build brighter futures through meaningful employment? South East London Mind is recruiting an IPS Employment Specialist to support people across the London Borough of Bromley into sustainable paid work.

• London
• Full-time

Job overview

South East London Mind is a well established and highly regarded mental health and dementia charity in South East London. Our IPS Employment Support service is designed to assist people living with mental health problems in Bromley and Greenwich to find work and live independently in the community.

Role

We are currently seeking five permanent IPS Employment Specialists in Greenwich, and one based in Bromley, to work as part of the Community Mental Health Teams and Mental Health Hub. You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given).

We welcome applications from all experience levels and backgrounds. You will need the ability to motivate and build relationships with participants, strong organisational skills, the confidence to communicate and engage with a range of employers, and a fundamental belief that anyone with a mental health condition can work.

What we’re looking for:

• Employer Engagement and Relationship Building: Ability to initiate and develop relationships with a variety of individuals and be able to engage employers using a variety of methods such as via telephone, online platforms or face‑to‑face in the community.
• Accuracy and Record Management: Strong attention to detail, ensuring accurate and timely recording of case notes and data, essential for monitoring progress and achieving targets.
• Collaboration: The ability to work seamlessly within a multidisciplinary team, forging connections and enhancing the overall care experience for participants.
• Resilience and Advocacy: The determination to overcome setbacks, find solutions, and continue advocating for participants’, even in the face of challenges.
• Innovation: Bringing fresh ideas to the table, exploring creative ways to break down employment barriers, and promoting inclusive practices within the workplace.

The successful candidates will work in line with the 25-point fidelity scale.

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of around 20-25 clients who have Mental Health support needs, who are motivated to start/return to paid work.
• Deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach for which training will be given (following the eight principles).
• Support clients through regular meetings, understand their key skills, aspirations and goals by completing a vocational profile, and produce an action plan to help them obtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques and career development.
• Assess client’s support needs related to work, which may include benefits calculation and discussions of mental health symptoms with employers.
• Attend weekly clinical team meetings with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust as an embedded IPS practitioner.
• Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job searches and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden, as well as advertised, employment opportunities.
• Provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and ongoing contact with the employer to ensure job retention.
• Once employment has been secured, continue to provide quality service through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and individual in‑work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment.
• Meet and exceed job outcome targets for clients.
• Establish positive and integrated relationships with clinical teams, employers and other service providers.

The person

Experience

• Experience of liaising/negotiating and building working relationship with employers or businesses
• Experience of proactively making initial contact with organisations
• Proven experience of working to, meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets
• Experience of working with someone on a one-to-one basis to achieve a positive outcome
• Experience of working assertively to influence decision makers

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• An understanding of the employment needs, and challenges faced by people who experience mental health difficulties
• Ability to work independently and use initiative to develop and promote a service
• Highly motivated with a genuine belief that someone with a mental health condition can find full time paid employment
• Experience of working with different data collecting tools
• Team orientated and worked collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team
• Developing a knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs
• Good motivational, communication and organisational skills
• Understanding of and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion