Employment Specialist in Cheshire, Crewe

Salary: £31,767

Contract type: Fixed term 12 months (maternity cover)

Working hours: Full Time (37.5 hrs pw)

Location: Cheshire & Wirral

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.

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? We're looking for a dedicated Employment Specialist to support individuals with severe mental health (SMI) conditions in finding and sustaining paid employment. Using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given), you'll provide personalised guidance, build strong employer relationships, and work closely with mental health teams, Primary Care Networks (PCN), and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) services.

Join us and be part of a team that promotes recovery, wellbeing, and life-changing employment opportunities.

What you'll do:

• Manage a caseload of clients diagnosed with mental health support needs who are motivated to start/return to work.
• Deliver the IPS approach for which training will be given.
• Adhere to the 8 key IPS principles that underpin the 25-point Fidelity scale.
• 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 and supported job search 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 tailored in-work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment.
• Work with employers to promote the service, identify support needs, job opportunities and ensure appropriate strategies are in place to reduce barriers in the workplace.
• 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.
• Work independently, reliably and deliver consistently to deliver effective IPS practice within the community setting.

What you'll need:

• 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/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 car as this role requires travel.
• Overseas equivalent qualifications will be accepted. We welcome applicants with lived experience and encourage applications that reflect the relevance to the post.

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.

Join us at Standguide and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact on individuals' lives and businesses nationwide. 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. Successful candidates will be subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

For the full job description and person specification, please email Amy at recruitment@standguide.