IPS Employment Specialist

For over three decades, we have been dedicated to supporting individuals and employers across the UK. As a nationwide market leader, we have assisted over 13,000 people in the past year alone to retrain, embark on new career paths, or establish their own businesses. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach helps individuals with health support needs find sustainable paid employment that aligns with their preferences. Within primary care networks, you\’ll manage a caseload, employing IPS methods to offer personalised guidance to clients and build relationships with referral partners and local employers, facilitating suitable job placements. Your role in the multidisciplinary team emphasises fostering holistic recovery through employment. Successful candidates will not only join a supportive environment but will also receive comprehensive employability training, ensuring they\’re well‑equipped to excel in this role and make a meaningful impact within our team.

What you’ll do

• Manage a caseload of up to 25 clients who have health support needs and are motivated to start or return to work
• Deliver the IPS approach after training is provided
• Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations, and goals through 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
• Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job searches and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities
• Once employment has been secured, continue to provide quality service through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in‑work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment
• Work with employers to promote the service, identify job opportunities and ensure appropriate strategies are in place to reduce barriers in the workplace – this can include exploring “job carving” (i.e., carving small slices of work from the duties other staff do not have time to do)
• Develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who can help individuals to achieve their employment goals. This may include local colleges and training providers

Qualifications

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience
• Desirable – trained in IPS approach
• An understanding of the employment needs and challenges faced by people who experience health difficulties
• Experience and understanding of working with people with health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector
• Natural ability to build close, trusting, and productive relationships with people
• Ability to work independently and use initiative to develop and promote a service
• Clean driving licence and full‑time access to a car as this role requires travel
• Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and a Disability Confident Employer. A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. In certain recruitment situations such as higher‑volume, seasonal and high‑peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non‑disabled people. For more details please go to the website.

Benefits

• CPD – Broad range of internal training to enhance your knowledge and skills
• Generous pension scheme, with the option to opt out
• Company health plan subject to successful completion of probation period
• 25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
• 5–10 sick days per year paid

Standguide is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and value the diversity of our staff and customers. We thrive on creating positive working relationships, free from discrimination. Join us at Standguide and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact on individuals\’ lives and businesses nationwide.