IPS Employment Specialist

Job overview

IPS (Individual Placement and Support) is an evidence-based approach to helping people with mental health conditions find and keep a paid job. Having a job can bring numerous benefits to people, including aiding recovery. At present, only around 8% of people receiving support from secondary mental health services are in paid employment, while studies suggest almost 90% of people with serious and enduring mental health conditions want to work.

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a number of permanent Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialists covering the following area: 1 x Merrick House, Easington. The IPS worker will be working with people who have a mental illness and support them into competitive employment and then enabling them to retain that employment. As an IPS worker you will be looking for paid employment opportunities for clients who are currently involved with secondary care adult mental health services. This will involve developing opportunities with local employers and supporting them as well as the client, to ensure the right person is in the right job.

The post holder will support service users to gain or return to competitive (paid) employment following the Individual Placement and Support process, aiming for fidelity to this delivery model. The role will involve working directly with Jobcentre Plus, employers, trade unions and employment agencies to secure paid employment opportunities, including supporting them and their employers to retain these opportunities for up to one year once gained.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Please note, this role does not meet the required eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa and therefore the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular role.

Two start dates per month are offered for new starters on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.

Responsibilities

• Support clients with job searching, completing CVs and application forms, and interview preparation.
• Signpost to a range of employment and training programmes within the local area, including Job Centre Plus, and develop knowledge and networks of employment-related support services and inclusive employers.
• Work within the wider employment support service, collaborating with clinicians to assist people with moderate to severe mental health problems to gain or return to paid employment.
• Develop opportunities with local employers and support clients and employers to ensure the right person is in the right job and to retain employment for up to one year.
• Establish ongoing monitoring and support systems for clients after employment is secured, including reviewing employment to ensure it meets client and employer needs and promoting disability awareness among employers.
• Engage with Jobcentre Plus, employers, trade unions and employment agencies to secure paid employment opportunities and provide support to employers and clients with any problems that may arise.

Working for our organisation

We\’re committed to co-creating a great experience for our colleagues, listening to staff and working together to be the best employer we can be. Our staff are our most important asset, and recognition of their excellent work and vital contributions to patient care is important. We have achieved the gold Investors in People (IIP) standard and have been commended on great people management practice and a commitment to staff development. We are signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme, demonstrating positive action to attract, recruit and retain disabled people. We have an award-winning system for delivering efficiency through clinician-led quality improvements. All staff joining us are provided with a comprehensive induction programme starting on their first day. Continuous professional development is important, and you and your manager will form a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to consider your personal career aspirations and provide resources to develop. It is important to raise concerns about patient safety, and there are several ways to do this.

The successful applicants will establish ongoing monitoring and support systems for clients once employment is secured, including reviewing employment to ensure it meets both client and employer needs and promoting disability awareness among employers to ensure positive integration of clients into the workforce.

Requirements and eligibility

• The successful candidate will be dynamic and highly motivated, with excellent communication skills to engage effectively with a wide range of agencies, employers, clients and their families. Innovation, determination and assertive influence are key to success in this role.
• You will apply consistently high standards, have knowledge of relevant legislation and be willing to attend training as required. A strong commitment to employment and social inclusion is essential.
• IPS supervision and clinical support from community mental health team members will be offered on a regular basis, with ongoing training and development opportunities relevant to the post.
• Right to work in the UK is required to be appointed. The role does not meet visa sponsorship criteria for Skilled Worker; the Trust cannot offer sponsorship for this role.

About the organisation

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to protecting staff, service users and visitors from second-hand smoke and operates a no-smoking policy on buildings and grounds. We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. Our teams work in partnership with patients, communities and partners to help people feel safe, understood, believed in, and cared for, supporting recovery and ensuring patient-centred care. We listen to every person in our care until they feel understood, and we work with patients, families and carers towards better mental health. We are committed to new thinking that improves wellbeing across the region and will continue to connect with communities to provide mental health care where it is needed.