IPS Employment Specialist – Lewisham

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond. We are committed to providing high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for the care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’. We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience.

By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers. The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special. As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

To provide an effective IPS employment service for people with severe and enduring mental health conditions who want to work. To work as part of a multi-disciplinary mental health team, working alongside other mental health and social care professionals, providing joined-up mental health care. To develop partnerships with employers, local providers, and services to ensure that the employment support needs of clients are met. To work as part of the Work Well network, sharing knowledge and expertise with a range of other employment professionals across Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

Main duties of the job

• Promote the employment service to mental health professionals, service users, and carers to ensure steady referrals.
• Support clients in identifying job goals, assessing needs, and creating action plans to overcome barriers to work.
• Deliver personalised one-to-one coaching using various communication methods, including face-to-face, video, phone, email, and text.
• Engage with local employers to identify suitable job opportunities and placements.
• Challenge stigma and negative beliefs around mental health and employment.
• Maintain accurate records, session notes, and outcome evidence using electronic systems.
• Manage own caseload and time effectively, track progress toward targets, and use supervision for development.
• Stay informed about labour market trends, training opportunities, welfare changes, and employment law.
• Follow service policies and procedures, seek guidance when needed, and adapt quickly to changes to maintain quality standards.

Working for our organisation

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides the UK’s widest range of NHS mental health services, including support for substance misuse. We serve over two million people across Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, and Croydon through 230+ inpatient, outpatient, and community services. Each year, we care for over 5,000 inpatients and 45,000 community patients. We also deliver 50+ specialist services across the UK and internationally. Work Well is a network of 10 employment support services within SLaM, helping people in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark recover through meaningful employment. We believe everyone can work if they want to and should have choice and control over their career path.

Our values are:

• Person-centred: Supporting informed career decisions.
• Empowering: Providing tools for independence.
• Inspiring: Encouraging long-term career goals.

All staff are expected to uphold confidentiality, equality, health and safety, infection control, safeguarding, and professional standards. We follow NHS codes of conduct and financial procedures. Roles are reviewed regularly to reflect service needs and staff development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person specification

Qualifications / Education

• Educated to degree level or equivalent level of knowledge gained through relevant work experience.
• Training or qualification in Individual Placement and Support (IPS).
• Training or qualification in Job Retention Support.
• Accredited qualification in coaching or career guidance.

Experience

• Recent experience of supporting or coaching individuals on a one-to-one basis (in a voluntary role or paid role), verified by an employer reference.
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time.
• Experience of delivering employment advice or coaching to people who are unemployed or have a disability or mental health problem.
• Experience of engaging employers to identify job opportunities.
• Experience of delivering training courses or workshops in person or online.
• Lived experience of mental health problems or caring for someone with a mental health problem.