Service Manager in Plymouth

Are you passionate about recovery, employment and improving outcomes for people with mental health needs?

Deadline: 6th September 2026

• South West
• Full-time

Job overview

Livewell Southwest is seeking an experienced and motivated Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Service Manager to lead and develop our IPS service across community mental health pathways and recovery inpatient services. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a well-established service that helps people access and sustain meaningful employment as part of their recovery journey. The role will lead the delivery of the IPS service, oversee performance and outcomes, manage a team of IPS professionals, and ensure employment support is fully integrated within mental health services.

“please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility”

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity

Role

As Service Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing the strategic vision and business plan for the service, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, high-fidelity IPS model in line with IPS Grow standards. You will provide leadership and supervision to Team Leaders and Employment Specialists, support service development and transformation, manage performance against key targets and outcomes, and use data and intelligence to drive continuous improvement. You will also play a key role in developing partnerships with community mental health teams, employers, education providers, commissioners, DWP colleagues and voluntary sector organisations to ensure people receive the support they need to achieve their employment goals.

We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong understanding of the Individual Placement and Support model, experience of managing teams and services, and a commitment to recovery-focused practice. The successful candidate will possess excellent communication, leadership and partnership-working skills, alongside the ability to influence service development across organisational boundaries. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of employment support within mental health services and make a real difference to the lives of people across Plymouth and the surrounding area.

All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the IPS service and team to ensure delivery of employment support aligned to service objectives and expected outcomes.

Monitor and manage service performance, including referrals, access, and employment outcomes, to ensure targets are achieved and areas for improvement are identified and addressed.

Develop and embed IPS within community mental health teams and wider pathways to improve access to employment support and integration with clinical care.

Analyse service data and performance information to inform decision-making and implement service improvements.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams and external partners to support service delivery and development.

Contribute to service development, planning and transformation activity to improve quality, access and outcomes.

Ensure the service operates in line with organisational policies, governance requirements, and safeguarding responsibilities.

Lead, implement and ensure the service is compliant with IPS Grow audit standards and monitoring and implementation of these.

Responsibility for People Management

Line manage IPS staff, including recruitment, supervision, appraisal and performance management, to ensure staff are supported to deliver high-quality services.

Provide leadership, guidance and development opportunities to build capability and maintain a skilled workforce.

Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

Monitor and manage service resources to ensure effective and efficient use in line with service requirements.

Budget holder for the service responsible for the management and financial planning processes of the service budget.

Responsibility for administration

Ensure accurate and timely recording of service activity and performance data to support reporting and governance requirements.

Plan and organise service delivery, training, workforce activity and reporting processes in accordance with Livewell Southwest standards and IPS Grow model fidelity.

Responsibility for people who use our services

Ensure delivery of a service that supports individuals with mental health needs to access and sustain employment.

Promote recovery-focused and person-centred approaches within service delivery.

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

Implement organisational policies and procedures within the service to ensure safe and effective practice.

Contribute to the development and implementation of service improvements and new ways of working.

Other Responsibilities

Ensure effective use and management of information systems and data in line with information governance requirements.

Contribute and undertake audit, evaluation and service review activity to support continuous improvement.

Policy holder and author for the service policy and standards for IPS.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff, managers, clinicians and external partners to support service delivery.

Communicate complex service information, including performance and improvement plans, in a clear and accessible way.

Chair and contribute to meetings, providing updates and ensuring appropriate escalation of risks and issues.

Chair organisation IPS meetings with key stakeholders including executive team membership to ensure the organisation meets its IPS Grow commitments

Produce written reports and documentation to support service monitoring and decision making.

Please see attcahed full Job Descprtion and Person Specification