Individual Placement & Support Employment Specialist in Plymouth

For people who need mental health support, getting back into work is a vital step on their recovery journey. The evidence backs this up, but although 90% of people with severe mental illness want to work, only 8% of them are in paid employment. That’s why we’re looking for people to join our IPSEmployment Support Service to work with the community mental health teams, as an Employment Specialist, to champion our mission and help people who need mental health support - your clients - get back into paid work.

This is an incredibly rewarding role - you will have the opportunity to transform the lives of your clients, to give them hope, direction and support their recovery journey. This is also a challenging role, so you will need to be resilient, empathetic, and dedicated to finding clients a role that’s right for them. As a people person, you will build a good rapport with your clients, gaining a real understanding of their key skills, their aspirations and their career goals and finding them opportunities to match.

We welcome people from a range of backgrounds and with a variety of experience for this role - We’ll train you on the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) approach, giving you the tools you need to provide expert support and advice to clients, while also building positive relationships with employers, opening doors, and changing perceptions around mental health.

Main duties of the job

• In this role you will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, who are unemployed, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences.
• You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given), providing person-centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.
• This post requires meeting the employment outcomes in line with the individual and teams KPIs and to produce and collect evidence for the Fidelity Reviews.
• You will work as part of a community mental health team, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment.
• You will demonstrate excellent motivational, communication and listening skills.
• This role requires a positive mindset with the ability to motivate, engage and inspire to make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Please see job description for full details.

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.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7-day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

• The postholder will provide specialised assessment of individuals' work needs and manage the provision and a caseload of people who are referred to IPS and wish to return to, remain in or enter work for the first time.
• The postholder will also provide specialised advice, information and support to the individual's employer or learning provider as required.
• The postholder is responsible for establishing and maintaining links with relevant organisations, employers and individuals to enable people who have mental ill health to access work opportunities.
• To manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and who wish to retain, return to or regain employment, using evidence-based interventions.
• The EA work will be led by and focused on the aspirations of the service user, considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets to offer the most effective support.
• Conduct an assessment, discussing the person's job goals and any concerns regarding their capacity for work.
• Where appropriate provide help to find the right job and provide advice and support on training and also how to prepare for employer interviews.
• Aim to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.
• Provide the patient with appropriate tools to enable them to ensure that their needs are met within the workplace.
• Be aware of the impact on an individual who is experiencing mental health issues, including loss of confidence, fear of failure etc.
• Be aware that many individuals with mental health conditions may also have primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities.
• Prepare, organise and run training for employers, others in learning and work organisations and care staff about learning, work and mental health issues.
• Able to communicate clearly and persuasively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to carry out a range of evaluation and monitoring techniques.
• Skilled at developing good rapport with patients and enabling them to find their own solutions.

Person Specification

• An enhanced DBS Check will be required for this role.
• Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
• Experience of providing vocational/employment support as part of a prior role.
• Experience of supporting people with MH conditions into vocational/employment activities.
• Understanding of the employment needs, barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions.
• Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place, demonstrating specific outcomes.
• Experience of assessing, planning and facilitating activities that focus on recovery and vocational skills.
• Knowledge of employment law and the Equality Act 2010.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant area or equivalent, relevant experience in employment advice or mental health.
• Evidence of further qualification or professional CPD relating to employment, employment law, and or mental health.
• NVQ Level 4 in Advice & Guidance.
• Certificate in Coaching Skills.

Specific Skills

• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise and plan own caseload.
• Ability to assess individual strengths in relation to employment.
• Ability to adapt activities to be appropriate for the needs of an individual client.
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collect and report data to support service performance and evaluation.
• Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
• A caring, responsible and positive approach.
• Reliable, trustworthy and enthusiastic.
• Motivated and innovative.
• Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
• Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development.
• Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
• Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
• Ability to negotiate with employers on behalf of service users.
• Ability to be flexible, open and creative in problem solving.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.