IPS Employment Specialist in Brompton

At Shaw Trust we believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and an opportunity for rewarding work. We are a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility. For us being part of the solution is about creating the conditions for this to happen, advocating and delivering services that make a real difference. Working in partnership not competition, we are part of an eco‑system of purpose‑led organisations, striving for a fairer, more equal society centred on opportunity for all.

Working with clients, health professionals, service providers and employers, IPS Employment Specialists are focused on making sure a person’s journey into employment, with associated improved social inclusion and wellbeing is as easy as possible. You will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. Your role will be to 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.

You will work as part of a community mental health team and/or early intervention psychosis team or Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) team, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment. As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will need to be an able communicator, passionate about getting it right and focused on transforming individual lives through sustainable solutions. This role is a peripatetic and will work the majority of time in the community or at clinical hubs. There is no/minimal home working as part of this role. You will work with people on their individual employment journey from vocational profiling to the point where they no longer require face to face in work support.

The six key stages on a typical journey are:

• outreach/referral;
• vocational profiling;
• action planning;
• job search activities (including working on a one to one basis with employers to match people with appropriate employment);
• job placement and coordinating support whilst in employment;
• managing withdrawal of support as the in work support is no longer required.

Essential

• Trained/Knowledge of the IPS approach
• Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualifications or equivalent experience
• Experience/understanding of working with people with mental health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
• Experience of working with someone on a one-to-one basis
• Previous experience of working assertively to influence decision makers
• Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work

Location: Medway, North Kent. This is a community based role covering Medway Towns, Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester and the surrounding Areas, with occasional cover of the Dartford and Gravesend areas.

Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays), with incremental increases post 3 years’ service up to 28 days, and the option to purchase additional holiday
• 2 days paid volunteering leave each year
• An enhanced pension scheme after 6 months
• Life Assurance at 3 times your annual salary rate
• Access to a suite of learning and development opportunities including paid for apprenticeship and masters’ levels qualifications, and management development programmes
• Opportunities to connect with our employee diversity networks
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives including internal support, employee assistance programme and health cash plan

Shaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, where every employee, regardless of their background or lived experience, feels that they belong and can progress in their career. We are proud to be certified as an employer who meets the National Equality Standard, the accepted standard for inclusiveness in business across the UK. We are Disability Confident Leaders, support the guaranteed interview scheme and use of the government’s Access to Work scheme. We are proud to hold the menopause friendly accreditation, hosting a regular Menopause Peer Support Groups providing a safe space for colleagues to share experiences or ask questions. Living our values, we are keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within our organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community including from people with lived experience and/or knowledge of disability or social exclusion.

If you have accessibility requirements and/or would like further information about the role, please contact: Resourcing@shaw-trust.org.uk

Shaw Trust reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.